Asbury Towers recognized for 60 years of service

Noting 60 years of service to the Greencastle community, Mayor Lynda Dunbar signs the first proclamation of her term, recognizing Asbury Towers Retirement Community for its ongoing commitment to a high quality of life for residents. Present for the recognition are (front, from left) resident Barbara Bergen, who knew the founding Three Sisters; marketing director Vicki Jones-Rice, Mayor Dunbar, resident David Delp, (back) business manager Glee Brinkman, nurse Kelly Wood and assistant administrator Callie Spudes.

Courtesy photo

Greencastle Mayor Lynda Dunbar signed her first proclamation on Wednesday, Jan. 24 in recognition of 60 years of ongoing commitment to a high quality of life for residents of Asbury Towers Retirement Community.

The residents and staff of Asbury Towers are proud to celebrate 60 years of actively caring for the greater Greencastle and Putnam County community.

Asbury Towers operates as the county’s only Comprehensive Care Community for independent living, assisted living and skilled care.

It was 80 years ago that three Greencastle sisters — Jane Hays, Adda Hutcheson and May Hammond — saw the need for retirement home living for older residents who needed help with healthcare and activities of daily living.

Beginning in January 1942, the three sisters organized a grassroots effort to purchase property, hire architects and engineers, and oversee construction of the new Greencastle retirement community. The founders persisted despite economic challenges, discrimination by local financial leaders who dismissed the attempts of a women-led enterprise, and a challenge from a neighboring community to move the project to another county.

The doors of Asbury Towers Retirement Community opened to the first residents in November 1964. Since then, Asbury Towers has seen expansions of its health care center, addition of a memory care unit and development of 23 condominiums in an independent living village.

Asbury Towers remains a vital employer in the greater Putnam County area with a staff of more than 100 employees and a payroll exceeding $4 million annually, making Asbury Towers an important economic force in the community by providing living wages and job opportunities for a variety of skills.

Dunbar read the proclamation, recognizing the 60 years that Asbury Towers has provided “a place to call home” and where citizens have had the opportunity “to live a happy carefree life without worry in their retirement years.”

Asbury Towers is planning several events during 2024 in recognition of its 60th year of operation, including a Celebration Gala on Nov. 1 at DePauw University’s Ballroom. More information will be released at a later date.