Orchard Manor has always been a staple in the city of Lancaster. If you have ever taken Highway 61 towards Potosi or to turn off and head to Platteville, odds are you have seen Orchard Manor at one point or another along your journey.
The history of Orchard Manor begins one hundred and seventy-eight years ago. The Grant County Board recognized that there was a need to house and care for the paupers in the community. Before long there were full beds and the needs were being met for the community’s lower income individuals. This is where the name “Poor Farm” began.
A few years later, the poor farm was ordered to return its pauper’s to their respective towns as the need for a county insane asylum was in high demand. This is when the name changed from County Poor Farm to The County Home.
Anyone will tell you that the county farm had seen its fair share of devastation. There were a total of three major fires that burned the buildings completely down. Plans were drawn up after the fire of 1912, and the new structure would be built with every effort to protect against another major disaster.
In the early 1970’s, State Regulation came into effect requiring that all county facilities be converted into nursing homes. Also, in 1973, a contest was held to select a new name for the county home. The name Orchard Manor was selected and with good reason. There once were numerous orchards that covered the farm grounds. This was when the county hospital also became a nursing home and the two were known as Orchard Manor South and Orchard Manor North.
Orchard Manor North underwent an immense remodeling project which was completed in April of 1976. During this remodel, the North building was totally refurnished and the South building was painted with the lower level being remodeled to house the In-Patient Unit of Unified Counseling Services.
In 1987, Orchard Manor was designated by the state of Wisconsin, to house developmentally disabled residents. Orchard Manor Nursing Home “North” will be allowed to designate 62 beds. The conversion of these beds was held between October of 1987 and September of 1988.
In May of 1989, Orchard Manor was up for some major changes. There was a report that stated that the residents of Orchard Manor South building will join patients in the Orchard Manor North building through renovation and addition. The lower level of the south building houses patients with Alzheimer’s disease and is the county locked unit.
December 21, 1989- the Grant County Board voted 30-2, in regards to building a new county home. A new 150 bed county nursing home facility for geriatric and other patients will be constructed in the next two years south of the present Orchard Manor facility operated by the county, near Lancaster, WI. This building will replace the 170 bed nursing home facility located in the north and south buildings at Orchard Manor. The current facility did not meet state code, required more staff, and was not handicapped accessible. Ground breaking on the new construction was anticipated for May of 1990, and expected around 14-16 months for the building to be completely finished.
The ground breaking ceremony was held on Thursday, September 26, 1991. On January 26, 1993, residents were moved into the brand new combined building called Orchard Manor. Just weeks after the building was completely finished. It took three full days and double staff to make the move successful. Buses were used to transfer residents from one site to the other and as they say- the rest is history.