(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
150 YEARS OF SERVICE … Williams County Commissioners were awarded for their 150 years of excellent service with Hillside Country Living.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE … Former director Marcia Hauer is honored with the Award of Excellence Award given out by the facility being in her name.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Hillside Country Living Facility, located on County Road 16 in Williams County, celebrated its 150th anniversary this week.
The journey began in 1874 with a farmhouse and several other buildings. Initially referred to as “the poor house,” the farmhouse served as an infirmary for those who could not afford their bills but were not incarcerated.
From the 1920s to the 1950s, the focus of the infirmary shifted towards a more medical purpose, leading to a name change to the Williams County Nursing Home.
In 1967, the farmhouse was condemned, and a new three-story building, known as Hillside Nursing Home, was constructed. This new facility was licensed in 1975 and began accepting Medicaid and Medicare.
In 1993, the Village, which initiated the assisted living aspect of what Hillside Country Living is today, was built.
“We built assisted living 13 years before there were laws for assisted living facilities. We were not on the cutting edge of assisted living, but we were the cutting edge,” said Director Darrell Moore.
During the 150th celebration, many awards were given out to thank the wonderful staff not only for their years of service but also for their hard work and dedication.
The former director of Hillside, Marcia Hauer, was honored by having excellence awards named after her. The Williams County Commissioners also received an award for 150 years of excellent service.
Moore then spoke about how generations of families had worked for Hillside since the beginning, and he made an effort to track down their family members to give them awards as well.
Moore expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for being a part of this, because the only reason we are here is because of you.”
Before concluding the event, the Williams County Commissioners thanked Darrel for his hard work and suggested that he have one of the Marcia Hauer Award of Excellence awards made for himself.