History of Morningside Ministries

Beginnings
The origin of Morningside Ministries dates back to the mid-1950s with a resolution by the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church on May 27, 1957 to create a board of managers for the establishment, maintenance, operation and management of homes for the elderly. The San Antonio board included 30 members, 12 of whom were ministers, and began searching for land and developing plans for a home and a hospital in the area. The hospital was later developed as Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital, and the home, Morningside Manor.

Committee member, L.E. Fite, suggested 22 acres of land on Babcock Road and St. Cloud as the site for the home. Part of the Sunshine Ranch, the land was for sale for $1,000 per acre. Members of the committee borrowed against their personal assets and came up with $5,000 for a down payment.

Official plans for Morningside Manor were announced on December 15, 1958. The Methodist Manor was the first name suggested, however, in a secret ballot, the board voted to name the project Morningside Manor. A Women's Auxiliary of the Home for the Aged was organized and it officially assumed responsibility for furnishing the facility. By March of 1960, the board approved financing for Morningside through the sale of bonds, an FHA insured loan, money from local churches and the sale of rooms.

Architects Marmon Mok and William D. Jones designed a central, pentagon-shaped building around an open courtyard. Radiating off of the center were three wings with 107 rooms or suites, and infirmary, a main dining room, recreation rooms, library and a workshop. Residents were to be charged a $1,000 deposit and $150 per month for room, board and medical care or they could purchase a room for $8,000 to take care of the expenses for their time at Morningside.

Opening
On September 11, 1961, Morningside Manor officially opened. Members of Travis Park United Methodist Church served a formal dinner to honor the first ten residents. Just as the festivities were beginning, winds and rain from Hurricane Carla, battering the Gulf Coast at the time, caused the electricity to go out in the building. Thus, residents were served dinner on delicate china and long-stemmed crystal glasses by the light of candles, starting a candlelight dinner tradition that continues to this day.

Surrounded by acres of open, green, grassy plain, early residents played golf and pitched horseshoes on the open lawn. However, after two months of operation, only 31 residents had moved in and the community began to experience financial difficulties. Dr. Ted Richardson, the Methodist District Superintendent, approached Rev. Harold Gosnell of St. Mark's Episcopal Church about spreading the word about Morningside Manor. Within two months, 47 new residents had moved in. Next, Richardson met with Dr. George Mauze and the board at First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio about joining in partnership with Morningside. In April 1967, a new ecumenical charter was formalized and approved and Morningside Manor, Inc. had three sponsors – The Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, The West Texas Diocese of the Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio.

Early Expansion
It soon became apparent that the 12-bed infirmary would not meet the needs of Manor residents or the community. In 1967, with a bequest from Crystal A. Powell and the San Antonio Presbyterian Foundation, construction began on the 140-bed D.A. Powell Memorial Building. Jutting southeast of the main entrance, the wing fit snugly into the sloping terrain and provided "domiciliary care for the ambulatory, a minimum care unit and a moderate to maximum care unit." Additional funding from a $400,000 Hill-Burton Grant, individual gifts and a bank loan provided for the building, later to become known as Powell I.

 The Moore Chapel was Morningside's next big project. Ms. Rowena Brown, a Morningside resident, desired to leave some of her estate to build a chapel, named in honor of her sister, Harriet Brown Moore. Opened in 1968, the chapel stands in front of the original building's main entrance.

Planning for a major addition to the Powell building began in November 1968 and the doors to Powell II opened in 1971. Using another quarter of a million dollar gift from the Powell Estate, another 300 nursing beds were added to Morningside Manor.

In April 1968, an active volunteer group was organized for the facility. Volunteers called themselves Morninglories and Manor Men and carefully planned activities and gifts for the enhancement of the resident's lives. In 1971, a gift shop was added in the Powell building to raise money for activities and gifts. 

In November of 1968, the facility became Medicare and Medicaid certified and a van was purchased the next year to take residents on shopping trips and outings.

