Stately home gets remodeling as retirement facility

FRANKLIN — The house that was once home to “the man who saved Franklin” will soon be reopening as a retirement home. The former Westwind Hall, located atop a hill on Main Street, is changing its name to Westwind Manor. New owner Todd Tavares, 34, says he’s dedicated to continuing “Robert Catlin’s legacy of humanitarianism, and to the betterment of our community, and, most importantly, the lives of our residents.” Westwind Manor will cater to the elderly in need of assistance in their daily lives. Tavares, who has a background in software sales, has also done some volunteer work for assisted living homes. But something else led him to buy Westwind Hall. “My son goes to daycare and they come and sing to the elderly,” Tavares explained. “So I came here with my son last December and I found out that they were closing (on Dec. 31). An old lady grabbed my hand and said, ‘Pray for me. I have no place to live; they are closing the facility.’ So I went home to my wife (Tiffany) and told her, and she said, ‘Well, why don’t we buy it?’ And here I am.” Tavares said he expects to reopen the facility in about a month’s time. Currently, the 99-year-old house is undergoing renovation work intended to restore the appearance and ambience as closely as possible to what it was in Catlin’s day. Tavares formally purchased the historic building on May 24 from Sally Keller, whose late husband Ron had bought the house and converted it into a retirement facility in 1964. “We are classified as a residential health care facility, and it’s basically a retirement residence,” Tavares said. Through research and discussions with local historians Tavares has come to know and respect the house’s historic significance in the area. “There is an air about Westwind that is steeped in history and pride, and is unlike any other residential health care community in the Sussex County area,” a brochure for the facility proclaims. “As you step inside the grand vestibule of this historic mansion, there is a feeling of warmth and comfort that makes this special place feel like home almost instantly.” Catlin was the legendary mining supervisor for the New Jersey Zinc Co. from 1906 until his departure from the state in 1931. He arrived in Franklin in 1906, a time when the town needed him most. At that time, due to highly-competitive but poorly-organized mining ventures by warring companies, the zinc mines of Franklin were declared to be in danger of collapse. In 1897, the warring factions, who had sued and counter-sued countless times over mineral rights, made peace and all reorganized under the auspices of the New Jersey Zinc Co. Catlin instituted the “stope-and-pillar” method of mining, which did much to both enhance the quality of mining and save lives. At a time when few business owners showed concern for the well-being of their employees, Catlin combined more than a touch of compassion with the rough-and-tumble world of mining. Recognizing fully his importance, the zinc company made a big statement by building Catlin his own house in 1908, an act meant to ensure that he would not be leaving Franklin anytime soon. In 1908, the zinc company also opened the Franklin Hospital, which Catlin had built in order to provide better, faster care for badly-injured miners. Two years later, after the sinking of the Palmer Shaft resulted in a scarcity of available water, Catlin solved that problem by using the Franklin Pond as a free source of water to borough residents. When the zinc company closed the Franklin mines on Sept. 30, 1954, it is believed that the house was inhabited by company engineers who were working at the Ogdensburg mines, also owned by the zinc company. Keller then purchased the house in 1964 and later added on an extra wing. In a tour of the house, Tavares, a near-lifelong Vernon resident, described some of his plans. In what was once Catlin’s living room, Westwind Manor residents will have one of their own, replete with a computer, chess games and even a flat-screen TV. The nearby dining room will remain fully as it was in Catlin’s era — including the original cherry wood paneling, built-in wall cabinets and also the original chandelier. Tavares and his father Dan — who will be running the residence full-time — have also put in 88 new toilets, “something the health industry embraces,” Todd Tavares said. There will be added conveniences such as higher vanities, a completely redone kitchen, 17 bathrooms and a library for reading. Such renovations have not gone unnoticed. “He’s put a lot of money into it, but he’s doing it right and keeping everything up to code,” said Mayor Doug Kistle, who feels the reopened mansion will be a big benefit to both the town in general and Main Street in particular. “It’s just amazing what they’ve done in there. And they’ve cleaned the outside yards up, too. It’s going to be nice to see a nice structure going back to what it was in the old days.” “I’m very thrilled,” agreed Betty Allen, the former president of the Franklin Historical Society. “I was gratified to hear they were updating the house and bringing it back to its original glory.” “People will be paying for their services here, but we will be more of an affordable place than others,” Tavares continued. Residents, he explained, “have to be mobile; they have to be able to get up and go to the dining room, for example. This is not for sick people; this is for people who are getting older and may need help or assistance. They may need help getting dressed or bathed; they may need assistance with their medicine. We will provide daily activity and they also will get transportation to and from doctors. “And their three meals a day are all monitored by a dietician,” Tavares added. “We’ve already hired a nurse, and we’ll definitely have a cleaning staff and a wait staff. We’re also in dialogue with a chef who has 20 years experience.” As remodeling continues, there is one thing that won’t change. Those west winds that bring cooling breezes will always be a part of the property.