Our Story ...

FAIRVIEW HAVEN’S FIRST 25 YEARS

History taken from the pages of Homemade With Love, Fairview Haven’s cookbook – published in 1986

In December of 1960, several brethren from the Fairbury Apostolic Christian Church felt the desire to provide a home for the aged. On the 20th of that month, 33 brothers of that congregation met to discuss this interest. When the majority indicated support of the project, a committee was appointed to further the research. Serving on the committee were John Wiedman, Eli Moser, George Broquard, Alden Nussbaum and Alex Stoller.

A second meeting was held January 1, 1961 at the Fairbury Church with more than 100 representatives in attendance from the Apostolic Christian Churches of Fairbury, Gridley, Cissna Park and Forrest. The churches from Forrest, Gridley and Cissna Park were asked to combine their efforts with Fairbury in this endeavor. Affirmative answers were received from William Gramm of Gridley, Harry Roth of Forrest, and Solomon Farney of Cissna Park. A rising vote supported the decision to sell debenture bonds to finance the project, estimating the size of the home to be 40 to 50 beds and costing approximately $200,000. “There was a very detailed discussion about the return of the money. The general trend was toward the suggestion to dismiss this thought and give in Christian faith as to the Lord and not with the business end in mind.“

The board of directors was to be comprised of 17 members. Fairbury was to be represented with five members while each of the other three churches would be represented with four members. The elections resulted in the following brothers being chosen: Alden Nussbaum, John Wiedman, Eli Moser, Alex Stoller and George Broquard from Fairbury; Alf Witzig, Emil Schlipf, Albert Grusy, and William Gramm from Gridley; Emil Anliker, Frank Honegger, Harry Roth, and Roy Metz from Forrest; and Fred Knapp, Sol Farney, Joe Waldbeser, and Ernest Bauer from Cissna Park. Frank Honegger was elected chairman, Alden Nussbaum, secretary, and Eli Moser, treasurer. Later in the year the need for a vice president was felt. John Wiedman was elected to fill that position.

Since the Home was to be built to provide a full view of the sunrise and sunset, Fairview Haven was selected as the name for the dwelling. The three suggestions were Fairview Rest Home, Fairview Manor, and Fairview Haven.

The first official meeting of the Board of Directors of Fairview Haven, a corporation, was held June 13, 1961. The chairman reported that a Certificate of Incorporation had been issued May 22, 1961 and the certificate, along with the Articles of Incorporation, had been filed May 26, 1961. The board also decided at this meeting to issue debentures in the amount of $150,000, said debentures to bear interest at the rate of 4%, and to be called twenty-year debentures, due July 1, 1981.

Five acres of land were purchased from C.R. Voris for a total price of $6,500. Construction of the 16,000 square foot, 43 bed facility began in October 1961. Less than a year later, September 4, 1962, John and Anna Hodel of Cissna Park became the first residents of Fairview Haven.

At the time of the printing of this cookbook, Fairview Haven has had 329 admissions. There is currently one resident at Fairview Haven, Hazel Ellis, who was admitted during the first year of operation. Following Frank Honegger as president of the board of directors have been Henry Steffen and Reuben Huber, the current chairman. Eli Leman served as the first administrator. Also serving in that capacity have been Edith Huette, Rosella Mowery, and the present administrator, Wayne Drayer.

The Home has seen several remodeling stages. An addition in 1971-72 provided an activity room, resident room and hairdressing room. A laundry room and a five-unit apartment complex were added in 1978. During 1981-82, an independent living unit attached to the east side of Fairview Haven provided 11 more apartments, a new quilting room, and much needed storage space. The 1985-86 efforts resulted in the construction of a new activity room, office space, a restroom for the handicapped, and a hairdressing room. The old activity room and hairdressing rooms were converted into resident rooms, bringing the present capacity to 54 residents. In 1985, Fairview Haven purchased 3.85 acres of land east of the Fairbury Apostolic Christian Church. It is the hope of many that this will serve as a site for additional independent living units.

Looking back over the first 25 years, one can see the many changes that have occurred. Homes for the aged were relatively new in the early 1960s. Even the American Association of Homes for the Aging, the national organization Fairview Haven belongs to, is just celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. As Fairview Haven has grown, so has the industry. With growth of the industry, more and more government regulations have appeared. Each year becomes a greater challenge to meet the ever-increasing demands of a growing elderly population. We rely heavily upon our volunteers to help meet those demands. It is safe to say that without our volunteers, Fairview Haven would not be what it is today.

As Fairview Haven was founded upon Christian principles, so it continues to strive to operate in submission to those standards. The March 9, 1961 edition of The Fairbury Blade printed the following: "The church group sums up their feeling about building a home for the aged in the words uttered by a Christian many years ago. ‘What am I to do? I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, any kindness, or any service I can render to any man, let me do it now. Let me not neglect or defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.‘"

Together, then, may we continue to work in unity to carry out our Mission: "Fairview Haven is committed to serving the elderly. Our mission is two-fold in nature, religious and charitable, and is governed by the words of Jesus when he said: ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.‘ Under the care and stewardship of the Apostolic Christian Church and an extension of the Missionary committee of the same, Fairview Haven strives to put the Word of God into action by caring for those who can no longer care for themselves, and continuing to nurture each in the warmth of God’s Word through prayer and deed."                 -Wayne Drayer, Administrator (1986)

UPDATE AS OF MAY 2008:

Additional recent remodeling projects include: a new kitchen completed in 1992. A 13-unit apartment addition was added in 1997, along with eight additional Medicare beds in the care center and a new physical therapy room. Current capacity, as of 2002, is 63 skilled care beds and 32 Fairview Suites apartments, in which services such as meals, laundry and housekeeping are provided. Soon we will have licensed Assisted Living apartments. We have had 892 admissions to our care center to date.

In reviewing our Mission Statement, it brings me great comfort to report that we are still on course. What a blessing to behold that in spite of the many changes in the healthcare profession, our mission here at Fairview Haven holds firm. How thankful we are to God that we recently celebrated our 45th anniversary. May God continue to lead and guide our Home for years to come!
                                                                                          -Rick Plattner, Current Administrator