Commentary; Posted: 7/5/06
Birchwood Nursing Home founder wants record clear
Douglas Tennis
Guest Columnist
Since I have moved from Forest Lake, it was interesting reading in the 2006 Progress Edition (April 6) of all the new businesses and all of those that have remained in business for a number of years.
However, there was one that was disturbing to me and needs correction. This was the information regarding Birchwood Health Care Center.
The statement was made that the Ortenblad family was the founder of Birchwood.
This of course is not true.
Ortenblad Construction did in fact build the building, but had no part or interest in equipping, furnishing or the operation of the original Birchwood Nursing Home.
My deceased wife Bartow and I were the sole licensed administrator, owner-operators and leased the building from Wardon, Inc. of Minneapolis.
We took pride in hiring local people whenever possible to staff our personnel. Many remained with us the entire time we owned the operation.
We were also proud of the fact that the Minnesota Department of Health, we were told, suggested to other facilities, including Hazelden Foundation, upon application for new or additional structures, to visit our facility and observe the uniqueness and security of our drug room set up.
It was not until nearly seven years later that we sold the registered name ìBirchwoodî and the business operation to Nancy and Warren Ortenblad in 1970. At that time they also purchased from us the parcel of land that is now to the Arbors assisted living facility.
During our time of ownership, we engaged licensed administrator, Tom Paul, as assistant administrator.
As neither Nancy nor Warren Ortenblad were licensed in the state of Minnesota to operate a health care facility, both Tom Paul and I remained on as administrators until Warren Ortenblad could obtain his license.
Tom Paul has remained in the health care field at a large facility in Minneapolis and I chose to seek other opportunities.
It is with much pride that I say Bartow and Douglas Tennis were the founders of Birchwood Nursing Home.
Writer Douglas Tennis, a former Forest Lake resident and business owner, now resides in Marietta, GA.
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