About Us:

Wesley Towers History

About Us
Wesley Towers History

The concept of Wesley Towers, originally The Methodist Home, became a reality on January 22, 1964 when the Cabinet of Central Kansas Conference and the Board of Hospitals and Homes selected Hutchinson to be the location for the new senior community.

Ground-breaking ceremonies for the five-story, two million dollar project were held on Saturday, May 27th of 1967. Under the direction of administrator Dr. John Hoon, Bessie Good moved into her Wesley Towers apartment in March of 1969 as our very first resident where she lived to be 103 years.

From 1969 to 1979, the second floor of Wesley Towers was utilized for certified nursing care and the third, fourth and fifth floors were utilized for independent living studio condominiums for senior residents throughout the region.

The first offices for Wesley Towers’ employees were in the Wolcott Building at Second and Main Street during the construction phase and moved to the first floor of Wesley Towers after the construction completion. Dr. John Hoon served as the first Wesley Towers Administrator, Margaret Reece was his secretary and June Trinkle was hired as the first receptionist.

Ground breaking ceremonies for Wesley Manor took place on May 10, 1979 with Wesley Towers residents and members of the community in attendance. City of Hutchinson Mayor, Joan Schrag, and administrator Eva Gruver took part in the breaking of the ground. The twenty-six unit congregate-living apartment building opened the doors for new residents in May of 1980.

Nearly 700 patrons attended the open house for the eleven unit Asbury Apartments independent living apartments and their doors opened to new residents in April 1980. Gertrude and Loretta “June” Edlund were the first residents to Asbury Apartments.

Soon after in October of 1980, health care residents were transferred from the second floor of Wesley Towers to the newly built Thorne Care Center nursing home.

Expansion of Wesley Towers continued to take place where construction was under way for the Oliver and Helen Hester Assisted Living Center at 3711 Asbury Place and the Social Center/Chapel at 3709 Asbury Place. 600 patrons toured the ALC activity center and chapel in the Fall of 1987.

In 2001, construction was completed for the twenty-four bed Hazel Reinert Collier Assisted Living Center at 3600 Dartmouth Road where then the Oliver and Helen Hester Care Center transitioned to a dedicated nursing home.

Wesley Towers Retirement Community in Hutchinson, Kansas is proud to be able serve seniors and the UMC community for over fifty years with excellent options for independent living, assisted living and nursing home care.