The History of St. Barnabas

St. Barnabas: A Treasure for the Chattanooga Community 

Once upon a time, there were no quality elder care organizations in Chattanooga. There were only a couple of "homes" where the elderly who had no family to care for them could go. These homes weren't the inviting, nurturing environments we've come to expect of a nursing facility or retirement center. Rather, they provided the most basic needs but not much more.

In the early 1960s, this problem began to weigh on the minds of Chattanooga leaders, especially those faith communities with many elderly members. The parish of St. Paul's Episcopal Church included more than 150 elderly people, while the Second Presbyterian Church had 120 older members. At the same time, the City was demolishing many houses and apartments to make way for the Golden Gateway Urban Redevelopment project, so there were fewer housing options for older people.

The Rev. John Bonner III, rector of St. Paul's, determined to meet this need and enlisted the aid of the Hamilton County Episcopal Commission to build a home for seniors.  A public meeting in November 1960 followed. Scott L. Probasco, a trustee of the Benwood Foundation, heard about the meeting and offered to secure funds to start the building if Dr. Bonner would see it through to completion. In a short time the "problem" became a community project.

What's In a Name

Many names were proposed for the project, but "St. Barnabas" was finally selected for two important reasons: St. Barnabas is the Episcopal patron saint of the elderly and infirm, and the major organizational meeting occurred on St. Barnabas Day, June 11. The name continues to reinforce its faith-based healing ministry and not-for-profit status.

The Project Begins

A six-member special study committee, which included Dr. Bonner and Chattanooga attorney Jac Chambliss, long known for his community involvement, was instrumental in establishing St. Barnabas as the solution to the problem. Plans for high-rise retirement apartments and an adjacent nursing facility were soon underway, a project committee members regarded as pioneering "an important new field." 

The local newspaper quoted members of the special study committee as saying that both buildings would feature central air and heat (!), and that an urban, rather than rural, location would offer the advantages that are still St. Barnabas's strong points: proximity to churches, entertainment, and shopping, without residents (then called "tenants") having to worry about transportation. The expected rates were $115 monthly for a single apartment and $165 for a double - which were considered high in 1962. The committee believed rates might be reduced by adjusting some of the building plans and offering fewer amenities, but expressed the hope that decision makers would "agree with this committee and with the architects that we should provide more than the absolute minimum" (1) .

Mr. Chambliss chaired the capital campaign steering committee to raise approximately $250,000 of the $2 million project. Selmon T. Franklin was selected as architect. Both the nursing facility and retirement apartments were constructed on property adjacent to and immediately north of St. Paul's, on the corner of Sixth and Pine streets.

A Monument to An Ideal

Gov. Frank Clement, Mayor Ralph Kelley, Judge Chester Frost, and The Right Reverend John Vander Horst spoke of the unique opportunity before the community at the groundbreaking early in 1964 for the new nursing facility.

"There is being builded here a monument to an ideal," said Gov. Clement. On behalf of the citizens of Chattanooga, Mayor Kelley expressed gratitude to those "who have contributed so much to bring this project to downtown Chattanooga." He called the project a part of a "new life, a new spirit of determination to help Chattanooga move forward faster," but said it served as a reminder to "never move so fast as to forget our senior citizens." (2)

A Dream Realized

After six years of planning and hard work, the nursing facility welcomed its first residents September 16, 1965. The Apartments opened to tenants the following September, 1966.

In 1966, St. Barnabas was the only Chattanooga nursing home staffed by registered nurses around the clock. Nursing and therapy staff took "tremendous satisfaction" from nursing patients improvements to the extent they were able to take up residence in the Apartments. Apartment residents felt secure knowing specialized nursing care was conveniently available to them should they need it.

Local media called the completed St. Barnabas project a "community enterprise" (3) - one that Chattanoogans took pride in providing for their city. 

Serving All Denominations

Though the project came under the auspices of the Hamilton County Episcopal Commission, it was intended from the beginning to serve the entire community regardless of denominational affiliation. Both the nursing home and the apartments are governed by a diverse board, the members of which belong to various faith communities.  St. Barnabas belongs to Chattanooga and was meant to be a blessing to the entire community. 

Ahead of the Curve in the 21st Century

St. Barnabas moved the skilled nursing division in 2007 to its new state-of-the-art building in Chattanooga's critical medical community. Here, the rehabilitation therapy program is successfully transitioning short-term patients to home. With today's emphasis on keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible and avoiding a premature nursing home placement, St. Barnabas assists independence at whatever level possible.

Traditional long-term care is also provided in the new building.

(1) Chattanooga Times 4/25/1962.

(2) Chattanooga Times 4/24/1964

(3) News Free Press 10/23/1966

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