History & Mission
Our History
The Faxton Street Home
The Utica Winter of 1866 was recorded as being especially harsh, and
this inspired a group of women form the Westminster Church to meet with
missionary, Louise Shepard. They planned to open a home for homeless
women that they named the "Protestant Home for Respectable, Indigent,
Aged Women of Oneida County in the City of Utica". This was accomplished
in 1867, when the home opened on upper Whitesboro Street with nine women
residents.
Theodore S. Faxton had already made plans to build a "Home for the
Homeless in the City of Utica". Faxton promised the women $20,000 and
the land to build on if they raised matching funds. When the women
raised $24,324, he donated the entire cost of the building and the
property. Benjamin F. Jewitt and his two sisters gave additional
property on Faxton Street, and that, along with donations from several
other Uticans, was to assure the future of the home.
The facility was often referred to as the "Old Ladies Home on Faxton
Street", however it was best remembered as the Faxton Street Home.
The St. Luke's Home
The first St. Luke's Home was founded by the governing boards of the
Grace Episcopal Church as a refuge for indigent women. Truman K. Butler
donated a house on Columbia Street, and the name St. Luke's was chosen
because of its association with "light" as a symbol of hope. Their
mission was to provide "a source of light to those in darkness of
carried sorrows; a refuge where the needy may find aid; the afflicted,
consolation' and the sick, relief...". This home continued to care for
women until 1905, when Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Proctor purchased land on
Whitesboro Street, built and furnished a new St. Luke's Hospital. The
hospital charter proclaimed the need to care for the elderly by
providing a home and health care. A wing in this new St. Luke's Hospital
met this pledge, and twelve women lived there until about 1962, when the
last known resident, Mary Clark, died.
Sunset Home
The Sunset Home began as a wing designated to care for aged men in
Faxton Hospital. In 1885, the hospital elected a board of women known as
the Ladies Aid Society to direct domestic affairs; this group was later
designated as the Managers of Faxton Hospital. By 1890, the society
wanted to buy property located across the street from the hospital on
Perkins Avenue, owned by John C. Hieber for $6,000. Hieber gave them a
donation of $1,000 and in July, John Thorne pledged $5,000, if the
ladies could raise $30,000 in subscriptions. When the women made their
goal, the newspaper headlines read "Hurray for the Ladies". By September
1890, the cornerstone for "Home for Aged Men" was laid by the Masonic
Grand Lodge of New York, and Mr. Thomas Thorne became the first
president of the board for the new home. By may 1899, so many men
applied with their wives, the admission policies were changed along with
the name, becoming the "Home for Aged Men and Couples". After paving of
the street, both the name of the avenue and the home were changed to
Sunset.
Theodore S. Faxton
Theodore S. Faxton served as president of the Black River and Utica
Railroad company, and the Second National Bank. He and a group of
associates formed the first telegraph company in the world. They started
the Buffalo, Albany, and New York Telephone Company. This company
allowed the news to be transmitted across the state by telegraph, and it
evolved into the Associated Press. Because he did so well with his
business ventures it made it possible to do good for the Utica
community.
Faxton responded to a need for care for the elderly of this community in
the 1860's. He proved that one person concerned about others can make a
difference, after over 100 years, his service to this community is still
evident. One of his goals was to provide a clean safe and secure
environment for the elderly in this community. He wanted to do this
while promoting an individual's self determination, independence and
dignity.
On May 1, 1867, the Home for the Homeless opened its doors thanks to his
generosity. The same year he built Faxton Hall which was used as a
school and community center for West Utica mill workers and now houses a
branch of the Utica Public Library. In 1873, he built and endowed Faxton
Hospital, which led to the opening of the Home for Aged men.
A Joint Venture
In 1971 the boards of directors of St. Luke's-Memorial Hospital, the
Faxton Street Home and the Sunset entered a joint venture to build a
seven story complex on the Sunset Home's property at the corner of
Sunset Avenue and Burrstone Road in Utica. The facility opened in
January 1977, and became known as the Faxton Sunset St. Luke's Health
Related Facility and Nursing Home.
New Challenges
Changes in the delivery of heath care occur daily. Today's trend
requires more patient and resident care in the home and community and
less time in an institution.
Recognizing future community needs, the Faxton Sunset St. Luke's Home
board of directors made plans in 1992 for changes that will effect
resident care well into the new millennium. On August 4th, 1993, the
name of the nursing home changed to Heritage Home. The board voted to
change the name for two reasons: to make it shorter and easier to say
and to clarify the fact that the facility was never affiliated with any
of the area hospitals having similar names.
The first renovations, completed in January 1995, enlarged the parking
area and installed a new service elevator and new lounges on floors
three through seven. Construction of a new wing containing a general
sub-acute unit, and renovations to the main complex, started in December
1995. Known as our Transitional Care Unit, patients began moving into
the new wing during the summer of 1996.
With the addition of several rehabilitation services including
outpatient rehabilitation, wellness services and a therapeutic pool, the
focus of the home became more diverse. This kind of concern reflects the
same benevolent attitudes held by Heritage Home's founding mothers and
fathers over a century ago.
Heritage Home became Heritage Health Care Center, a far more descriptive
reflection of our mission, reflecting our bold new approach to health
care. Not only a home for some, but a place where others come to get
well sooner, then return to their own home.
Our Mission & Values
Heritage is dedicated to providing quality health care. Our goal,
through professional and restorative services, is to improve an
individual's independence, dignity, and self-esteem.
We see ourselves as able to respond and adapt to the ever changing
individual and community health related needs.
Get Well Sooner…
That’s the Heritage promise!