Local Election Issues & the End of a Nursing Home Era

Heddington Oaks, the recently shuttered county nursing home.

Besides the race everyone is talking about (of which there is no doubt about the outcome in Illinois), local and state initiatives are also on the ballot.


Above are some of the many pieces of election mail that have arrived at our house: state senate race between incumbent Dem. Dave Koehler and Rep. Mary Burress; vote yes or no on the tax amendment; vote to sell Heddington Oaks, the building that served as the county nursing home.


Heddington Oaks was built in 2013 to replace the prior county nursing home Bel-Wood, which was constructed in the 60's. Altogether, the county had provided some type of senior care for more than 170 years. 


But the nursing home, only seven years old, never had enough residents in its 200 plus capacity, to make a financial go of things.


So there is a referendum on the ballot to sell the building.

St. Joseph's Home

What's coincidental is that prior to Heddington Oaks, St. Joseph's Home sat on the same plot of land. This was a home for older people that was run by our friends, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception. I can't remember what year St. Joseph's Home closed, but I know it was still open in 2004, the year we were married, because the day after our wedding. we visited Sister Rita, one of the sisters who lived there. Through the years, we had friends and relatives who lived at St. Joseph's, including John's maternal grandma. It was a special place.


A couple weeks ago, John and I went hiking around back of Heddington Oaks. 


John remembers rambling around here when he and his family would visit his grandma.


There are some big, old trees in West Peoria.




Above, a remnant of a Station of the Cross.


It seems certain the referendum to sell the building will pass. Who knows what the building's next chapter will be? For now, we'll let this photo with the flag at half staff have the last word.

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