In 1950, the nonprofit Welty Corporation was endowed to provide quality homes for senior citizens. Miss Clara Welty, a local philanthropist, donated her large family residence on Wheeling’s Main Street for the care of the city’s elderly residents.

A baby born the year Welty Home was opened is now old enough to be a resident, said Tess Gaudino, Welty Home manager, but a lot has changed since then. The original Welty Home quickly reached its capacity.

In addition, when the Fort Henry Bridge was built the home was slated for demolition to make way for its on-ramps.

As a result, the Welty Corporation built a larger home at 21 Washington Ave. in Wheeling’s Pleasant Valley neighborhood.

Today the area’s preferred assisted living program is home to 52 residents, each of whom has a private room and bath. During the past few years, Gaudino said, the distinctive, mid-century modern Welty Home has completely renovated its rooms and common areas, installing new carpets, furnishings and window treatments. New energy-efficient, walk-in showers were added to each room’s private bathroom. The building’s living room, dining room, chapel and activities area received new furnishings and decor. The renovation has made Welty Home even more beautiful, comfortable and inviting for its residents.

Local residents have long recognized the quality of Welty Home, and inspectors from the West Virginia Office of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification Office (OHFLAC) for the 13th have given Welty Home a perfect rating for 13 consecutive years. Gaudino attributes this accomplishment to the Welty home nurses, personal care assistants, cooks, housekeeping, activities and transportation staff. “Our staff take a lot of pride in the care they provide for our residents,” she said. “This survey shows — and our residents tell us — that staff are doing a great job.”

Welty has many amenities to recommend it, she said, including nurses on duty around the clock to assist residents.

It also offers daily Mass in its lovely chapel, home-cooked meals, regular activities and entertainment, transportation to medical appointments and more.

To learn more about the programs and services at Welty Home, contact Gaudino at 304-242-5233.

Miss Welty’s generosity extends beyond Welty Home, Gaudino said. Her bequest to the Welty Trust has funded the creation of five other senior properties, all located within one-half mile of one another in Wheeling:

∫ Good Shepherd Nursing Home, which earns consistent five-star ratings from the federal government;

∫ Clara Welty Apartments and Bertha Welty Apartments, beautiful residences for seniors who can live independently;

∫ Braddock Apartments, on the Good Shepherd Nursing Home campus, for seniors with a loved one at Good Shepherd; and Welty TownHomes, a new complex of spacious single-story dwellings.

For information about any Welty property, visit www.weltyhome. org.