Southmayd Home has a remarkable history that began in the 19th century. Through two World Wars and into the 21st century it has sustained a tradition of philanthropic service to senior women thanks to the foresight, unfailing energy and resourcefulness of its founder, Sarah Donaldson.
   In 1889, when an older friend of Sarah’s couldn’t find a suitable place to live in Waterbury and had to move to Meriden, Sarah decided to try to remedy this situation. With $10 of her own money (an extraordinary amount of money in that time period) she opened a bank account in 1891 to launch the beginning of what is now Southmayd Home, Inc. Recruiting 99 more women to donate $10, Sarah continued to devote all her spare time to continue to raise funds and search for a potential residence.
   Named in honor of Dr. John Southmayd, one of First Church’s early pastors, “Southmayd Home” was originally planned for women from First Church Congregational. The Board, however, very early decided to open Southmayd to women of all faiths.
   In June of 1894, Sarah found a one-family house and lot at 885 North Main Street on sale for $4,000. With $2,000 in hand, Sarah managed to convince a local bank to give her a $2,000 mortgage for the purchase difference. It wasn’t however until September 26, 1898 that Mrs. Thomas Donaldson, Southmayd Home’s first Administrator, finally welcomed her first tenant: an elderly blind woman.
   In 1911, when Elisha Leavenworth died, a prominent Waterbury citizen and previous donor to Southmayd, he left Southmayd Home $20,000 and an interest in his estate. With such a large bequest, Sarah wanted to enlarge the 7-room Home but the site was no longer suitable, so the house was sold and Sarah rented the old Waterbury Hospital Nurses' Home on Wilson Street while planning for the expansion of the Home. Sarah was in charge of Southmayd Home for 11 years until a fall on ice broke her hip. She stayed on as a Board Member until she died at the age of 83 in November, 1916.
   That same year, the Board bought an acre lot on Columbia Boulevard for $12,000 to build the three-story home that exists today. With an original building fund of $40,000, the ladies of the Board continued canvassing the neighborhood and neighboring towns for donations for the next several years until their building fund reached $100,000. Finally, in 1924 the cornerstone of the present building on Columbia Boulevard was laid and completed in 1925, debt-free and ready for the occupancy of thirty-five ladies.
  In 1963, a nursing unit was established on the first floor for 12 rooms. The nursing unit closed in 1980 and, although nursing staff is on duty 24-hours a day, Southmayd Home is a home for women who can live independently.
   In 2005, Southmayd Home celebrated its 80th anniversary at its present historic location at 250 Columbia Boulevard in Waterbury, Connecticut.