Beverly Farm marks 125 years

Oct. 2—GODFREY — It began with two buildings and two residents in 1897.

It is now a large, planned community in Godfrey that includes 400 persons with developmental disabilities and places for them to work, eat, have fun, and receive care and services.

The Beverly Farm Foundation kicked off its year-long, 125th anniversary celebrations with a Fall Family Weekend that included a special ceremony on Saturday where a time capsule was buried by the "Beverly Farm Babies," people over 60 years of age who have lived at the facility all of their lives. The time capsule will be opened in 2042.

Crystal Officer, the CEO of Beverly Farm Foundation, told those gathered that "God has truly blessed us and we are celebrating 125 years of creating loving and caring homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities right here in Godfrey."

Officer said that Beverly Farm's success has always been about the residents and the people who care for them.

"It's about grace and love, plus our caring, dedicated, diligent and professional staff," Officer said.

Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick presented Beverly Farm with a special proclamation commemorating their 125th anniversary.

"Beverly Farm has been here longer than the Village of Godfrey," McCormick said. "They are a great part of our community and are probably our largest employer."

"Whenever I try to get a new business to locate to our community, I always point to Beverly Farm as an asset," McCormick said. "Beverly Farm brings people here who otherwise would never discover our community, and some of them move here."

One person who moved to the area is Bob Johnston, who relocated from the Chicago area to be close to his daughter Katie, a resident of Beverly Farm for 12 years.

"Everyone here knows Katie and everybody knows me now because I come down here almost every day," Johnston said. "It's like going to a family reunion six times a week."

Johnston wasn't sure how Katie would react when he first brought her to visit Beverly Farm, but his concerns proved to be short-lived.

"We brought Katie for a ten-day trial, and she made it real easy," Johnston said. "She escorted us to the door and waved goodbye to us. She loves it here."

Beverly Farm was founded in 1897 by Dr. William H.C. Smith and his wife, Elizabeth. They had been searching for a suitable location where they hoped to establish a facility with a different approach to caring for people with developmental disabilities. The Smiths found that location in Godfrey and named the land Beverly Farm in honor of Dr. Smith's birthplace in Beverly, Massachusetts.

The Smiths established a home at Beverly Farm for persons with developmental disabilities with what was for the time a radical philosophy. They offered their residents socialization, proper medical care, a healthy diet, physical exercise, education, recreation and meaningful work. Dr. Smith received notoriety at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis for his pioneering concepts in the care of people who live with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Beverly Farm's focus changed in 1979 from providing services for children and adults to providing services for adults only.

___

(c)2022 The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.)

Visit The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) at www.thetelegraph.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.