Mountain beauty brought Alexian Brothers here

Had several religious brothers not been taken with the beauty of Signal Mountain more than 70 years ago, there would be no Alexian Brothers Seniors Ministries in Chattanooga today.

Though the history of the Alexian Brothers began in the Middle Ages, according to Brother John Howard, the brothers did not come to Signal Mountain until 1936.

Mr. Howard will recount the story of the order Tuesday at a monthly Senior Neighbors men's luncheon.

"They wanted a place to put our novices, our new members," he said. "It would be training for them, a place where they could do and learn."

The place they found was the Signal Mountain Inn, a 1913 stone structure with a six-story hotel built onto it.

More than two years after the Alexian Brothers purchased the former inn, they decided it was too important and too beautiful to keep to themselves. In 1938, they opened their doors to retired clergy and other men.

Today, the Catholic order has 10 ministries in the area serving more than 900 people. Among those, just on Signal Mountain, about 500 residents live in apartments, 20 in assisted living quarters and 100 in a skilled care area.

The facility opened its doors to women and couples in 1964, erected Alexian Village and Alexian Health Care Center in 1984, added the St. Alexian Chapel in 1988, built the Brow View apartments in 1992 and the Canyon View apartments in 2006. In the 1990s, it expanded its offerings off the mountain.

Even the organization's international headquarters is in Chattanooga.

Dawn Weber, executive director of Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors, said the organization's vision 15 years ago became: As the aging hand reached for help in the Chattanooga area, Alexian wanted to be there.

"We've seen tremendous growth (in nonresidential services) in the last few years," she said. "If you look at the continuum of senior services, we provide everything but hospice and home health care, and we have partners in that area."

Twenty-five or so years ago, Mr. Howard said, the local Alexian Brothers leadership began reading the signs of the time.

"I think the handwriting was on the wall that that type of facility (simply a retirement home) was not what was needed," he said.

Don Kohl, 91, said in the 24 years he has lived at Alexian Village, he has seen the organization's mission expand.

The complex is "much larger than when (I) started," he said, adding that its outreach also has "definitely" grown.

Although members of the order no longer handle all the organization's operations, those who do have the spirit of the Alexian Brothers, Mr. Howard said.

"We want to make sure there are people that carry our spirit into the future," he said. "We put a priority on that. We feel we have something very valuable -- our values and our history. We share it, and it goes on. They spread it, the residence and employees speaking up in our name."

IF YOU GO

* What: Senior Neighbors monthly men's luncheon.

* When: Noon Tuesday.

* Where: Alexian Brothers Seniors Neighbors, 1000 Newby St.

* Admission: $8 for lunch.

* Phone: 755-6100 for reservations.

* Web site: www.AlexianBrothers.net.