| History |
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Helping Seniors Live Fully Since 1904
Parmly LifePointes has been more than a century
in the making. The 60-acre campus offers
innovative holistic wellness programs encouraging
healthy, active aging. The Parmly name reflects a
history of compassionate care for seniors while
“LifePointes” identifies the wellness concepts
designed to enhance our “points of life” as we
move beyond 55.
Our evolution from the first “Old People’s Home”
to an active, vibrant community for people over
55 was driven by the dedication of Swedish
immigrants and their descendants who carried
with them a heart felt commitment to their
community.
Escaping poverty and diminishing opportunity
in Sweden, this community of visionary pioneers
brought their deeply rooted cultural and religious
values to Minnesota in the late 1800’s. Once
established in the area, these hard working new
comers — through the leadership of the Chisago
Lakes Lutheran Churches — saw a need for a
home to care for the elderly in their community.
In 1904, the purchase of a 23-acre site in Chisago
City began the journey to today’s advanced senior
community.
The original 18-room home was dependent on
the generosity of the Chisago City community
and area churches that created a bond that
continues today. Even with the hardships, the
home soon established a reputation as a
caring, nurturing place. And, while much
of the original site was used for farming
to support the nutritional needs of the
residents, expansion and improvement of
services have been a constant.
Since those early years, thanks to charitable
benefactors, visionary leadership and the
blessing of enormously dedicated and hard
working employees and selfless volunteers,
the campus has continued to grow and change
with the times.
Today’s Parmly LifePointes represents the
most advanced concepts in successful aging. In
addition to independent living town homes and
apartments, the community includes assisted
living residences, a skilled nursing facility,
transitional care, physical therapy and memory
care. All residents and the greater community also
have access to the new state-of-the-art Vitalize!
Wellness Centre.
Parmly LifePointes’ programs, services and
amenities are among the best in the nation thanks
to the foundation of caring values shared by
Swedish pioneers. Values, which continue into a
second century for the benefit and enjoyment of
today’s involved seniors.
In October, 1902 at the annual convention of the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Churches in New London, Minnesota, a committee was formed to investigate the possibility of an old peoples’ home at the suggestion of Dr. Carl A. Hultkrans, Superintendent of Bethesda Hospital since:
“Many members of our churches were approaching the evening
of their life after a long day of toil and labor and were longing
for a peaceful close of their day.”
When it didn’t work out to build at the chosen location on Como Avenue in St. Paul, Dr. Hultkrans met with the Chisago District pastors to ask for their support to build old peoples’ home on a tract of land along the shores of Green Lake in Chisago City.
Our history officially began on May 1904 at the annual conference when it was announced that ten area churches of the Chisago District would purchase 23 acres of land at a price of $2,500. This historic decision created the first home of its kind within the Minnesota Conference.
Dedication ceremonies were held on November 10, 1904. Coffee was served and the ladies of the local congregations were asked to bring food. They were also asked to leave the dishes behind for use by the Home. The establishment of our mission began our long-standing tradition of respectful, responsive service to seniors.
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In November 1904, Martha Mattson accepted the position of the first matron of the Old Peoples’ Home. Her only provision was that her children could also come with her as assistants. |
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On January 1, 1932 at the age of 70 and having served for 27 years, Martha became a resident of the Home herself and turned over the responsibilities of matron to Sister Eleanora Slattengren. She died at the Old Peoples’ Home on August 7, 1932. Sister Eleanora served as Matron for 28 years and retired in 1954.
Parmly was a working farm. On November 11, 1918, John Carlson was hired as the one and only farm manager until the farming operation ceased in December, 1964. The farm with its animals and crops supplied the food needed for the residents including meat, eggs, vegetables and milk. Acreage was added over the years to increase the farm's food production to enable the home to be self-sufficient.
Willing Worker Phyliss Lindquist |
Parmly also has a long-standing history of dedicated employees. The “Willing Workers” became the name of the faithful women who were employed at the Home and devoted their lives to caring for the elderly. |
“The Girls” as they were lovingly called lived in a house on the grounds, which was connected to the Home by a tunnel, and were on call 24 hours a day to assist with food preparation and serving, laundry and housekeeping. These early workers were: Esther Reinholdt who began her employment in 1918; Elsie Christopherson in 1920; Isabelle Lindgren and Nina Reinholdt in 1921 and Phyllis Lindquist in 1926.
| The hand of God stepped in again when Margaret S. Parmly included the Chisago Lutheran Home for the Aged in her estate. This decision was based on her desire to help the elderly in the Midwest because she valued their Scandinavian work ethic. |
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In early 1969, her daughter, Ruth, called a Lutheran friend at the Board of Social Ministry in New York to find out if he knew of a church owned home that was in great need. The first suggestion was that the money be given to the Queen Louise Home for Children on the Island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Ruth rejected his suggestion in favor of the Chisago Lutheran Home.
In December 1970, Mrs. Evelyn Ofelt, Administrator, received the unexpected letter that the Home was the recipient of approximately $1,000,000 from her estate. The gift was an tremendous blessing for the Home which at the request of the Department of Health had just completed a $55,000 remodeling project to eliminate some of the fire hazards of the old two-story building.
With people living longer and requiring different levels of services to meet their needs as they age in addition to skilled nursing care, Parmly responded by adding:
- November 1977 - South Chisago County Meals on Wheels
- May 1, 1981 - Parmly Lakeview Apartments
- October 1984 - Adult Day Care Services
- July 26, 1985 - Point Pleasant Heights Apartments & Townhomes
- January 24, 2000 - Margaret's House
- August 1, 2002 - Vindauga View Assisted Living Apartments
- October 14, 2007 - Vitalize! Wellness Center, Isabelle's House, Martha's House
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Our partnership that began with 10 founding churches still extends to the broader community in the Chisago Lakes area with many individuals and organizations volunteering their time and talents to enrich the lives of the seniors we serve.
Today, over a 100 years later, we continue the concern and commitment of caring for our elderly into our second century of service. As our name implies, Parmly is a campus of programs designed to provide and meet the ever-changing needs of seniors. By bringing people—needy elderly and workers—together, a community, essentially a family, is formed.
Our partnership that began with 10 founding churches still extends to the broader community in the Chisago Lakes area with many individuals and organizations volunteering their time and talents to join us in enriching the lives of those we serve.
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