Latham Care Center

Tom and Olga Latham with members of their nursing staff

The Latham Convalescent Home under construction. Photo taken by the Hubbard family

The Orr Mansion pictured in the 1960s when it was the Latham Convalescent Home

The area that is now the gift shop was once the nurse's station

Preparing meals in the Orr Mansion kitchen

A nurse prepares to deliver a tray to one of the residents

Residents getting ready to watch a TV program

The east parlor was used as a sitting area for the residents

Residents being served breakfast by a Latham Care Center staff member

Nurses in front of the Orr Mansion in the 1960s

Floor layout of the Latham Convalescent Home

Brochure for Latham's Convalescent Home

Brochure for Latham's Convalescent Home

Latham's Convalescent Home ad from March 3, 1965

The Latham Care Center was located at the current site of the Orr Mansion and Logan County Museum for over twenty years. In 1906, William J. Orr built his dream home at 521 E. Columbus Ave. in Bellefontaine. Tom and Olga Latham purchased the former Orr home from Nell Pickering in September of 1960 for $38,500 with plans to build an attached care facility. The Latham’s both worked as nursing home administrators and Tom also managed the Kenton Care Center in Kenton.

After getting a zoning variance, the Lathams then began the process of converting the property into Latham’s Convalescent Home. The first brick addition was added to the back of the home in 1961, with a second and third addition in 1963 and 1965. Mr. Latham’s father, who needed personal convalescent care, was one of the first patients. The Convalescent Home could manage up to fifty-two patients and had a staff of twenty managed by Mrs. Latham.

An early brochure stated it was a “modernly equipped private home” that included “carpeted lounges, dining area, patio, recreation room, chapel and large bathrooms for both men and women, and a call system wired to each bed.” They remodeled the mansion kitchen, and the parlors were used for the patients to visit with guests. The rate in 1965 was around $8.00 per day.

The Lathams lived in the house while they operated the nursing home and Mrs. Latham is said to have dearly loved it. They did not make many changes to the interior of the home. However, they did convert two southwest rooms into an apartment for one of the nurses.

Mr. Latham was also involved with the startup of Valley Hi Ski Resort. He served as president and general manager from 1965 to 1970.

In March 1965, Latham’s announced state licensed Masso-Therapist Thomas W. Elliott was opening an office at their nursing facility. In about 1969, the name was changed to the Latham Care Center.

Tom Latham passed away in 1976 and Mrs. Latham continued to operate the care center until she retired in 1981. After Mrs. Latham retired, the Latham Care Center continued to operate briefly until it was sold to a health care corporation from Texas which renamed it Bellefontaine Health Care Center. The company also managed the Kenton Care Center. The Bellefontaine care center closed around 1984, and the buildings remained empty for about four years.

In 1988, The Logan County Historical Society purchased the Latham Care Center house and property. After extensive cleaning and renovation, the Orr Mansion and Logan County Museum opened to the public in May 1989. The former patient rooms are now dedicated to various aspects of history with each one featuring unique exhibits. The Orr Mansion has been refurbished and decorated in the Arts & Crafts style that was popular in the early 1900s.

Visitors to the Museum often reminisce about working at the Latham Care Center, visiting a family member who resided there, or share memories of the families that once lived in the Orr Mansion. Many have recalled the "slumber parties" the Latham’s daughter, Kathy Latham Holden, had in the ballroom while she was growing up. Kathy often visited the museum and shared her memories of living in the Orr Mansion.