Page 25 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021- Online Magazine

LOCAL HISTORY

and $25 a year for a family of Many businesses have come and
four – for all medical and surgical gone in Amherst over the past
care!! That hospital was a backbone nearly 100 years, as have many
for Amherst for many years and residents, but Amherst is still home
moved to a new building in 1982; to over 700 people who love the
unfortunately, it closed in 1989, small-town setting. We are grateful
as it was hard to get doctors to to still have several businesses
come to a small, rural town in West keeping the town alive and
Texas. employing many people. Current Volunteer Fire Dept. Building

The original hospital building was vehicles, and a group of dedicated
purchased by Ray & Becky Dunn citizens who man the vehicles in
for a retirement center, and many case of any emergency. Our Co-
improvements were made to the Chiefs are Rd Gass and Mickey
building while they owned it. This Brantley.
also closed its doors a few years
later, and in October 1997, the New Amherst has four churches:
Horizons Emmaus group bought New Hope Baptist, First Baptist,
the building and opened Amherst Church of Christ and First United
Christian Retreat, known as The Methodist Church, as well as
ARK in early 1999. Many more Rocky Ford Baptist just outside of
improvements have been made Current City Hall town.
by the group, as Ricky Kuntz and Last year, my mother, Ola Dunn,
the Board of Directors continue Our City Hall, with City Secretary passed away. Because of COVID,
to improve the facility, adding a Rosa Angel; Deputy Secretary a traditional funeral wasn’t
modern kitchen and large dining Jennifer Bellar; employees José possible, so one Amherst lady,
room behind the brick building. It Angel and Jacob Lopez; and Jacquelyn Miller, contacted our
continues to bless the community Richard Salazar of Sudan, Director friends and family. Many of them
and all who have been employed of Public Works, runs smoothly, came to line both sides of the
there or have gone on a Walk to and is under the supervision Fairlawn Cemetery Road as we
Emmaus there. of Mayor Clinton Sawyer and accompanied Momma to her final
Councilmen Dwayne Montgomery
The new hospital building is now and Gabriel Galaviz. resting place. They stood by their
the home of Harmonee House, vehicles in respect, and some even
a Long Term & Skilled Nursing Amherst is blessed to have held signs that illustrated their
Facility, where those who can no an amazing Volunteer Fire love for our family! That is just
longer live in their own homes are Department/EMS service with one example, but it confirms that
loved and cared for. several modern fire trucks, Amherst IS a little town with a big
ambulances and heart indeed.
first responder

The original South Plains Cooperative Hospital, built in 1940

The hospital was converted to an Emmaus
community center, named The ARK, in 1999.

Lubbock Senior Link 25