A home standing on the shoulders of giants

The Legacy Home Lexington is designed for five women of modest incomes, 50 years and older, to live together so that they may share rent and other expenses to minimize the cost of growing older. It is an opportunity to live in community, and it is a wonderful alternative to large apartment buildings or living alone.

The Rev. Esther Hurlburt was the founder of Lexington Cooperative Ministry. On her desk, you would find the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said, “If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom shall be like noonday.”

Esther, a nurse and a Unitarian Universalist community minister created The Legacy Home because she believes that the work of any religion is manifest outside the walls of the institution itself. Esther has always been passionate about community work, particularly with the poor and disenfranchised. As a professional geriatric nurse case manager, Esther also understood the needs of old people. Thus, the creation of Lexington Cooperative Ministry manifested a universal theology taking shape in community: Everyone benefits when we share with, care for and live in cooperation with each other.

The Legacy Home was built with an incredible amount of support from people who believed in the mission, making it a reality with the help of over forty community and business partners who provided money, building supplies, professional advice and oversight, and encouragement. A battalion of volunteers throughout the community provided sweat equity.

In August of 2022, Legacy Home was transitioned into the ownership and care of Gleanings Housing Inc. We continue to offer many opportunities for volunteer activities such as community gardening, yard and property maintenance, and general home repair.