In 1975, 40 cottage apartments, in 12 buildings, were completed west of the Manor. The one-and-two-bedroom cottages were built with an anonymous $1 million gift and provided an independent living option to residents. A clubhouse, mailboxes and laundry rooms were also added. Morningside Manor now housed more than 400 residents.

Moving Beyond Babcock Road
In the early 1970s, the Morningside Board was approached by the Chandler Memorial Home Board of Trustees about assuming ownership and operation of the Chandler Memorial Home. Built in 1885 as a private residence on West French Place, the home was incorporated as "The Chandler Home for Gentlewomen in Needy Circumstances" in December 1923, after the death of Mr. & Mrs. Chandler. This facility was closed in 1968 due to stricter state regulations on retirement and nursing homes. It was then that Morningside agreed to accept the home, along with the land, some furnishings and a cash gift to begin new construction. A 120-bed nursing home was completed behind the Chandler House in 1977. The addition of a 39-unit apartment building and the renovation of the house for a senior center were completed in 1978.

For more information on the history of The Chandler House, click here.

A Period of Growth for Morningside
Between 1967 and 1981, Morningside Manor, Inc. grew from 100 residents to more than 600 and from one building to two campuses with numerous buildings and into a $7.5 million organization. In 1974, Morningside hosted the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)  national conference. More than 900 professionals from across the country attended and hundreds toured the Morningside facilities. In 1980, the Charitable Endowment Fund was started to provide for those residents in need of financial assistance. An office for development and public relations was set up in 1980 to grow the donations and publicity for Morningside. During the early 1980s, the number of staff began to increase and the organization went from a "mom and pop" operation to a large organization. Long-term goals were developed and a solid financial footing was established. Over $1 million was spent renovating the original main building when the heating and air conditioning system was replaced and the nursing unit was completely rebuilt.

In June of 1981, the board of directors appointed a building committee to plan for additional facilities on the undeveloped land west of Morningside Manor. It was decided to build additional retirement apartments and in December 1984, The Meadows Atrium Building, a four-story independent living center opened with 116 apartments. Again, an anonymous $1 million donation provided for the construction of the building. A professional fundraising team succeeded in raising $1.95 million dollars to help finance the project. The cottages, which until now were considered an extension of Morningside Manor, were transferred to the management of The Meadows. The new community offered cafeteria-style dining, a beauty shop and a convenience store.

In 1984, Morningside Ministries began Chandler In-Home Care as an outreach to the community. That service grew into Morningside Home Health Care, providing private pay homemaker/companion service as well as nursing, therapy and infusion services to residents of the San Antonio community in their own home.

Two units at Morningside Manor were converted to special care units in 1985. Specifically designed to care for those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, the units provided extra security measures and large murals were painted on the walls to brighten up the space and make the area more appealing.

In 1986, on the occasion of the 25^th Anniversary of Morningside Manor, the name Morningside Manor, Inc. was officially changed to Morningside Ministries.

The Administrative Center was added to the Babcock Road campus in 1989. Before then, the corporate offices for Morningside had been located in the health care center of Morningside Manor. The opening of a new corporate office freed up valuable room at Morningside Manor and provided much-needed space for a rapidly growing staff. Later that year, residents at The Meadows participated in the filming of a holiday video taped at The Meadows with the Air Force. The "Tops in Blue" video was shown to Air Force personnel around the world.

The board voted to open an in-house pharmacy at Morningside Manor in 1990 to provide medication, information and other services to residents at both campuses and to provide 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week emergency services. The old classroom at Morningside Manor was converted into pharmacy space and a pharmacist and technician were hired. Although it took almost two days to fill the first prescription, the pharmacy now easily fills thousands of prescriptions each and every week.

 Sit-down dining service began at The Meadows in 1991 and the dining room was renovated the next year and a wellness center was added in 1998 to accommodate the exercise and fitness requirements of the residents.

