One by one the buildings that once housed orphans were renovated or razed to serve the needs of the elderly. When this proved insufficient, a new program of comprehensive senior care services was developed. In 1950, two sizeable wings were added to the Home in order to meet the growing demand for rooms. We responded to a growing concern to provide adequate housing and medical care for seniors by building the Mary Louise Heins Home for the Aged – a state-of-the-art facility when it opened in 1897. Gottlieb Berkemeier and his wife Suzette, made Wartburg feel like home by instituting the “family system” – an approach where children were gathered by age and gender to create a “family.” Their success was proven by the large number of children who returned year after year to visit their “parents,” “siblings” and “home.” George Holls, began adopting the orphans who came to Wartburg, so they would always be part of a family. Since the first orphans arrived on our campus in 1866, we have led by example. William Passavant, who was moved by the sight of children orphaned by the Civil War and sought to establish a home for them, and our first benefactor, Peter Moller, who would spend more than $30,000 to build a “living memorial” to his late son, establishing Wartburg on 121 acres of farmland in Mount Vernon, New York. We have been fortunate in the men and women who have shared their talents and dedicated their lives to helping those most in need of assistance. From caring for orphaned children to providing wide-ranging services for seniors, our goal has always been to provide innovative programs and superior care, while respecting the individuality of everyone we serve. For 155 years we have remained steadfast in our mission to care for the community by providing comprehensive services which nurture mind, body and spirit.

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