By W. Harland Boyd
Under the leadership of the Rev. John A. Lavender, who became the pastor of Bakersfield’s First Baptist Church in September 1961, the church undertook several community outreach activities. Among these was a full-care retirement community, and those sharing this vision were Clarence Fraysher, Max Poteete, John C. Hershey, Thed R. Crsiwell, Harold A. McKinnon, Carl R. Bryan, Charles W. Everett and Elmer Karpe. Comprising a board of directors, these men incorporated the nonprofit Rosewood Baptist Estates in 1964. An 11 and one-half acre tract was purchased at the southwest corner of New Stine Road and Sundale Avenue. President of the board, Clarence Fraysher, emphasized that at the Rosewood Baptist Estates residents would enjoy "complete freedom and independence" and they would be afforded "maximum security."
The board of the Rosewood Baptist Estates selected the architectural firm of Whitney Biggar to develop plans for the proposed retirement community. The drawings were complete, when in August 1967 it was reported that the retirement community would "offer the best in planning and equipment." Provided were "a wide selection in spacious apartments, each with a private lanai," together with features that would assure that Rosewood would be "one of the finest in the nation."
By 1970, the board concluded that the proposed project was costly beyond its resources. Consequently, the board asked American Baptist Homes of the West, a nonprofit corporation, to assume ownership of the property.
At that time, American Baptist Homes of the West (ABHOW), was operating eight retirement residences in California and Arizona. After a few months of consideration of the best means of dealing with the assets, liabilities, and property of Rosewood Baptist Estates, an understanding was reached. The transfer of the Rosewood project to ABHOW took place in 1970. The Rosewood Baptist Estates Corporation was dissolved.
Under ABHOW, the plans for Rosewood were expanded to include more apartments and personal care facilities. In the early 1970s, because of the depressed national economy, loans were hard to arrange, but financing for the project was obtained in June 1972. Under the direction of architect Whitney Biggar, general contractor Hollis Sons, of Fresno, began to build the retirement community.
Groundbreaking for the $5 million, nine-story building took place in 1972. Because the building site was being graded at the time of the groundbreaking services, the ceremony was held across the street on the lawn of West High School. Many celebrants were in attendance. Among them were Bakersfield Mayor Don Hart; Robert Karpe, the state real estate commissioner; Harold Bottemiller, president of ABHOW; Thed R. Criswell, chairman of the Rosewood Steering Committee; the Rev. John A. Lavender, pastor of the First Baptist Church; the Rev. Charles Wilkinson, pastor of the Chester Avenue Baptist Church; the Rev. George Downing, executive minister, American Baptist Churches/Pacific Southwest; and E. Earle Shipley, ABHOW’s director of church and community relations.
ABHOW selected John H. Benedict as the administrator of what it renamed Rosewood Gardens. He had been the assistant administrator of the Brethren Hillcrest Homes of La Verne, and he was a member of the American College of Nursing Homes Administrators. At Rosewood Gardens, he organized a board of managers to work with him in the operation of the retirement community. Walter Heisey, a Bakersfield businessman, was the chairman.
Among the staff John H. Benedict selected to work with him were Forrest Carter, superintendent of buildings and grounds; Martha Moore, director of resident services; Ida McCray, administrative secretary; Pat Hoffman, LVN, personal care supervisor; Darlene Hampton, supervisor of dining room services; and Lois Tuttle, director of housekeeping services.
The attractive Rosewood Gardens high-rise was ready for occupancy in March 1974. Scores of people came to see the residence, a visit that started in a spacious and inviting lobby. Beyond the lobby was an octagonal-shaped building that housed the dining room and kitchen. Overhead were 147 residential living apartments and 19 assisted living units. On each floor was a spacious lounge, a convenient place for neighborly socializing.
In December 1975, Mary Ticehurst, in memory of her husband, Bernard Ticehurst, gave a 50-foot flagpole to Rosewood Gardens. It was strategically erected in an area surrounded by a circular driveway in front of the entrance to the high-rise. After an appropriate dedicatory ceremony, including music by the West High School band, the donor of the flagpole raised the American flag.