In January 1997, a new assisted living center opened on the Chandler campus, providing 24 beautiful suites, and adding an additional 12 beds to the health care facility. A rehabilitation gym, administrative offices, a third-floor dining room and two private dining rooms were also added to the health care center. Two years later, Chandler became a Medicare-certified facility.

Morningside Manor underwent extensive renovations again in 1998-1999, providing more than $250,000 in improvements to Unit Seven. The admissions office was refurbished, the assisted living dining room was improved and a new nurse's station and beautiful outdoor atrium were added. The Eden Alternative was adopted at Morningside Manor that year, incorporating more living plants, resident animals and more intergenerational activities with youth to provide a more naturalistic and home-like atmosphere. The first Celebration of Life Fall Festival was held at Morningside Manor in 1999 to provide residents, families and employees a day of outdoor fun, games, food, music and togetherness and also raise money to support the Eden Alternative.

In March of 2000, the board accepted one of the most substantial gifts in its history so far, resulting in the renaming of the assisted living at Morningside Manor to The Kaulbach Assisted Living Center.

Growing For The Future
After many years of planning and deliberations, the board of directors voted to move forward with a plan to expand services to the Boerne area. A contract was signed for the purchase of 23 acres of land near Highway 46 and Interstate 10 in September 2001 and ground was broken for the community in 2002. The beautiful, new, state-of-the-art community was opened in April of 2004 along the banks of Menger Creek. Once again designed by Marmon Mok Architects, 95 independent living apartments, 13 assisted living and 13 memory care apartments were added to Morningside Ministries. The architecture reflects the tranquil Hill Country surroundings and the building provides spacious residences with all the amenities of a full-service retirement community.

Chandler Health Care Center began offering in-patient hospice care in January of 2002.The hospice unit has five Medicare-certified, private rooms dedicated to improving the quality of a patient's last days by offering comfort and dignity. The unit also opened up a new aspect of Morningside's ministry - it was no longer strictly for older adults. For the first time, men and women of all ages were admitted to the facility for hospice care.

A new, state-of-the-art rehabilitation gym was opened at Morningside Manor in 2004. Named in honor of Bishop Harold C. Gosnell, the gym greatly enhanced the rehabilitation space and equipment making the facility more attractive for older adults throughout the area who need rehab services on a short-term basis. A large, new dining space and physician examination room were also added. The St. Cloud entrance and gallery were also modernized and named in honor of Rev. Louis Zbinden, retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church and a 32-year Morningside board member.

In early 2004, Unit One at Morningside Manor, one of the two special care units, was closed, reducing the number of beds at The Manor by 46. Four new buses were purchased that year, with one 14-passenger bus for each campus and one 22-person bus that is shared between campuses, replacing several older vehicles in the fleet that were inefficient and high maintenance and adding safer, more comfortable transportation options for residents.

A $150,000 gift was given to Morningside by the SBC Foundation (now the AT&T Foundation) in 2004 to open an employee-health clinic using telemedicine technology. Through a partnership with The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (UTMB), employees at Morningside are able to visit with a physician in Galveston without leaving the workplace. This provides a much-needed health benefit to the uninsured and underinsured employees allowing them to get first-rate medical care. An additional $150,000 was given by AT&T to support the continued operation of clinic in 2005.

A new 25x30-foot, indoor, heated swimming pool was added to the campus of Menger Springs in 2004. The four-foot-deep pool added the option of lap swimming and water aerobics to the current exercise program and featured a wheelchair lift, making the pool accessible to all residents.

In the fall of 2004, the first Career Ladder Class took place offering advanced skills training to certified nursing assistants (CNAs) at Morningside Ministries. This class was the outcome of a 2003 Recruitment and Retention Study of the CNAs, who expressed concern about the lack of advancement opportunities for them. Upon completion of the 16-week course, CNAs gained 32-hours of advanced training, the designation of resident care specialist and a monetary bonus. The class continues today, having now graduated more than 85 resident care specialists.

A new, modern Web site was launched for Morningside in July of 2005, giving the organization an enhanced and more interactive online presence.

