Our History: A Tradition of Caring
The History of The Richmond Home for Ladies, Now Covenant Woods
In 1882, as Richmond, Virginia was recovering from the devastation of the Civil War, all of Richmond was working to bring normalcy back to the city. Many were building new fortunes. But the older women, many of whom had lost their sons and husbands, and who had adequate resources before the war, had nothing left but worthless Confederate paper, and no way to revive. To help these ladies to a respectable lifestyle, the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in the Richmond area were making plans to open the Richmond Home for Ladies – now named Covenant Woods.
In 1883, “The Richmond Home for Ladies” was founded and located at North Seventh Street, between Clay and Leigh Streets, Richmond.
Dr. William W. Parker, a physician, met with Dr. D.H. Gregg – who is referred to in the history as “bountifully endowed with the world’s goods.” Dr. Gregg agreed that there was a need and offered $10,000 in Petersburg Railway bonds for the construction of a home for aged and infirmed females. Dr. Parker secured support from Dr. Moses D. Hoge, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church and Bishop Granberry of Centenary Methodist Church, and all agreed to proceed with the plans for a home for elderly Methodist and Presbyterian women.
At a meeting on February 15, 1883, the name “Richmond Home for Ladies” was adopted. That same month Dr. Gregg purchased a lovely old brick home at 515 North Seventh Street, between Clay and Leigh Streets. By year-end it housed 12 ladies and the admission fee was $200, but no one was denied entrance because of lack of funds.
By 1913, with the home filled to capacity and a long waiting list, the decision was made to move to the corner of Stuart Avenue and Mulberry Street – then Richmond’s far West End. Members of the community made gifts of food, and the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches supported the home financially.
In 1913, the Richmond Home for Ladies moved to the corner of Stuart Avenue and Mulberry Street – then Richmond’s far West End.
Over the years the Richmond Home for Ladies expanded and changed to meet the needs of the times: an infirmary was added, nurses were added to the staff, and then an administrator – the home continually updated and modernized to fulfill its mission – exceptional quality of care and an exceptional quality of life for seniors – within the parameters of the times.
Today Covenant Woods continues to fulfill the founder’s original vision as a comfortable community, offering the freedom of an active lifestyle and the security of Life Care. Just as the early leaders moved from Leigh Street to Stuart Avenue, today’s leaders moved out to Hanover County. Still seeking to meet the needs of the elderly, Covenant Woods was opened in 2001 in Hanover County.
Covenant Woods now serves both men and women, on a 70-acre campus instead of a city block. The same mission – caring for people as long as they live – is now called a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Today, there is fine dining, 24-hour security, a fitness center, physical therapy facilities, a sports pool, bocce ball courts, gardening areas, a wood-working shop, art studio, nature trails surrounding a stocked pond, a barber and beauty shop, lounge areas, and meeting rooms. Today there are three levels of health care services in the adjacent Health and Wellness Center – nursing, assisted living, and memory support. Should these services be required by residents, the LifeCare benefit provides unexcelled peace of mind and protection from possibly catastrophic health care costs.
