Wynnewood Home For Seniors To Close, Land To Be Sold

The Charles C. Knox Home in Wynnewood, home to 24 senior citizens, announced this week that the facility will close, citing financial concerns.

“Times have changed dramatically since the Knox Home opened its doors in 1941,” Board Member Bob Latshaw said in a press release.  “Seniors are living longer and 'independent living' is no longer a reality.  Those who have expressed an interest in moving to the Home in recent years require skilled nursing or long-term care, which we are unable to provide.” 

The Knox Home, located at 718 Sussex Road in Wynnewood, will not close until all current residents have found alternative living arrangements, Board President Howard West said.

Built in the 1850s by Josiah Knox, the Knox Home is a Class 1 Historic Structure. The home later passed to Charles C. Knox, who lived in the home until his death in 1939, at which point it was designated as a home for older adults. It opened as a home for senior citizens in 1941.

The 8-acre property’s historic status means its buildings cannot be demolished.

The Board plans to sell the property and use the resulting funds to establish a foundation that will provide grants to seniors in the community, West said in the release.

The Knox Home "has been a quiet gem in our community that has served our older citizens well," Board Member and Lower Merion Commissioner Jane Dellheim said. "While we are saddened to close its doors, we know that the decision is in the best interests of all concerned.”