Soldiers' homes were an expanding social focus after the Civil War to assist soldiers in the transition back to civilian life. Originally, a home for veterans living in the midwest was planned for Chicago and many Wisconsin women were involved in this project. However, Milwaukee native Lydia Hewitt proposed a plan to construct a soldiers' home in Milwaukee and founded the Wisconsin Soldiers' Home Association. The Association raised funds, and in it's first year, 1865, cared for 4,842 soldiers. It also sponsored the 1865 Soldiers' Home Fair which raised $110,000 to care for veterans and construct a permanent facility. In 1867, the Association's funds were turned over to the National Asylum for Disabled Soldiers. Thus, the Wisconsin Soldiers' Home Association became the United States National Soldiers' Home, and later the Veterans Administration Medical Center (or Wood).
The National Home in Milwaukee admitted only veterans, raising concerns among Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) members. Veterans, particularly Dr. Frederick Marden, worried about separating spouses in their “twilight years” and conceived of a facility which admitted veterans, wives, widows, and mothers. Marden developed and promoted the “cottage plan” allowing veterans and their wives who did not require much care to live together and receive minimal health care.
The idea for such a soldiers' home was proposed at the 1884 GAR Department of Wisconsin Encampment by Henry Fischer, Department Commander. Approved by the Encampment, work began immediately. A committee of five was appointed to look into the feasibility of forming a veteran's home to be maintained by the GAR that would provide for soldiers, wives, and mothers. The committee consisted of Dr. F.A. Marden, Albert O. Wright, Benjamin F. Bryant, James Cumberledge, and Joseph H. Marston, all of whom were later appointed to the first Board of Incorporators.
Committee members reported favorably to the GAR and thus the Grand Army Home for Veterans, the first state home of its kind, was born. The Home's location was selected from the several cities (including Waupaca, Sheboygan, Watertown, Evansville, Berlin, and New Kilbourn) which volunteered their communities. The Incorporators visited each location, and Waupaca was chosen after several votes and long discussions. The Grand Army Home for Veterans is located on what was formerly the Greenwood Park hotel, three and a half miles from Waupaca on the eastern shore of Rainbow Lake. When the GAR took the land, it consisted of seventy-eight acres of land which included a central building, six cottages, and a farmhouse. Originally, the land was a gift from the city of Waupaca. In 1890 the property was conveyed to the state.
Incorporated on March 10, 1887, the Grand Army Home (between 1973 and 1975 the name was changed to the Wisconsin Veterans Home) opened to residents on October 1, 1887 while the facility was still undergoing repairs. The official dedication was August 29, 1888 with more then sixty thousand in attendance.
Fundraising provided for the purchase of much of the Home's furniture. The Woman's Relief Corps (WRC), a women's auxiliary to the GAR, began fund raising and donated the money for several cottages. Funds were raised through the War Relic exhibition, held from September 7 to October 22, 1888 in Milwaukee with all proceeds benefiting the Home. Grand Army posts throughout the state independently raised money and donated it.
Although the Home was controlled by the GAR, lobbying began almost immediately for government support. In 1887 a bill passed by which the state treasurer paid three dollars for each veteran living at the Home. As time passed however, lobbying became more frequent and aimed to address long-term needs of the institution. By 1890, the growth of the Home had already exceeded the expectations of the Incorporators and the available space. As a result, the Board asked the legislature for $50,000 for permanent expansion and in return, the state GAR turned over the Home's property deed to the state. The GAR retained control and management and invoked a clause that the land would always be used to house dependent Union soldiers, sailors, and marines, along with their wives and widows.
The 1890 allotment resulted in many improvements, such as a water-works fire protection system, sewer system, steam heat, and the purchase of Home Island. Several new buildings were constructed including new cottages, B.F. Bryant Hall (dining), headquarters building, laundry building, and cold storage building. Cemetery layout was also planned.
Prior to 1891, veterans lived at the Home without contributing any of their income to the Home. However, in 1891, the Board began requiring all residents (referred to as members) receiving a pension to contribute 1/5 of it to the Home for upkeep. The Board believed that not only would this provide income to the Home but it would also foster a sense of connection to the Home. Requiring veterans to contribute money was controversial and lead to accusations both at Grand Army Encampments and in newspapers that the Board, especially Joseph Marston, was misusing or embezzling the Home's funds. These charges were later discovered to be unfounded. Initially difficult to enforce, by 1906 all members were required to keep their pension certificates and vouchers with the Adjutant. Failure to pay rebate of pension or file the pension certificate would result in discharge from the Home. These measures eliminated most of the difficulty enforcing the rules.
