Fall 2011 - Presbyterian Homes & Services

A 1961 rendering of Croixdale's first building
and Croixdale today (above).
This year, Croixdale has been celebrating
its heritage and envisioning its future.
The Board of Directors kicked off the
50th anniversary in January with
the release of the book, Croixdale, a
Community Treasure, by Allison Jensen
and a video by the same title produced
by iDream.tv. The public joined in the
celebration at a winter open house.
“50 Acts of Sharing” invited individuals and
groups from the St. Croix Valley to partner
with Croixdale in collaborative activities
that would make a positive impact in the
community. “Community involvement has
been part of Croixdale’s success from its
beginning and continues to be important
today” said Roeser.
The crowning event of the year was a
picnic in August at the site of Fred and
Kitty Andersen’s home on the banks of
the St. Croix River. From the 1960’s to
the early 1990’s, Croixdale held an annual
summertime picnic at the beautiful
homestead, now owned and conserved
by the Andersen Corporation. This year,
over 200 residents, staff, families and
volunteers attended the picnic recreated
as it had been years before. The Stillwater
trolley was hired to shuttle residents
to the picnic site where they enjoyed
a ham on tea biscuit sandwich, potato
salad, pineapple slice, root beer, and
cupcakes. A lively game of bingo,
sponsored by the Croixdale board of
directors, was played after lunch. A
barbershop quartet serenaded during
lunch and aboard the Andersen boat, the
Glengarry, as picnickers cruised the river
(see cover photo).
The anniversary year celebrates
Croixdale as a treasure to the town of
Bayport and throughout the St. Croix
Valley. The celebrations also extend
appreciation to Bayport’s dedicated
citizens, past and present, who have
been treasures in return. “Croixdale’s
50th Anniversary is a rededication to
serve older adults in the St. Croix Valley
for years to come,” Roeser said. “We’re
excited about the future, even as we
celebrate the past.”
~ Jeannette Schwietz,
Croixdale Resident
with contributions by
Allison Jenson
16
FALL 2011