THE STORY BEGINS: The Merrill city fathers invited the Holy Cross Sisters to establish a hospital for this central Wisconsin community in 1923. Since they opened the doors of Holy Cross Hospital in 1926, the Holy Cross Sisters have been an integral part of the Merrill community.

THE STORY CONTINUES: The Holy Cross Sisters continued serving the community through their efforts with the hospital, a high school, a junior college, and a spirituality center. In 1989, the Holy Cross Sisters chose to make Bell Tower Residence their sponsored ministry and converted the convent to a community-based residential facility for older adults, pioneering high quality affordable living for the elderly.

To find out more about our sponsors, the Holy Cross Sisters, access their USA Province website at:  www.holycrosssisters.org, or the International Sisters, access their website at:  www.scsc-ingenbohl.org,

A NEW CHAPTER: Major renovation/additions were completed in 2006 adding 24 new units to the existing Bell Tower Residence. Five neighborhoods have been created where services are available to meet changing lifestyle needs and allow residents to "age in place".