Veterans Home Chapel - King, WI
N 44° 20.242 W 089° 08.600
16T E 329135 N 4911578
The Grand Army Home was established in 1887 by the Wisconsin Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, a nationwide organization of Union veterans of the Civil War (1861-1865).
Waymark Code: WM38KR
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 02/26/2008
Views: 44
The nearby historical marker reads:
"The Grand Army Home was established in 1887 by the Wisconsin
Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, a nationwide
organization of Union veterans of the Civil War (1861-1865). The
Home provided care for indigent veterans and their wives in a
pleasant community setting. The city of Waupaca donated
seventy-eight acres along scenic Rainbow Lake to the veterans, and
the local branch of the Women’s Relief Corps (an auxillary of the
G.A.R.) constructed several cottages on the site. This was the
first veterans’ home in the nation to allow women to become
members. Dr. Frederick A. Marden, a G.A.R. member from Milwaukee,
originated the concept of a co-educational veterans’ retirement
community. He also devised the Home’s cottage plan. Marden believed
that elderly soldiers and their wives were owed a debt of gratitude
for their service to the imperiled Union and that they would find
contentment in the modest cottages and tree-shaded lanes at
King."
From the Waupaca County web
site:
"By March 10, 1887 the Wisconsin Veterans' Home was duly
incorporated, by April 14, 1887 the bill was passed asking for
state aid and published on May 3, 1887. By the November 14, 1887
the home was running. At the Encampment on February 15-16, 1888,
the committee reported they had secured legislature for funds,
incorporated the Wisconsin Veterans' Home, acquired property to the
value of $15,000.00 and had established the Home at Waupaca. The
home consisted of a central building, six cottages and a farm house
and accommodated 50 people.
Waupaca was chosen for the site from many offers. This was not
an easy choice to make. From the many offers, it was narrowed to
six sites: Berlin, Waupaca, Sheboygan, Evansville, Watertown and
New Lisbon. After visiting these sites and much discussion the
Greenwood Park Hotel site , just outside of Waupaca was chosen. The
property was obtained in October 1887, with a small number of
members moving in at that time. Renovations started immediately
with cottages for the veteran and his wife to live in. The
dedication of the home was held on August 29, 1888. Estimates
established there were approximately six thousand people in
attendance at the dedication. Funds were continued to be raised
from a large number of areas. In early 1888 the Federal government
recognized the Veterans' Home as a State Soldiers' Home and began
paying the home $100.00 a year for every male member at the home.
This money went to the state and grew from $4,279.89 in June of
1899 to $30,575.00 in 1911. In 1906 the Home laid on a
seventy-eight acre tract of land.
Many changes developed over the years as follows: 1923 - Law
amended to admit a limited number of Spanish American War Veterans;
July 1, 1923 Total men 114 and 220 women. Too numerous of changes
too be listed.
At the present time (June 2000), the home still has cottages for
married couples, chapel, four nursing care buildings, bowling
alleys, theater, museum, library, etc."