The Whitinsville Retirement Society

The Whitinsville Retirement Society, a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in February of 1975 with the intent of providing affordable housing for the elderly.

Our Mission: The Whitinsville Retirement Home is a Christian residential home for the well-elderly. Our goal is to create a loving atmosphere in a comfortable, home-like setting and to provide carefree living and companionship in a healthy environment.

The Mason home was originally built on the corner of Hill Street and Main Street about 1840 and moved to this nine-acre lot in 1875. It was made ready for Mr. Sydney R. Mason who married Elsa Whitin in 1909. Elsa was the daughter of Marston Whitin and granddaughter of John C. Whitin. Mr. & Mrs. Mason lived in this home from 1909 until his death in 1973 and her death in 1974. Their only child, Priscilla, has lived in Washington DC the greater part of her adult life. The society purchased the property in July 1975.

The Whitinsville Retirement Home, like other congregate-living facilities, endeavors to provide for the needs of those who choose to no longer live alone, or who can no longer handle the responsibilities of living in their own home, but are not in need of nursing home care. In this family-type setting, residents must be ambulatory and self-sufficient in the personal needs of everyday living.

Each resident has a private room with bath; therefore, they are assured their privacy and can be alone when they wish to be. Meals, however, are served together in the dining room. The Home provides all laundry and housekeeping services for each resident. Twenty-four hour staffing means security and someone to respond in the event of an emergency. The Home is unique in providing these services for a nominal fee. The cost of a room varies depending on its size and location within the building. These rates are substantially lower than most similar facilities in Massachusetts. The Retirement Home is not under any kind of government program which means residents are not eligible for any government (subsidy) assistance. Each one is responsible for his/her room fee.

In February 1977 the Board of Directors authorized the application of a loan from Farmers Home Administration for the purpose of constructing a 23- unit apartment building for independent housing for the elderly, which is across the yard at 2 Chestnut. The apartment complex was completed and occupied in July of 1980. Of the 23 units, two are two-bedroom units, one studio apartment and 20 one-bedroom units. There are 12 units on the first floor and 11 units on the second floor, there are recently installed chairlifts at each end of the apartment building and laundry facilities available on each floor.

One third of the apartments are available under government subsidy. The others are what are considered “market” apartments. We have waiting lists for single and two-bedroom units.