Wicomico Nursing Home

Information may not be reliable

In 1960, Mrs.Agatha Polk presented the idea of building a Skilled Nursing Facility to her professional sorority, Beta Tau Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Mrs Polk had an ill father who could benefit from the services provided in such a facility. The facilities in the area did not admit people of African American descent. Her vision was for a facility that would admit all people, regardless of race, color or creed.
She approached John W. T. Webb, who was glad to help. Together they comprised a list of names of prominent people in the community to form a Board of Trustees. At a "kickoff" dinner given by the sorority, over $500 was raised to begin a building fund. In May 1961, the Nursing Home Project was incorporated. Finally on May 11, 1965, the Board of Trustees awarded the construction contract to George Bert Cropper, Inc. for his low bid of $363,949 for a 50 bed nursing home. The dedication was held on June 20, 1966.
When the non-profit Board of Trustees ran into financial difficulty in 1972, the Wicomico County Council stepped up to take over the operation to avoid closing. The non-profit corporation dissolved in September 1972.
Wicomico County Council has owned and operated Wicomico Nursing Home since 1972.