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Home > Mission & History

About Us

The Ohio Masonic Communities is committed to people and dedicated to communities. Whether through embracing innovation, proactively addressing needs, or bringing dreams to life, our goal is to empower residents, staff, and community members to live their best lives and thrive.

Three senior living communities – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio – each offer premier living options with exceptional experiences so residents can live their best lives. The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center exists as a link between resources and services and the people who need them, whether in their own home or on one of our campuses. Thanks to the generosity of donors, The Ohio Masonic Communities Foundation invests in the innovative upgrades to our campuses and services that allow residents to thrive.

Our Mission

At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we live our Masonic Values by serving as a trusted partner to help our communities thrive.

History

In the early 1840s, The Grand Lodge of Ohio discussed plans to establish a home to care for aging Masons. In 1888, the Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, William B. Hillman, led a successful effort to establish The Ohio Masonic Home for the benefit of worthy, distressed Ohio Master Masons and their wives, widows, and children.

The cornerstone of The Ohio Masonic Home’s first building, Bushnell Hall, was laid in 1892 and the first resident was admitted in 1895. In addition to services for older adults, from the late 1890s to 1956 the Springfield campus also served as a Masonic Children’s Home. During that period, more than 750 children were raised alongside residents at The Ohio Masonic Home. That experience had such an impact on them that they formed an alumni association, which meets every two years at Springfield Masonic Community.

In 1996, The Ohio Masonic Home opened its doors to the public to partner with the community in providing excellent senior living options. In 1999 and 2001, two northern campuses, in Waterville and Medina, were added to The Ohio Masonic Home family.

In 2023, The Ohio Masonic Home began operating as The Ohio Masonic Communities. This change is reflective of the organization’s growth from the original home for Master Masons and their wives, widows, and children to their work today helping communities thrive with three senior living communities, a foundation, and a resource center. With the change, The Ohio Masonic Home Foundation began operating as The Ohio Masonic Communities Foundation and The Ohio Masonic Home Resource Center began operating as The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center.

The Ohio Masonic Communities continues to find ways to provide the best in senior living and be an organization and employer of choice by identifying new ways people need support, investing in innovative technologies, and inspiring people to fulfill their dreams.