Our History

Lincoln Crawford's history tells a story of service to the community. It begins with John Crawford, a soldier in the Union army, captured and imprisoned, but aided in his escape by the compassion of slaves. Remembering the kindness of his liberators, Crawford set forth in his will that his farm be used to create a "home for aged and worthy colored men, preference be given to those who have suffered from the injustice of American Slavery".

This Crawford's Home operated from 1888 until the early 1960's when Pleasant Hill school was built on the North Bend Road site it occupied.

Lincoln Crawford's other root was in Walnut Hills, where the Progressive Benefit Society, in 1896, began caring for indigent Black women. In 1919, this group established the Home for Colored Women, "to take care of women of their group [African American] in their declining years". The Progressive Benefit Society purchased properties on Park and Lincoln Avenues, ultimately acquiring the property at 1346 Lincoln Avenue.

Having been displaced by the Board of Educator's decision to build a school on their farmland, the Crawford's Home joined with the Women's Home on Lincoln Avenue. After more than 10 years of successful operation, the Lincoln Avenue and Crawford's Home secured a federal HUD grant for the construction of a new and larger structure.

The new building was completed in 1982. For the next ten years, Lincoln Avenue and Crawford's Home served the African American elderly of Cincinnati. In 1995, Wesley Hall Nursing Home purchased Lincoln and Crawford's assets and a new corporation emerged - Lincoln Crawford, a member of Wesley Services Organization. Today, Lincoln Crawford is a state-of-the-art, skilled nursing facility. We provide extensive clinical and rehabilitation services. Areas of specialization include wound care, dialysis care and the treatment of diabetes. As Southwest Ohio's only African American nursing facility, we have a special mission to reach out to the community. Lincoln Crawford partners with a multitude of civic and health organizations for the betterment of Cincinnati's African American community.

At Lincoln Crawford, our primary goal is to create a friendly and stimulating environment for our Residents. We work hard to identify and provide for Residents' needs, desires and preferences. Lincoln Crawford's unique approach is to maintain an atmosphere that celebrates the culture and experiences of its Residents. Activities, diet, holidays, celebrations, and spiritual life are all designed to feel familiar and make the Residents comfortable, in a home-like atmosphere. There is something truly special about Lincoln Crawford.