Since the 1891 decision, Home residents have been required to pay toward some of their care. Generally, any veteran admitted to the Home is required to apply their income and resources toward the cost of their care. During the mid-1900s, members of the Home were required to have the state control their assets in order to pay to cost of care. In the mid-1990s, this decision was reversed and residents were again allowed to control their own financial assets.
Home membership was originally fairly open. Any honorably discharged soldier, sailor, or marine could live at the facility. As numbers grew policies were tightened and by 1895 residents needed to show incapacitation, pass a physical exam, and prove they had not been discharged from any National Home. In response to the trend of “spring-fall” marriages, a rule was passed which did not allow a veteran to marry women under the age of 45 and bring her to live at the Home. Membership was opened in 1923 to veterans of the Spanish- American War, Philippine Insurrection, and China relief expedition; in 1929, World War I veterans; and in 1947, veterans of World War II.
Providing adequate health care for Home residents has always been a priority. Aside from medical care, one of the earliest priorities was the diet of residents. During the 1910s, the Home operated a subsistence farm under the supervision of Henry Smith, a member of the Board of Trustees. Products grown on the farm were served to members and were preserved for the winter by Home Matrons. Other advances in medical care included an annex to the hospital which held overflow patients and amenities like a hobby shop. Between the years 1951 and 1953, the Home lobbied for funds to build a new hospital building, and by 1983 had four licensed care facilities; MacArthur Hall, Olson Hall, Stordock Hall, and Burns-Clemons Hall.
Currently (March 2004), the Home offers comprehensive medical and nursing care to its members. Also offered is physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy. Members have the opportunity to earn spending money through the work therapy program. The commissary is free of charge to Members and offers personal items. A variety of recreational activities are organized by staff and include bingo, dancing, movies, cards, trips around the state, chapel, bowling, post office, theater, museum, and library. There are four licensed nursing care facilities; cottages for married couples able to care for themselves; and a chapel, bowling alley, post office, theater, museum, and library.
Veterans organizations have also flourished at the Home. The first veteran's group at the facility was the F. A. Marden Post 126 of the GAR. Later groups included American Legion Post 161 (Shipley-Robinson-Moen-Will Post), Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1464 (Major U.S. Carl Post), Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 150 (Charles King), and United Spanish War Veterans Camp 44 (Charles King Camp). Patriotic groups such as women's auxiliaries to veterans organizations also formed as did a group called the Grey Ladys which provided care and activities for Home residents. These groups meet regularly at the Home and sponsor annual activities for the benefits of all members.
While expansion and construction progressed at a rapid pace early in the Home's development, that pace slowed considerably until the 1960s. In 1956, Commandant G. H. Stordock submitted materials to the Legislative Council outlining conditions at the Home and asking for appropriations to modernize buildings, many of which dated to the original construction. Throughout its history, with fire always a concern, the Home operated its own fire department and updating the buildings to eliminate this hazard was a main reason for the desired appropriations. The beginning of new construction projects in 1965 and 1975 resulted in the razing of older buildings to make space for new medical facilities and dormitories.
Several different organizations have had control of the Wisconsin Veterans Home. Originally it was under the control of the Grand Army of the Republic which appointed a Board of Trustees (in 1917 changed to Board of Managers). In 1929, control was given to the Adjutant General of the state of Wisconsin. In 1945 control was transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Control by the State of Wisconsin has been multifaceted. On the one hand, state control ensures support, but the Home as also been affected by political and state budgets. In the 1960s and 1970s state budget concerns impacted the Home and its residents and employees took a more active role in politics. During this period many improvements were canceled or delayed. Controversy again arose over the amount of money residents were allowed to retain each month causing many to leave the Home rather face a reduction in spending money. Residents perceived Governor Patrick Lucy as anti-veteran. One of Lucey's cuts to the Home decreased the fire department which proved dangerous in 1973 when a fire broke out in Stordock Hall and only one firefighter responded. Lucey also fired Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs John Moses in 1977. Home residents watched the situation closely as Moses appealed his job loss.
Today, the Home is the state's largest nursing care facility, with 827 employees providing assistance to about 730 veterans (capacity is 749). Additionally, about 375 volunteers contribute nearly 70,000 hours of service annually visiting residents and organizing activities. Admissions policies have been updated to allow Wisconsin veterans admittance if they served on active duty for at least two years or the full period of their service obligation or served on active duty for at least 90 days, one day of which must be within a wartime period. Spouses of eligible veterans may also reside at the Home.