In the fall of 2005, the decision was made to close the Morningside Home Care division. Due to administrative changes to the Medicare Part A Program, it was no longer economically feasible for Morningside to maintain the program.

In November of 2005, delegates from the AAHSA national convention once again descended on Morningside Ministries. Just as they had done 31 years earlier, professionals from around the country toured Morningside facilities, this time at Menger Springs in Boerne. Visitors were impressed with the stunning new facilities and the Texas-sized hospitality that they experienced.

One of the most successful community events ever held at Morningside took place on August 6, 2006. The "Taste of Morningside" featured the food service departments from all campuses showcasing their culinary skills and delighting almost 400 guests with an upscale menu featuring orzo, lamb chops, crème brulee and other delicious items. The event received great publicity in local newspapers and provided a great team-building opportunity across all departments.

Two additional parcels of land, one of 7.8 acres and the other of 2.874 acres, were purchased in late 2006 adjoining the Menger Springs campus, growing the site to almost 34 acres and giving the campus access to Upper Balcones Road. A new fitness center was opened at The Meadows in the former craft room featuring high-end cardio and strength-building equipment designed for seniors.

The year 2006 ended with the notification that Morningside Ministries had received the largest gift ever in its history. $4.6 million was left to Morningside from the estate of Lt. Col. Charles Williams, whose mother lived at Morningside Manor in the early 1970s. Through this gift, Morningside was given a significantly stronger financial foundation on which to build for the future of aging services.

A new Travel Club, Club Morningside, was established in 2007 to provide residents who enjoy traveling the opportunity to continue doing so with a group of friends and neighbors. Trips are planned by a joint resident/staff committee and have included several cruises, trips around the country and short day trips around Texas.

In March of 2007, the first episode of "A Senior Moment" aired on KKYX 680 AM. The live, call-in radio show featured Alvin Loewenberg as the host and discussed senior-related topics and issues each week. The show ran for 45 weeks and featured more than 50 topics and special guests.

Ground was broken for the cottage development at Menger Springs on February 20, 2007. The Cottages Under The Oaks provided another independent living option on the Menger Campus, adding 30 single-family homes, ranging in size from 1475-1800 square feet. Originally, the development was only planned for 25 cottages, but the homes sold so quickly, another five homes were added and sold immediately. Residents began moving into their homes in November of 2007 and the development was fully completed by the spring of 2008. A new putting green and gazebo were also added to the campus. The professional, five-hole green and deck is located behind the Menger House.

In 2007, the Elizabeth McGown Training Institute at Morningside Ministries was opened to provide state-of-the-art educational programs for family, professional and pastoral caregivers who minister to the needs of frail older adults in Central and South Texas. The goal is to meet one of the biggest challenges of the 21^st Century: preparing our society to provide for the millions of elders who will need personal care. Using the latest distance-learning technology available, the Institute offers real-life training to those looking for practical ways to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of older adults in their care. By mid 2008, over $2 million had been raised for this project from individuals, corporations and foundations. A $500,000 gift from Gov. Dolph Briscoe in 2007 has allowed for the expansion of the Training Institute to rural South Texas. The Uvalde hub will begin offering programming out of the former home of Briscoe's mother in 2008.

The August 3, 2007 edition of the San Antonio Business Journal named Morningside Ministries as the Largest Not-For-Profit organization in San Antonio, topping other well-known organizations such as Goodwill Industries of San Antonio and the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.

2008 and Beyond
The Auxiliary of Morningside Manor celebrated their 40^th Anniversary in 2008, still providing resident activities and parties and gifts to the Manor through funds raised through the gift shop.

Construction began in February of 2008 on a new skilled nursing facility at Menger Springs. The new community, opened in May 2009 and completed the continuum of care on that campus. Featuring 40 beds, with a mix of two-bed suites and private showers, the 26,000-square-foot-community encompasses two wings of 20 beds and looks similar in design to the Cibolo House. At the same time, a 16-room assisted living expansion opened at the Cibolo House. The expansion features larger studio apartments and suites.

