The NYS Veterans’ Home: Past, Present and Future

OXFORD – The NYS Veterans’ Home in Oxford is constructing its third facility, which is scheduled to open this summer. The Home has always had the distinction of having state of the art facilities with the utmost in resident comfort, going back to its first facility in 1897. With its interesting history and fine and enduring reputation, the Oxford Historical Society (OHS) is presenting, “The New York State Veterans’ Home: Past, Present and Future,” to be held on Tuesday, April 8, at 7 p.m..

The Woman’s Relief Corps (WRC), was the auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, formed as a result of the “War of the Rebellion,” better known today as the Civil War. The WRC formed a board, presided by Ellen M. Putnam, to persuade New York State to establish and maintain a home in which a veteran could enter, accompanied by his wife, without separating them in their advanced years. The home also was intended for Veterans’ widows, mothers of soldiers and Army nurses. After reviewing many locations, Oxford was chosen, and the WRC Home opened on April 19, 1897.

The OHS invites members and the community to hear about the historic past, recent stories and the proposed future of the Veterans’ Home. Special guests will be: award winning book author, popular columnist and feature writer for the Press & Sun Bulletin newspaper, Elizabeth Cohen, who will talk about her parents who lived their last years in the Home; Oxford resident, Sarah Seaman, will talk about her 17 years as Nurse Administrator in the WRC Home, Civil War widows, the original cottages, medical changes, and more; and from the NYS Veterans’ Home today, Linda Winston, the Director of Nursing will speak about the current and future building program. The changes that have occurred in over a century, advancements, medical care and comfort of residents, facility requirements, safety and more will make for a fascinating (free) presentation.