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Through the grace of God and the unstinted labor of very skilled and dedicated staff through the years, St. Paul's Home has evolved into a highly rated care and retirement center for persons needing its services in their senior years.
The history of St. Paul's Home is very much like the history of the Christian Church. It's a story of God answering prayers at critical periods and sincere Christians responding to the needs of their fellow men and women at the most opportune times.
As far back as 1918, some of the caring people in the congregation of what is now St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville were discussing the need for a home for older men and women.
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St. Paul's
Senior Community Logo
The logo used by St. Paul's Senior Community and the St. Paul's Foundation was created in 2000 to encompass the St. Paul's Home "Family". The logo portrays an empty cross in the center depicting the Risen Christ and the cross triumphant. The three circular globes surrounding the top portion of the cross represent the Trinity as well as eternal life and light. We believe these Christian symbols are most appropriate to be used in representing St. Paul's in its special ministry to the elderly.
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Then in 1926, one man in the congregation decided to step out and lead the way to a happy solution to this problem of providing a good home for the aged.Walter J. Kohl, a successful businessman in Belleville, decided to donate the property to provide for the first building. Walter J. Kohl and his wife, Bertha (nee Keil) Kohl, purchased the Adam Gintz home at 1021 West "E" Street in Belleville and gave it to St. Paul Church to be used as a home for the aged of all faiths in the Belleville area. The leaders of the congregation decided to call it St. Paul's Home for the Aged. It was officially founded, under that name, on August 22, 1926, and on August 26, 1926, Mr. and Mrs. Kohl signed the deed transferring title to St. Paul Church.
The good news of the generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Kohl spread through the community like a prairie grass fire. Congregations in other churches, in fact the whole community, responded with moral support and substantial gifts to help to convert the Gintz residence to a home for the aged.
The community-wide effort which had been sparked by the generous gift of the Gintz residence by Mr. and Mrs. Kohl was consummated on June 12, 1927 when St. Paul's Home opened its doors to the first thirteen residents.
The first director was Sister Anna Lenger, a Deaconess Sister of the Evangelical Church, a most compassionate woman and an outstanding administrator. She was supported by an excellent Board of Directors consisting of men and women from the congregation of St. Paul's Church. Later, board membership was widened to include representatives from the congregations of Christ Church, Hope Church and Trinity Church.
From the very first month of its existence, St. Paul's Home for the Aged was recognized by the people of the Belleville area as an idea whose time had come. From then until now, there has been a constant demand for admission.
The first modest expansion was carried out in 1945. By enclosing a large porch on the north side of the original Kohl wing, twelve beds were added to bring the total capacity to twenty-five beds.
Then in 1955, plans were developed to construct a 35 bed addition. George Ludwig, a prominent Belleville businessman and philanthropist, gave the equity funding to build this wing, which is named for him. The Ludwig Wing was completed in 1957. This brought the capacity to 60 residents.
Up to this point, St. Paul's Home had provided only shelter (custodial) care, but by 1957 it was already obvious that there was a growing need for nursing care facilities.
Early in 1960, plans were prepared for an additional wing that would provide nursing care for 38 residents.
Once again Divine Providence smiled on St. Paul's Home and the necessary funds for construction became available. Dr. Ferdinand Bartel, son of a former mayor of Belleville and a successful St. Louis dentist, who had been born and raised in Belleville, died and bequeathed a substantial portion of his large estate to St. Paul's Home. This bequest along with other gifts provided the money needed to complete the new addition, which was named the Bartel Nursing Wing. It was opened for occupancy in 1962, raising the capacity to 98 residents.
Within a year, the waiting list had grown so long that the Board of Directors started preliminary planning for yet another addition.
After final plans were completed in 1969, another donor came forward. Mr. E. C. Roediger, also a prominent Belleville businessman and philanthropist, made a substantial gift to the home. This provided the nucleus for many more gifts which provided equity funding to complete the E. C. Roediger Wing in July of 1971. This increased the capacity to 175 residents.
Another substantial contribution to St. Paul's Home for the Aged was made in 1974 by Anna Lengfelder. Her generous gift, plus many other gifts, made possible the erection of the beautiful new chapel and the new activities room which were completed in October of 1981 and formally dedicated on May 16, 1982.
With increasing need for expanded types of service, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 1, 1987 for St. Paul's Retirement Apartment Community. Dedication for the 53- unit apartment building was held on April 24, 1988. These apartments provide a new dimension to the services provided to the elderly. The apartment community is for senior men and women who want security while still being able to have independence in their own apartment. One- and two-bedroom apartments are available. Services and amenities include lunch and dinner meals, weekly light housekeeping, laundering of flat linens, van service, full maintenance service, personal storage areas, laundry facilities on each floor, emergency call system and various scheduled activities.
In June 2008, St. Paul's Home became Medicare certified and began providing customized therapy, rehabilitation programs and services focusing on recuperation. Registered physical, occupational and speech therapist are available to assist patients in achieving maximum independence.
St. Paul's Home will continue to strive to provide a wide range of services to the elderly of this area in a skilled, caring and Christian environment.
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