History

Serving Seniors Since 1924

The history of Smith Senior Living (formerly Washington and Jane Smith Home in Beverly) begins in 1917, when Western Avenue was a two-lane gravel road that served mainly as a route to the Village of Blue Island, two miles farther south. Englewood resident Susie Woodman conceived the plan for a home for the elderly, and brought the idea to Dr. William Gregg. Together, they assembled a group of like-minded volunteers and secured a charter from the State of Illinois. The individuals who joined Mrs. Woodman and Dr. Gregg include a who's who of Chicago notables at the time: Jane Addams, Governor Charles Deneen, Senator Joseph McCormick, John G. Shedd and legendary attorney Clarence Darrow. Once World War I ended in 1919, fundraising began in earnest, with an eye to acquiring land for the home and building a facility to house its residents. In May 1924, Oakhaven Old People's Home opened its doors at South Western Avenue and 113th Place. From the very beginning the organization prided itself on providing dignified surroundings for its residents. In 1929, the organization reached an important milestone when the assets of Oakhaven were merged with those of the estate of Emilie Jane Smith, the late daughter of Washington and Jane Anne Smith. With the provisions of her trust, valued in 1924 at $1.75 million ($20 million in today's dollars) the building was expanded and an endowment was created to help provide for the needs of the home's residents. The retirement community has grown and changed over decades, with major donors and significant expansions charting a course for continuing innovation. In the late 1990s, the Smith Board launched plans for an unprecedented period of growth to better serve the needs of a changing senior population. In November of 2004, Smith Senior Living opened Smith Crossing, a $60 million retirement community on a 32-acre site in southwest suburban Orland Park. The $68 million redevelopment of the historic five-acre Beverly campus, which was re-named Smith Village, began in 2005 and the first residents moved into new Independent Living apartments in November of 2007. With the completion of these two continuing care retirement communities, Smith Senior Living provides the foremost residences and programs for seniors, ranging from an active lifestyle to comprehensive healthcare.