Benedictine Health System reveals name of new senior facility

Red Wing’s new senior living facility will bear the name St. Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers, tanners and saddlers.

The Benedictine Health System unveiled the name and preliminary architectural drawings for St. Crispin Living Community during a celebration Monday night at the Indigo Room.

"People are really excited about how the rich leather working heritage of Red Wing is honored with our new community name. St. Crispin preached the gospel by day, and worked as a cobbler at night,” CEO Jake Goering said.

“We were looking for something that would connect with the local community — and it’s fun,” Joan Foot said of the name. She served on the selection committee.

Her husband and former S.B. Foot Tanning Co. president, Buck Foot, joked that the family didn’t even lobby too hard.

The Benedictines approved the name, officials said, because of the role shoemaking and leather tanning has played in Red Wing’s history. Red Wing Shoe, the tannery and Riedell are mainstays in the local economy.

St. Crispin Living Community will be located near Deer Crest and across the street from Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing. Deer Crest currently houses Goering’s office, and Mayo is a project partner.

The facility will have “neighborhoods” within the building and have space for both acute care and long-term care providers. The focus will include care through innovative connections such as Skype and monitoring systems wherever seniors are living.

“We’re talking about providing the right care in the right place at the right time,” Goering said.

Plenty of hard work went into making the center possible, and there’s considerably more work ahead, Benedictine Health System Vice President of Operations Chris Boldt reminded people.

First, planners needed state permission to build what they envision will be much more than a nursing home: Minnesota has had a moratorium in place since 1983. Rep. Tim Kelly and former Sen. Steve Murphy carried the bill granting permission twice before getting it passed.

“There are relatively few items that I get to work on in St. Paul that both sides of the aisle can get excited about. This was one of those,” Kelly said.

“I believe that this facility and its vision of elder care through partnerships creates a model that will be emulated, not only in Minnesota but across the country. Red Wing is fortunate to be host to the future of care to our aging population,” he added.

The national election generated buzz about health care reform. St. Crispin Living Community will deliver change, Benedictine Health System President Dale Thompson said.

“This is real for us in this community,” he said.

Construction will begin in 2013. He expects completion in mid-2014.

Tags: red wing, seniors, news