09/07/2026
Special to The Citizen by Casie Lynne Shutter, Marketing Consultant for The Faatz-Crofut Home for the Elderly.
Same parlor, new chapter: 41 years later at The Home in Auburn
In September 1985, a photograph taken inside the parlor of what many in Auburn still knew as “The Old Ladies’ Home” marked an important milestone in the history of a longtime community institution: The Home had welcomed its first male resident.
Frank Jones, a lifelong resident of Aurora and a World War I veteran, was 90 years old when he moved into The Home on Sept. 1, 1985. He sat for a photograph alongside three of the women who called this home. Captured by The Citizen, the photograph represented a new chapter for an organization whose roots stretched back another 120 years.
Founded in 1865 as The Home for the Friendless, the organization was originally established to serve widows and children of the Civil War. For generations, it primarily served women and eventually became known throughout Auburn as “The Old Ladies’ Home.”
So, in 1985, welcoming a man was a big deal.
The transition required more than simply opening the door. The Home’s charter was reviewed, state approval was obtained, applications were filed, and the board of managers prepared to welcome male residents and couples.
But perhaps the women already living at The Home were the most enthusiastic about the change.
“Having a man around has been so good for our women. They need a male viewpoint,” Administrator Joanne Atwater told The Citizen at the time. “You should have seen the welcoming committee, inviting him to sit at their table, etc.”
Jones himself seemed to take his role in history with a sense of humor. When asked about becoming The Home’s first male resident, he told the newspaper, “It’s more like I got my toe in the door.”
Now, 41 years later, we have returned to that same parlor.
The room, affectionately known as our “blue room," has recently undergone a transformation, with updates that have given it a fresh new look while maintaining the warmth and character that have made it a gathering place for generations of residents. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our board of managers, who made this recent remodel possible. Their continued commitment to The Home helps ensure our residents have a welcoming and comfortable environment to visit and make memories. And this time, when we recreated that 1985 photograph, the picture looked quite different.
Today, the parlor is filled with men and women who call The Faatz-Crofut Home for the Elderly their home. Current Administrator Klare Gunnip said, “Our Home has truly become a place for everyone. Today we are proud to have 19 male residents and 27 females. We happily welcome both men and women, and it is wonderful to see how our residents become part of one another’s lives and community. What began with one man opening the door in 1985 has grown into a home where everyone is welcome, valued and included.”
Their stories span decades. They have raised families, built careers, served their communities, celebrated milestones, experienced change and collected a lifetime of memories. And now, their stories have become another chapter in the long history of this remarkable Auburn residence.
That may be one of the most meaningful things about looking at these two photographs side by side. Much has changed since 1985. The faces are different. The room has changed. The makeup of The Home has changed. But the sense of companionship and community captured in that original photograph remains.
More than four decades after Frank Jones “got his toe in the door,” The Home continues to be exactly what its name suggests — home — for the men and women who live here.
And, of course, a home is more than a building.
Behind the scenes is a dedicated staff that keeps things running each day while helping residents feel comfortable, cared for and connected. From meals and everyday care to seasonal decorations, activities, entertainment and special celebrations, staff members work to make The Home not simply a place to live, but a place where residents can continue making memories.
The Auburn community has also played an important role in The Home’s story for generations. Local organizations, businesses, volunteers, families and friends continue to support our residents through donations, visits, entertainment and special events.
This fall, we hope the community will once again be part of that story.
The Home will host its annual Fall Fest Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 46 Grant Ave. in Auburn. Proceeds will support the Residents Council and resident activities. The day will include outdoor games and activities, raffles, hot dogs and a bake sale.
Community members and local businesses are invited to participate by volunteering or donating baked goods or raffle items. Anyone interested in helping can contact Activities Director Tamara Angotti-Marek at (315) 253-6141.
A newspaper clipping from 1985 gives us a small window into one moment in The Home’s more than 160-year history. It continues with the people sitting in that same room today. Different faces. Same parlor. Same heart.
See article here: https://auburnpub.com/news/local/history/article_896f7ff4-9f01-419a-816f-cdae2e7d0029.html?utm_source=auburnpub.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Fdaily-headlines&utm_medium=cio&lctg=b4f30700e93dea3d&tn_email_eh1=7320c2f3cc3423959f4b737be733cd28639dec60f7444bab0a3874e7d4950bbe
Recreated/New Photographs by
C Lynne Music & Media
