A mighty milestone: Presbyterian Village marks 100 years of caring for local residents
- Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg Executive Director Stephanie Aspinall talks with Resident Council president Norman Luther in a dining room at the facility. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
- A gazebo at the Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg is one of many amenities the facility offers to give residents “a neighborhood within a neighborhood” atmosphere. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
- Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg resident Ann George looks through the books in a lounge. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
- Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg main entrance along Newry Street. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
- Inglenook at Presbyterian Village senior apartments. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg Executive Director Stephanie Aspinall talks with Resident Council president Norman Luther in a dining room at the facility. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg is embarking on a milestone — the Gaysport continuing care retirement community is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be part of celebrating the community’s 100th anniversary with our current residents and team,” said Stephanie Aspinall, who has worked at Presbyterian Village since 2005 and has been executive director since August 2022.
“It truly is a testament to the amazing work and care that all of the staff that have come before us have accomplished,” Aspinall said of the community’s longevity. “I’m amazed when I think of how many individuals in the Blair County area we have served as residents over 100 years and how many lives we have positively impacted.”
The 100-year mark offers a time of reflection for the “dedication, service and commitment of generations of individuals who helped shape the vibrant community we know today,” said Dan Davis, president/CEO of Presbyterian Senior Living.
“What began as a mission to care for seniors who could no longer care for themselves has blossomed into something far greater — a dynamic community where older adults continue to learn, develop new interests and live their best lives,” he said. “As today’s stewards of this legacy, we embrace our responsibility to ensure that Presbyterian Homes remains a cornerstone of senior care and enrichment for generations to come.”

A gazebo at the Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg is one of many amenities the facility offers to give residents “a neighborhood within a neighborhood” atmosphere. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Home officially opened in 1925
The history of the home dates back to 1842, when the original building was constructed, where the personal care section of the village stands today.
The “Keller House” was purchased by Presbyterian Homes in 1924, and an adjoining property was also purchased and then began the plan of the Presbyterian Home of the Presbytery of Huntingdon to provide housing for aged Presbyterian women.
Due in part to a sizable donation from James Dysart, an extension was added.
The Presbyterian Home officially opened its doors to 22 women on Dec. 10, 1925. The second wing was dedicated on June 28, 1928, with an additional 22 women accommodated.

Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg resident Ann George looks through the books in a lounge. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
The Rev. John Martin was appointed administrator of the home in 1954.
It was Martin who was in charge when a fire damaged the Hollidaysburg home in 1957 and in 1972 when Hurricane Agnes ravaged the Gaysport area and flooded the home.
Dealing with significant repair and restoration, renovations were completed on what is now Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg. Admission of the first men and couples came along with those renovations.
The 1980s and 1990s marked a period of significant growth.
Westminster House apartments were opened in 1984 with the cottages in Westminster Square debuting in 1988. Additional renovations continued to the South Wing in 1987 and the North Wing in 1994.

Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg main entrance along Newry Street. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
With the construction of the Westminster House and Westminster Square combined with the South Wing renovations, Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg became Blair County’s first continuing care retirement community.
In December 2004, the most significant change in the history of Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg occurred with an affiliation agreement of the Presbyterian Homes in the Presbytery of Huntingdon and Presbyterian Homes Inc. That affiliation effectively brought the local community into the Presbyterian Homes Inc. (now Presbyterian Senior Living) family as a subsidiary corporation.
Since that affiliation, Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg is part of a not-for-profit organization, providing retirement and senior care services.
“While this occurred before my tenure, it has been a critical step in ensuring that Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg will be around for 100 more years as the long term care industry changes and grows. It’s wonderful to have the support of (Presbyterian Senior Living) and our sister communities,” Aspinall said.
Living arrangements

Inglenook at Presbyterian Village senior apartments. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Maintenance free apartment living is offered in two locations — Westminster House and the newly constructed Inglenook at Presbyterian Village. Inglenook welcomed its first residents in summer 2018. Located on Jackson Street, Inglenook is connected to skilled care and personal care centers.
Today, Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg has 67 beds in its skilled nursing facility, 43 personal care units and 72 independent living facilities, which include apartments and cottages.
“We always say that we are ‘a neighborhood within a neighborhood.’ We’re nestled in the Gaysport neighborhood in Hollidaysburg and our residents enjoy that friendly, small town atmosphere,” Aspinall said. “The residents are always actively engaged in planning events, outings and various programs to enjoy together.”
Joan Ballash and her husband, Victor, have lived in an independent apartment in Inglenook for more than two years.
The Ballashes, who live in the Parkview Condominiums behind Jethro’s, acknowledge that they are getting older and need more services.
“Inglenook is connected to skilled care and personal care centers, it is one of the things we liked and was part of our choice,” Ballash said. “We wanted a continuing care community.”
Linda Novak and her husband, Robert, have been in an independent cottage for more than a year after living in a four-story house between Ebensburg and Nanty Glo.
“We needed a place that was easy to get around, accessible and had activities,” Linda Novak said. “We looked at other facilities and we settled on this. It is small; we liked that fact.”
In addition, they like the friendly atmosphere and the ability to get to know the other residents.
“It is like a family watching out for each other, like a community. We are in an independent cottage and it feels like home,” she said. “They have progressive care; when we need it we have access to it and can receive extra care.”
The transition from their large home to the cottage “was a nice stepping stone,” she said. “We don’t have to worry about outside and inside maintenance. It is nice to just sit back and enjoy life without the work. We are enjoying this, it was a good move for us.”
Team members key
Today, Presbyterian Village employs 127 people, with a significant number across various departments “with tenures upwards of 20, 30, even 40 years,” Aspinall said. “We just had an employee retire in 2024 with over 50 years at the village, which is an amazing accomplishment.”
Aspinall credits the village’s success to dedicated team members.
“Every single department and position has been critical in ensuring the residents have received amazing care and services over the last 100 years,” she said. “I see their compassion and hard work every day as I walk the halls and see what they do. It takes a special person to work in long term care and they show this commitment every day.”
Aspinall said adapting to change has been important to the Presbyterian Village’s growth and success.
“Health care and specifically the long-term care industry has had to constantly pivot over the years to adapt to changing regulations, the COVID pandemic, insurance and financial changes,” she said, not to mention the ever evolving preferences of the residents.
Having support from Presbyterian Senior Living as well as the surrounding community and dedicated staff brought continued growth, Aspinall said.
While there are no expansion plans at the moment, “we are looking forward to modernizing our front entrance along Newry Street in the coming year,” she said, adding Presbyterian Village is set for the future.
“I believe the team at Presbyterian Village is poised to continue serving seniors in Blair County for the next 100 years and beyond. I see us continuing to evolve with how future generations of residents want to receive their care. There will always be a need for aging services and we hope to meet those changing needs in the years to come, whatever it may look like,” Aspinall said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.