Ken Youngblood

Partial Transcript: Ken Youngblood has lived in Hendersonville all his life

Keywords: Hendersonville; Ken Youngblood

Partial Transcript: The roots for starting a retirement community began back in the 50's post WWII. Industry started moving back into the area when veterans returning from the war arrived with creative and progressive views. Veterans had a desire to be instrumental in making the world a better place.

Keywords: 50's post WWII; Veterans; retirement community

Partial Transcript: At the time, the Chamber of Commerce was divided into three sections: Industrial, Merchants and Senior division. Each division had a specific function. The Senior division was responsible for planning what to do about the increasing number of retired individuals in the area. Realtors had been recruiting people from around the United States and encouraging them to retire in Hendersonville County resulting in an influx of older individuals. The Chamber was tasked with figuring out where relocated individuals would live once they were no longer able to live in their homes independently.

Keywords: live in their homes independently; relocated individuals; retired individuals; Chamber of Commerce

Partial Transcript: Ken Cosgrove (who was a member of the Senior Division) had a patient by the name of Mignon Sullivan, who was instrumental in initiating the beginnings of the Carolina Village concept. She discussed with Dr. Cosgrove the need for a special type of housing for older people. She proceeded to have Edward Durel Stone, a well-known architect, draw up plans for the village. Mr. Stone's original drawings had Carolina Village situated on the side of a mountain with a moderate incline and divided into different levels. Each level had a garden in front with trellises cascading down the side of the mountain.

Keywords: Carolina Village; Edward Durel Stone; Mignon Sullivan; Dr. Ken Cosgrove

Partial Transcript: Dr. Cosgrove had a patient by the name of Larry Butler who was also motivated to work on the project. Cosgrove, The Chamber and Butler were instrumental in advancing the project. Mignon Sullivan tried to sell the project to Asheville and Tryon but to no avail.

Keywords: Asheville; Tryon; advancing the project; Larry Butler

Partial Transcript: The project gained momentum through the perseverance and determination of Larry Butler who had a supportive group of friends and church community. After an extensive search they were able to obtain a piece of property on which to locate The Village. Larry contacted a friend, Kenneth Berg, who had the idea of a "life care facility" where residents could spend the rest of their days, regardless of their financial situation, once they initially bought into the project. They obtained financing from Prudential Insurance Company to start the project and proceeded to build a few model homes. A few interested individuals began to invest in The Village. More people became interested in retiring to this type of living situation without having to leave Hendersonville County.

Keywords: Kenneth Berg; Prudential Insurance Company; The Village; life care facility; church community

Partial Transcript: Having an insurance company that would finance the project and finding a contractor who provided a "letter of credit" from his construction company for the building loan. A Board of Directors was also selected to facilitate future discussions and decisions.

Keywords: Board of Directors; letter of credit; early victories

Partial Transcript: Because of the need for the project and the opportunity to meet the need. I was inspired by the veterans returning home from the war.

Keywords: inspired; passionate

Partial Transcript: The board decided to terminate Mr. Berg and the food director due to differences of opinion regarding the direction of the project. Doley Bell, a new college graduate who had completed a brief internship with Mr. Berg, was hired as director. The board believed that Doley had impressive qualities, was a good problem solver and would make a great manager. Doley brought total integrity to the project, focusing on problem solving versus profit making. Doley and Larry Butler proved to be a great team. Larry was eventually able to retire and left Doley to 'run the show'.

Keywords: impressive qualities; run the show'; total integrity; Doley Bell

Subjects: Carolina Village come to fruition

Partial Transcript: Now, the feeling about retiring to Carolina Village is like going on a permanent vacation. From its earliest concept, Carolina Village became a notion that no is too old or sick to learn or to teach. The idea of the older adult moved from a human being to be discarded to a being a human where one learns new skills and becomes a vibrant, vigorous member of society. Carolina Village is moving into a new phase where retirees are encouraged to seek out new interests as they move into different stages of life. The Boomer generation, which is now the predominant population in the Village, is more community service minded than those who grew up during the depression. This is especially true since the election of a new director, Kevin Parries, who replaced Doley Bell. The Village now offers more resident programs and opportunities than has ever been offered before.

Keywords: Boomer generation; Kevin Parries; older adult; permanent vacation; Carolina Village

Partial Transcript: It comes out of the larger community by redefining midlife and late life to mean something different than it's meant before. It's the idea of making it possible to do those things we always dreamed about but never had the time. People of like mind want to experience new opportunities. They can organize themselves into small groups to plan excursions and experiences. For example, the dining room has a French table where people who want to improve their French skills speak only French during meals.

Keywords: improve their French; new opportunities; redefining midlife; larger community

Partial Transcript: It's created a new sense of culture of the older adult. It has offered a view of how you can create a community that is both self-sufficient and responsible to each other so that no one if ever asked to leave. Unfortunately, the Carolina Village concept has not been replicated in the county for other socioeconomic levels. It may be seen by the wider community as unwilling to include those who are of a different socioeconomic background.

Keywords: self-sufficient; socioeconomic levels; sense of culture

Partial Transcript: I see its successes and challenges. I love to see it progress and change and respond to needs and opportunities.

Keywords: change; opportunities; progress; successes