A Brief History of Stoddard

A More Detailed History
Introduction
Southeast Presence
Northwest Presence (Bryant Street)
Northwest Presence (Newton Street)
Special Recognition 

Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home is an organization that enjoys a rich legacy of excellence and commitment to our residents and their families.  Located in the historic Mount Pleasant section of the District of Columbia, the Stoddard Baptist Set Nursing Home is a 164-bed facility offering state-of-the-art, compassionate and high-quality nursing and medical care.  With more than 200 dedicated staff, Stoddard is owned and solely managed by the Stoddard Baptist Home Board of Directors, under the current leadership of Mr. Willie Bowman, Jr.

History in Brief

Stoddard Baptist Home

What is the Stoddard Baptist Home? What is the entity into which John D. Hunter and Joseph F. H. Cutrona have invested their creativity and their strength for more than twenty-five years/

The Stoddard of today began as a dream for a retirement home for Baptist ministers, their wives and/or their widows. The initial funds came to Stoddard through the heirs of Miss Marie T. Stoddard, a widely known Washington philanthropist of the late nineteenth century. The residents of the first structure were eight elderly persons who entered a location at Hamilton Street and Good Hope Hill in Southeast, Washington. This early period of operation was called "Stoddard Baptist" and was known as the "Southeast" phase of the facility which we know today.

Since 1902, until this final phase of the twentieth century, Stoddard has always been led by men and women of vision who have constantly increased the effort to serve the wider community. After the "Southeast" phase, the Board of Trustees acquired a property at 324 Bryant Street in Northwest, Washington which became known as the "Willard Estate." The leaders of the facility at the time were the Reverend W. D. Jarvis, the Reverend Acquila Sayles, Mrs. Minnie Robinson, and Mrs. Susie P. Robb.

During the years on Bryant Street, the Home experienced steady growth and a widening mission of service to the community. For many years during the period of the Bryant Street location, the Board of Trustees was led by the Reverend William H. Jernagin, a pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church and an unflinching spokesman for civil rights. It was during Reverend Jernagin's tenure as Chairman of the Trustees that the Home became a member agency of the original Community Chest of Washington, D.C. The "Bryant Street Period" ended in 1961.

As the needs for the shelter and care of the aging increased in the city, the trustees of Stoddard, under the leadership of the Reverend John L. S. Holloman, began to realize the limitations of the Bryant Street location, but the precipitation factor in the move from Bryant Street was the desired use of that location by the District of Columbia to build the Katie C. Lewis Elementary School. So began the "Newton Street Era."

The "Newton Street Era" continues to this day. The present structure, which also contains a historically designated "mansion" is dominated by a new, modern building dedicated to the comfort and well being of the citizens of this city. The new structure contains all of the accoutrements and technological resources which make for felicitous living among the residents. The entire facility is a monument to the vision, the leadership, and the determination of Mr. Hunter and General Cutrona. Their leadership and the unrelenting efforts in the community have brought Stoddard over the years to its purpose today - to provide personal comfort, physical care, and a spiritual place for all who seek the services of the Home.

As Mr. Hunter and General Cutrona leave us for other pursuits, Stoddard and the community wish them well, knowing that the unbroken train of leadership will rest in the capable hands of Mr. Willie Bowman, Jr. and Mr. W. Ronald Evans, the newly designated Chairman and Vice Chariman of the Board of Directors of Stoddard Baptist Home.

The History of the Stoddard Baptist Home

Introduction

For Stoddard Baptist Home, the decade of the nineties has brought spectacular realization for the dreamers, pioneers and builders who have long labored in the development of a home for the elderly in the Washington, D.C. area.  Today, Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home is designed, built and maintained as a facility for nursing and medical services and residential care for the elderly.  It has resources for caregivers and interested parties, as well as, recreational and cultural activities that can be accessed through the wider community.  The Stoddard of the twenty-first century began as an idea for a retirement home for Baptist ministers, their wives and widows.  The initial funds came from the settlement of a suit brought by the heirs of Miss Marie T. Stoddard, a widely known local philanthropist of the late nineteenth century.  About 1890, Miss Stoddard, by the terms in her will, had donated a tract of land in the area of Florida Avenue and Nineteenth Street, Northwest, for the erection of the retirement home. 

Southeast Presence

When the District of Columbia appropriated part of the land for street construction and Miss Stoddard’s will specifically forbade the sale of the land; the trustees of the proposed retirement home entered into negotiation with the city and with the Stoddard heirs.  A cash settlement, which in reality was a “sale”, was the result of these negotiations.  The trustees used the money to purchase a four-acre tract of land with a structure already in place, located at Hamilton Street and Good Hope Hill in Southeast Washington.  Thus, began the “Southeast” phase of the Stoddard Baptist Home.  In 1902, eight elderly persons came to reside at the Hamilton Street location.  Mrs. Laura Queen, a member of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, became the Home’s first superintendent.  Through the efforts of the churches, furnishings for the building were acquired and additional acreage was purchased.  The first permanent location of the Home was on a ten-acre farm plot and was directed by Mrs. Queen.  The Board of Trustees was standardized and its members were:

• Reverend George W. Lee, President
• Reverend Walter H. Brooks, Secretary
• Reverend J. Anderson Tyler
• Reverend Robert Johnson
• Reverend W. P. Gibbons
• Reverend  W. J. Howard

In 1914, the Stoddard Baptist Home was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia.

Northwest Presence (Bryant Street)

In 1915 the Home entered into another phase of its growth.  During that year, the Home received the “Dillard Estate” land at 324 Bryant Street, N.W. and a larger building specifically designed to meet the purposes of Stoddard was constructed. When the new Home was dedicated at this site on April 15, 1915, Mrs. Minnie Robinson was named superintendent and the Board was enlarged to include the Reverend W. D. Jarvis, Mrs. Susie P. Robb, who became secretary, and the Reverend Aquila Sayles, who served as president.  During the years on Bryant Street, the Home experienced steady growth and a widening mission of service to the community.  For years, during the period of the Bryant Street location, the Board of Trustees was led by the Reverend William H. Jernagin, the pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, who was an unflinching spokesman for Civil Rights.  It was during Reverend Jernagin’s tenure of office that the Home became a member of the original Community Chest of Washington.  The Bryant Street era ended in 1961.

Northwest Presence (Newton Street)

As the needs for shelter and care for the aging increased in the city, the trustees of Stoddard, under the leadership of Reverend John L. S. Holloman, began to realize the limitation of the Bryant Street location, but the precipitating factor in the move from Bryant Street was the desired use of that location by the District of Columbia to build the Katie C. Lewis Elementary School.  So began the “Newton Street" era.  Led by Dr. Holloman, the Board of Trustees purchased the property at 1818 Newton Street, N.W. for a cost of $250,000.00 and retired the mortgage within six years.  It was during Dr. Holloman’s presidency that the Endowment Fund was established and at the time of his death the Fund was valued at $125,000.  At the Newton Street location the Home accommodated sixty residents.  It was operated by a professional social worker, as well as, clerical and maintenance staff under the administration of an Executive Director.

The Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home is indeed and in truth a concept that has become a reality.  In October of 1986, Stoddard admitted its first nursing home resident.  Today, Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home is a 164-bed facility offering secure, state-of-the-art, compassionate and high quality nursing and medical care. There are more than 200 dedicated staff members and the annual operating budget of the Home exceeded nine million in 1998.  It has established itself as one of the finest and most innovative long-term care facilities in the Washington Metropolitan area, caring for all people regardless of sex, race or religious orientation.

 Special Recognition

... "Twas Grace than brought us safe thus far... 
and Grace will lead us home."