The Story of Wesbury:
More than 100 years of Service
For over a century, Wesbury has been on the cutting edge of senior living choices; always growing, always evolving, always striving to provide the very best options for area seniors. As a not-for-profit corporation, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Wesbury is committed to providing much more than just a fine collection of products and services — we are committed to providing an enriched way of life.
Now, more than ever, when it comes to the future for you or your loved ones, you must choose wisely and choose a community trusted by generations of families where you will be secure in knowing that no matter what life brings, our solid foundation of experience coupled with an unrivaled commitment to excellence allow us to never lose sight of the finer details that set us apart from other senior living providers. Whatever you or your loved one needs, we are here for you.
We invite you to scroll down our history timeline below to learn more about how we became the number one senior living choice for area seniors and their families.
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Wesbury History Timeline
The organization that would eventually become the Wesbury we know today began in 1918 in Conneautville, PA., where Hyatt M. Cribbs offered his farm home to the ministers and laymen of the Erie Conference of the United Methodist Church to become a home for those in need. On October 19, 1918, The Ida M. Cribbs Methodist Home was officially born out of that gift which included 22.75 acres of farmland.
The Ida M. Cribbs Methodist Home officially opened and Mr. William Force of Spartansburg, PA was admitted as the first resident.
The home grew to include more than 100 acres, three new residences, and several barns and utility buildings. The Chapel was dedicated at the bequest of Mrs. E. McCracken. The home operated at a capacity of 70 residents and was the chief benevolent interest of the Erie Conference.
The first ever formal fundraising campaign was held where a total of $164,585 was donated to the home. Many disastrous fires in “Homes for Older Persons” around the country caused the Board of Directors to contemplate replacing the original Cribbs Home with new fire-resistant residencies.
Administrators of the home had a major fundraising campaign to raise $500,000 for the purpose of building a new facility. The Erie Conference of the United Methodist Church selected Meadville for the new home after Dr. Harry C. Winslow persuaded a local Meadville resident to donate 16 acres of land, then known as "Green Acres” on Park Avenue Extension, in order to bring the home to Meadville.
Ground was broken for the new building. The first residents move into the newly constructed The Methodist Home at Meadville (Presently Cribbs Residential Center). The Sunset Auxiliary, a network within the area United Methodist churches, was formed by Mrs. Florence Braun to build relationships and raise funds for the needs of residents.
The name was officially changed to The Methodist Home for the Aged at Meadville. Also, seven acres of land adjoining the property were bought through the gift of a friend. This was the first major expansion of the property making way for the Wesbury campus we see today. The home received funds from the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church to construct an adjacent nursing infirmary on the new property. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in August of 1968.
The new Nursing Hospital, an extended care facility that offered skilled nursing care, was completed, and could accommodate 140 people. Today, Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center is licensed for 210 residents. The official name was changed to the United Methodist Home and Nursing Hospital. An independent living program was initiated with the construction of a villa built on the North Main Street end of the property.
An intermediate care unit (College Way neighborhood) was added to the Nursing Hospital. The independent living program expands after construction began on four more villas along Wesley Way. A nature trail was completed with blacktop walkways and numerous benches for residents to have a safe place to walk and enjoy the outdoors. The name was officially changed to Wesbury United Methodist Community. The first annual Chicken BBQ was held.
Cribbs Residential Center has its first major renovation since its original construction. The Wesbury Foundation was established to encourage charitable contributions and advancing the Christian mission of Wesbury by promoting the needs of those residents who have outlasted their resources and require charitable care. The Home Enriched Living Program or Wesbury’s H.E.L.P. is established as a separate Home and Community-Based organization that provides in-home services to Meadville and the surrounding communities. These programs are still running today under the umbrella of Wesbury at Home. Groundbreaking and Construction begins on new Memory Support Center attached to Grace Health Center. Hillside Home becomes part of the Wesbury family.
The state-of-the-art Memory Support Center for residents with Alzheimer's Disease and other cognitive disorders or challenges opens as renovations begin at Grace Health Center. Dedication of the Emmaline D. Barco Memorial Chapel marked the completion of the first phase of Grace Health Center’s total renovation. This 13-year project included the addition of the Neighborhood Grill, Beauty Shop, Sunset Auxiliary Gift Shoppe, Medical Arts Building, and enlarged rehabilitation, administration, and dietary areas. Wesbury is a founding partner in VNA Alliance (in-home nursing) with St. Paul’s Homes and Concordia Lutheran Services. Later, Meadville Medical Center and Grove City Hospital joined VNAA.
The Clubhouse at Thoburn Village opens as a social hub for residents of Wesbury’s Independent Living Program. Wesbury’s Order of the Good Shepherd, a pastoral care program which supports Wesbury Staff, receives national OGS Chapter of the Year award. Grace Health Center designates a short-term rehabilitation neighborhood and becomes Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center. Medical Arts Building is completed attached to Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center. Wesbury at Home’s first Care Cottage is opened in Meadville. Hillside Home closes. Wesbury purchases a former Meadville hotel to create Vernon Square Apartments, an affordable non-subsidized rental option for seniors aged 55+.
Wesbury celebrates 100th Anniversary!
First Vernon Square Apartments residents move in. During the pandemic, the challenges were fluid, yet at Wesbury, we have strived to stay at the top of our game despite the challenges. Wesbury was voted 2022’s Best Home Health Care and Best Nursing/Personal Care Home by The Meadville Tribune’s 2022 Reader’s Choice (for the 11th consecutive time), maintained a 5-star rating with Centers for Medicare/Medicaid, and was ranked top 15 best nursing home in Pennsylvania for four consecutive years by Newsweek Magazine.
