The Distinguished Heritage of the Helen Purcell Home in Miss Purcell’s day as now, the maturing women of the community were the persons who struggled most with loneliness, insecurity and the difficulties of failing health while lacking the support of a large and nearby extended family. In her compassion for these women, Miss Purcell wanted to offer them an alternative. She provided for establishment of a Christian nondenominational retirement home in her will. The Helen Purcell Home was chartered November 7, 1885 and began operation May 17, 1905 at the former Putnam Female Seminary in Zanesville, Ohio.
By the late 1930’s, the Helen Purcell Home’s reputation for quality and philanthropic service to the community was well known. It relocated to its present Zanesville address in the O.N. Townsend homestead on Norwood Boulevard. Today, the home can accommodate 40 residents in the spacious mansion-like setting overlooking five wooded acres in the heart of Zanesville.
The year 2005 marked 100 years of charitable community service. It was then decided that Helen Purcell would expand to feature the latest concept in retirement living. Plans were developed in 2006 to build an independent gracious living retirement community. Townsend Place would be the name of the new community featuring 49 apartment villas designed for active seniors.
Women and men over the age of 62 who want maintenance-free living will have the added advantage of access to any of the assisted living services available at Shinnick Center next door. This will be the second construction project at the Norwood Boulevard location since 1937 when the trustees of Helen Purcell purchased the former O.N. Townsend property.
The new community should be completed in the summer of 2009. |
