Articles of Incorporation and by-laws were drafted at that time and Methodist Manor began under the direction and management of Friendship Haven at Fort Dodge. Operations started January 1, 1960, with a total of 17 residents and 5 full and part time employees with one level of care.

The original Board of Trustees consisted of the Executive Committee of Friendship Haven and six Storm Lake area persons.

In 1961 Methodist Manor expanded into two separate areas of care, residential and nursing, and by the end of 1961, had a total of 60 residents and patients. It was at that point that the Board of trustees determined that remodeling of the existing facilities would be necessary if Methodist Manor were to be a viable long term care facility.

It was determined by the Griffith Company of Fort Dodge, and the Executive Committee of Friendship Haven, that the facilities could not be made adequate nor remodeled to meet the needs of the persons in the area. At this point the relationship with Friendship Haven was severed and a local Board of Trustees for the separate Corporation of Methodist Manor was elected and took firm control of the management.

In 1967 fifty beds were added to Methodist Manor with the addition of two wings to the south of the existing building. In 1972, a third wing was added, bringing the total occupancy in the Health Center to 73.

At that point. the Health Center was divided into three separate areas of care, Supervisory, Intermediate, and Professional. The patients were grouped according to mental and physical ability, each level with its own dining and all-purpose room.

In 1973, the Gran psychiatric unit was completely gutted and remodeled. In 1975 the Swallum Hospital was totally remodeled, allowing Methodist Manor to utilize the existing areas of the original building to the best advantage, accommodating 88 residents.

In 1980, a Fourth wing was added to the Health Center, which was opened in April of 1981 expanding the Intermediate Care area to a total of 43 beds, the Professional Care area to 24 beds, and the Supervisory Care area to 26 beds making a total capacity of 93 patients in the Health Center. In the summer of 1981 a conference room and resident coffee lounge were added to the residential area to allow for resident activities, meeting room, education area, and an area for small outside groups to meet.

In 1982, several areas in the original Swallum building were converted to two-room apartments, each containing a large living room, a large bedroom, at least two large closets and a bathroom.

In 1984, a new five story elevator was placed in the middle building; a recreational area along the lakefront for the Residential Care area was built and the Business Office area was remodeled and enlarged.

In 1985, new driveways and sidewalks were poured and the two original buildings of the Manor were tuckpointed, with new roofing and also new metal clad coping on the parapet walls.

Care for Alzheimer's patients was limited or non-existent in the Storm Lake region. A special unit was opened at Methodist Manor in June of 1987 for 20 patients. The Sheltered Freedom Unit is controlled by electronic security doors but furnished to be as homelike as possible. A program of care and activities designed to meet the needs of persons with Alzheimer's disease was implemented at that time and continues today. All employees assigned to the Sheltered Freedom Unit receive special training and a Support group for families and friends is held regularly.

In 1991 a major re-roofing project was undertaken to replace the roof's of both the Residential and Health Center with the project being completed in early 1992. In September of 1991 the Fairchild Trust donated money to the Manor to remodel three semi private rooms in C hall into private rooms.

During the years of 1992, 1993 and 1994 several major building updates were undertaken to bring the building into compliance with ADA and OBRA. A new call system was installed in the Health Center; a fire sprinkler system was installed in the Health Center; and the elevators in the Residential building were renovated to meet ADA standards. 1994 also saw the beginning of renewed efforts to maintain the outer building and once again about ¼ of the Residential building was tuckpointed. 1995 saw the completion of the tuckpointing project.

In October of 1994 a networked computer system was implemented at Methodist Manor and all departments; medical, dietary, activities as well as the business office, have benefited. The medical operations were functioning by the end of 1994 and the business office by the end of the first quarter of 1995.

In late 1995, one room was designated and established in B hall as a Hospice Room and the final preparations were completed in January 1996. 1995 also saw the addition of another vehicle to transport residents safely to and from appointments. An addressable smoke alarm system was installed in the Residential Facility in late 1995 which allows staff and firemen to identify dangerous smoke by specific rooms.

Future remodeling plans for Methodist Manor include extensive make-over for the Kitchen in the Dietary Department; the nurses station in the Health Center will be completely renovated to facilitate a more functional and efficient work area, and revitalizing the landscaping around the entire facility will be a priority for the spring of 1996.