BA Nursing Home celebrates 60 years

(Editor's Note: On Tuesday, the Broken Arrow Nursing Home celebrated 60 years in business. Here is a brief, submitted history of the work that continues to be done).

It was 1956, the Rock n Roll era. Elvis Presley debuted on the Ed Sullivan Show singing "Heartbreak Hotel."

Norma Jean became Marilyn Monroe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected for his second term. The first open heart surgery was performed.

Here at home, Bob Perry was elected Mayor. The Tiger football team was led by Tony Banfield. The film "Giant" with hearttrob James Dean was playing at the movie house.

Neighbors gathered in the cool of the evening up and down Main Street from Stanfields Grocery on the north to Fosters Market on the south.

Cars parked in front of Murray's Dime store, Sawyers Ice Cream and the other mom and pop stores.

We could send letters to out of town folks for three cents and cruise Main on 23 cents a gallon gas.

Back in 1956, most women were homemakers. Some hit the job market and fewer started their own businesses.

Naomi Posey established the Broken Arrow Nursing home at 424 S. Date. Naomi and Joanna Cooper began with an 11-bed facility which is now over 100 beds.

Naomi fulfilled her dreams while still maintaining a home from her six children. This has established what would become an important employer in the community.

Joanna and her husband, Tom Cooper, continued Naomi's dream. Joanna's daughter, Paulie Cooper Poorman, has for years followed in her mother's and grandmother's footsteps.

A notice in the BA Nursing Home's break room sums it all up: "Our residents do not live in our work place, rather we work in they're home place!"