MHCO sells Hilty Home to Pandora

PANDORA — The Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio board has announced the sale of the Hilty Home building to the village of Pandora. The sale was completed June 4 and includes the 60,000-square-foot former Hilty Memorial Home building in Pandora and two adjacent parcels of land donated to the village by MHCO. Following the Nov. 1, 2022 announcement that the Hilty Memorial Home would close, efforts were made to find buyers for the long-term care facility. In addition, efforts were made to find a new owner-operator or location for the Hilty Preschool & Childcare program. Unfortunately, MHCO did not receive offers for either operation and no suitable location was found to relocate the childcare. Pandora Village Council stepped forward early this year and submitted a purchase proposal to HUD, the loan holder for the empty facility. Meanwhile, all parties worked to finalize the business details. The Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation joined the village in its efforts to find a workable solution for the building and childcare. Jenna Buckland and Molly Schroeder offered to purchase the childcare operation. Hilty Faithful Foundation Preschool and Childcare, LLC was established and remains in the Hilty Building under the continued direction of Amanda Dettrow. Expansion of the childcare space and program is in progress. The owners will continue to find additional business operations to utilize the remaining areas of the building, providing opportunities for new and expanding businesses to have accessible space in the community. The Hilty Memorial Home opened in 1979 after retired teacher, Margaret Hilty, left her entire estate to the Missionary Church East Central Conference District to establish a nursing home "like the Mennonites did in Bluffton." The Hilty Home was acquired by MHCO in 2012 when the Missionary Church decided to divest of the long-term care facility. "We have been committed to honoring Margaret Hilty's generous legacy and her intention to serve the people of Pandora and Putnam County," said MHCO board chair Elizabeth Kelly in a news release. "Sometimes we must bring closure to something so that new life has an opportunity to emerge. Already, new and good things are happening. Our Board remains deeply grateful to the many people who made this transaction possible and wish the Village and new tenants well in their future endeavors." MHCO continues to operate the Mennonite Memorial Home, Willow Ridge and Maple Crest locations in Bluffton with long-term care, short-term rehab, assisted living and independent living service offerings.