Renovations also took place at both San Antonio campuses. Unit Three at Morningside Manor, which was partially completed in 2004, added a new nurse's work area and a bathing spa.The three-person resident rooms were transformed into large semi-private rooms with much more individual space and a family sitting area.

At Chandler, nursing areas, dining and living spaces were transformed. Hallways were painted and new hardware, carpeting and lighting was installed. Four resident rooms were replaced with expanded living, dining and activity spaces. A country kitchen was added to each dining area. A fifth resident room adjacent to the rehabilitation department was used to expand the rehab area to serve a growing number of Medicare residents. The addition of new furniture, flooring and accessories in each resident room is planned for 2009.

At The Meadows, space will be revamped on the first floor. The current marketing office will become a sidewalk coffee shop and the mini-mart will be converted to a small theater area. A new marketing office will be built in a new location of the first floor. Plans call for new flooring, lighting and furniture throughout.

As we approach our 50^th anniversary, Morningside Ministries will continue to look for new opportunities and ways to expand our services to help a growing number of older adults. Now a $37 million yearly operation, with an Endowment Fund of in excess of $13 million, and more than 850 residents and 650 employees, Morningside is evaluating next steps and looking to the future. Where the next 50 years will take us, we don’t yet know but our mission will always remain to “care for those who cared for us.”

History of The Chandler House
Edward B. Chandler, 1852-1923, was widely known in San Antonio as a business leader and philanthropist. An active real estate mortgage banker and head of E.B. Chandler & Co., his investment dealings made him one of the wealthiest San Antonians of the time. He was president of the San Antonio Country Club and of the Associated Charities (predecessor of the United Way). Married in 1885 to Mary Waelder (the town of Waelder in Gonzales County is named for her father), the Chandlers bought three and a half acres of land north and east of San Pedro Springs, at 137 West French Place. Known as "one of the showplaces of Texas." the three-story, 16-room mansion was situated on a rocky hill overlooking the town two miles away. The Victorian-style home was most likely designed by C.A. Coughlin, who served as the architect of the Chandler Building on Crockett Street and the Chandler Billiard Room. Coughlin and his young partner Atlee Ayres also prepared plans for Chandler's barn.

The Chandler's home was constructed of gray brick with stone trim and had a double wrap-around veranda. The spacious lawn was cultivated with large trees and beautiful flowerbeds. To the rear of the house were Mrs. Chandler's rose garden, the barn and stables. An ornamental fence enclosed the property. Upon entering the home, guests enter into a dramatic reception hall. To the right, is an ornate mantelpiece, which towers over a tile-edged corner fireplace, popular in the Victorian era. To the left, is an elegant carved stairway adorned with Onderdonk paintings. Beyond the stairway was the parlor (now known as the Stanley Banks parlor) with large stained glass and leaded-glass windows. The room still has the original parquet floor and several original furnishings.

Mattie Walthall Leman described the grand dining room in 1911: "It is in the dining room that the greatest interest is aroused, for in here the handwork of Mrs. Chandler is seen in a most unusual manner. Surrounding the room to a height of about four feet, the walls are wainscoted in the rich colored Texas Mesquite, every other panel being handcarved, in each a different design of fruits, flowers or foliage. The remarkable feature of this work aside from its artistic beauty is that it was done by Mrs. Chandler. A tall, graceful cluster of sunflowers is on one panel, a running spray of vines another; a cluster of oak leaves another, and so on around the room, alternating with smooth polished panels that form a pleasant contrast with the carved wood."
“This mesquite is exactly the same color as the cherry wood mantel that is so ornamented with elaborate carving done by Mrs. Chandler. The mantel itself is carved in a deep running border of berries and leaves, while a china closet is made above the mantel of heavy plate glass and cherry wood carved in oak leaves. Supporting the mantel are corbels of composition granite molded in grape clusters. The furniture is in perfect harmony with the woodwork."
"Adjoining this room and adding much to its beauty and comfort is a screened-in palm room, where running vines around the side walls, swinging plants, palms and ferns make ideal scenery for the diners, and is a delightful summer living room in which the members of the household read, play bridge and entertain informal company in warm weather. This room opens onto a high rock balcony, around the ledge on which pot plants and ferns are also placed."

