History

The history of Emmaus Homes began with a vacated seminary campus in a rural valley four miles east of Marthasville, Missouri. The buildings and grounds were vacated when Eden Theological Seminary moved to St. Louis in 1883. Having access to this property, a group of pastors and lay people from the surrounding churches of the Evangelical Synod of the West (now part of the United Church of Christ sought ways to use the facilities for a good purpose. On July 4, 1893, the doors of Emmaus Homes were opened for persons with mental retardation and epilepsy. The first resident arrived on July 5, coming from New Orleans.

It soon became obvious that Emmaus Homes could not meet the vast need for services to people with developmental disabilities through just one location. Efforts were made to find an additional location closer to St. Louis. A farm was purchased in St. Charles, and the new facility began providing services in 1901. Today, the St. Charles campus, located at 2200 Randolph St., is in the midst of a residential area of St. Charles city.

At the turn of the century, the public response to the needs of people with developmental disabilities was to place them in facilities where special care could be provided. Emmaus Homes provided residential services, as well as a full array of maintenance services, reflective of the times and its Christian foundations. During its early years of existence, Emmaus Homes used its farms as a source of livelihood. Those persons capable of contributing to their own care assisted in duties of the farming and dairy operation, caring for livestock, harvesting grain or stacking hay. Women helped in the laundry, gardens and kitchen. They developed functional skills relevant to their life situations at that time.

Churches affirmed Emmaus Homes as an important mission and contributed to its operating costs with offerings of money, food and material items. Compelled by their faith, they desired that a community of love, understanding and caring be cultivated and shared among those living at Emmaus. Today, churches and church members from a variety of denominations continue to support the work and program of Emmaus Homes. A growing number of community organizations, foundations and businesses have also become supporters.

As society came to better understand developmental disabilities and the contributions people with handicaps could make to the community, Emmaus Homes programs changed and grew. While some individuals still reside on the Emmaus Homes campuses, many now live in group homes or individual supported living units in the community. Programs have been developed to address individuals’ needs on a variety of levels, allowing Emmaus Homes' clients to become more actively involved with the communities around them.