Our Home is the oldest retirement residence in the Haverhill, Massachusetts, area, having been incorporated in 1856. Throughout the years, promoting a community which emphasizes dignity, individualism, and independence while providing supervised assistance in activities of daily living has always remained our focus.

For your interest, what follows are highlights of the history of the “Old Ladies Home” (renamed the Stevens-Bennett Home in 1976) prepared for the 100th celebration.

In 1856, the Ladies Charitable Society began when 14 Haverhill women sponsored an event to raise money for charitable purposes. While their initial goal was to help two poor, older women, the Society had a larger goal in mind: to build a home for aged women. For nineteen years, the women in the Ladies Charitable Society raised money toward their vision. In 1875, the Association had raised $15,000 an amount just $5,000 short of their goal. George Stevens, a prominent Haverhill resident, bequeathed the Association the remainder of the funds upon his death that year.

In October 1876, a dedication was held at the newly erected Main Street facility. Seven women moved into the Old Ladies Home that year. Their life-long living arrangements and care were secured by the generosity of the people of Haverhill through the Ladies Charitable Society. With time, the cost of running the home was no longer able to be covered strictly by donations or by relying on the principal investments. The home obtained a Massachusetts State License, and in 1965 Medicaid (now Mass. Health) came into being. This not only helped the home, but also directly helped the residents – now, when their own resources were exhausted, they would be supported by the state and would be able to remain living in the home.

In 1976 the name was changed to The Stevens-Bennett Home. The name was a combination of two of the Association’s largest benefactors: George Stevens and Decatur Bennett. The home provides living arrangements for women who are over age 65 and are able to move around unassisted. Each resident has a private room decorated to their taste. Some have their own televisions. There are also common areas, some with televisions, and some without, to allow for quiet times. All meals are home-cooked by a full-time kitchen staff and served in a gracious, airy dining room. Several years ago, an addition of 200 square feet to our dining room and a new 400 square foot parlor, along with a 4 stop elevator was completed in 2008.