 Nearly all rooms in the house had access to the wrap-around porches to catch prevailing breezes and to give occupants a panoramic view of the city.

Across the road from the Chandlers to the south was a simple cottage built by Nathan Gould. He had moved there in 1882 with his wife, daughter Emily and son-in-law Robert Onderdonk, who later became widely known as a portrait and landscape painter. The floral paintings in the carved woodwork in the front stairway of the Chandler home are said to be the work of either Onderdonk, or his son, Julian, also a famed landscape painter.

Joining the Chandlers and Goulds on French Place during that decade were the families of Judge Denman, Col. Belknap and banker Woodhull. The neighborhood became a very prestigious residential area known as Laurel Heights.

The Chandlers entertained frequently at their home. Mrs. Chandler quickly acquired a reputation as a great hostess giving teas, receptions and garden parties. Frequent guests to the house included familiar Laurel Heights' names such as the Furnish, Moore and McGown-Davis families, as well as the artistic Onderdonks and others from the Gage, Savage and Franklin households.

Mrs. Chandler also proved to be quite an artist and a woodcarver. She was one of the founding members of the Van Dyke Art Club, an art group formed exclusively for women. At their first exhibition in 1887, she contributed art in several categories including oil painting, watercolors, crayons, china painting and needlework. The intricate wood carvings in the dining room of the Chandler House attest to her skill as a woodcarver.

In the early 1900s, the Chandlers set sail for Europe. During the trip, they struck up a conversation with a minister on board the ship, discussing the fact that they were childless and were considering leaving their home and monies to a cause which would help children. "Everyone wants to leave something for children," replied the minister. "Nobody ever wants to do anything for old people." The Chandlers took these words to heart and, upon returning home, made arrangements to leave their home as a residence for older women. The Chandlers also made plans to add a new wing to the back of the house for a nursing center.

Mrs. Chandler died on Christmas Eve 1922 and Mr. Chandler died just seven months later. Their home became the Chandler Memorial Home and an endowment was established to care for the ladies who were to live there.

A 1930s brochure read that the home was for "the welfare of aged gentlewomen who in their declining years were in destitute circumstances with no one to care for or provide them a comfortable home. . . Applicants must be in needy circumstances, of good education and pleasant manners, at least 60 years of age, of sound mind and in good average health and must present undoubted testimonials of high character and great disposition."

A matron supervised the management of the home, with a nurse and several domestic servants on staff. The ladies were well cared for in a refined private home setting, free of all charges. Many of the Chandler's furnishings remained in the home – silver, crystal, china, furniture and several Onderdonk paintings. The Chandler Memorial Home operated for 45 years during which it provided housing for several hundred residents. In 1968, the Board of Trustees closed the facility when it became apparent that it would be nearly impossible to remodel and renovate the home to the extent that changing licensure requirements could be met. At that time, the six residents were transferred to Morningside Manor. In 1976, ownership of the Chandler Memorial Home was transferred to Morningside Ministries. After lying vacant for several years, the home was in poor condition: overgrown with weeds, ceilings caved in, the formal gardens in disrepair. Disputes with the Monte Vista Historical Society over construction plans for the estate provided for many changes to Morningside's plans for the campus. Eventually, Morningside, the Trustees and the Historical Society reached an agreement as to the future of the campus. The Chandler Home was to be restored and used as a community senior center. It would also provide dining and activity spaces for apartment residents. A 39-unit apartment building was added east of the house, providing one-and-two bedroom apartment homes to residents. A 120-bed nursing facility was built behind the Chandler house in 1977. Twenty years later, in 1997, a 24-apartment assisted living center was opened adjacent to the nursing center toward the rear of the property. Twelve additional beds were added to the nursing area at that time.