Saint Francis History
Saint Francis Home, Inc., was founded in 1973 as a Social Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
Saint Francis Home was founded In 1973 by Bishop Walter F. Sullivan to serve the needs of seniors and disabled persons with limited or no-income. Since our founding, Saint Francis Home has expanded the physical footprint of the Richmond campus by constructing additional buildings four times.
The original building, known as “Jordan Hall”, was built In the mid 1950’s and was occupied by the Comboni Sisters until 1973. The Comboni Sisters operated a maternity house for unwed pregnant women. When Saint Francis Home originally opened in 1973, Jordan Hall housed eight seniors and one Administrator. At times, the census in Jordan jumped to as many as eighteen seniors.
Saint Francis Home’s first expansion project was completed In 1987 with the construction of Ligouri Hall. Ligouri was built to help meet the demand of that time. Ligouri contains 12 resident rooms, bathrooms, a Social Hall and a screen enclosed porch.
Saint Francis Home’s second expansion project was completed in 1996 with the construction of Bill Vesey Hall. Vesey Hall is two levels with an elevator and contains 32 rooms with baths and for the first time a medication area.
Saint Francis Home’s third expansion, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Hall was completed in 2005 and modernized the home’s facility. Sullivan Hall Is two levels with an elevator for access and contains 38 resident rooms utilizing 24 bathrooms. There is also a medication office, a small chapel, a secondary kitchen & dining room, two communal balconies, a meeting room and four lounges.
Saint Francis Home’s most recent expansion, David Cran Hall was completed in 2010. David Cran Hall is two levels with an elevator and contains 28 resident rooms with bathrooms, four shower spas, two social areas (one with a gas fireplace), a medication room, commercial kitchen and a dining hall. When David Cran Hall was finished, residents from Jordan & Ligouri were relocated to Cran Hall. Those buildings have had their own renovations made since, and are currently occupied.
Currently the home is governed by a 25-member volunteer Board of Directors appointed by the Bishop of Richmond. Bishop Knestout is the sole owner of Saint Francis Homes.