More than 4 million Veterans return from active military careers to reside in rural communities. At VA, we work to meet these Veterans where they live and promote the opportunities to find happy homes in these rural communities around the country.
Like the Veterans you’ll serve, these rural communities are as diverse and exciting as you can imagine. You may find an opportunity to be closer to family and friends, or just enjoy a greater sense of privacy. Perhaps the lower cost of living or even the allure of open space appeals to you.
Today, we’ll visit Bath VA Medical Center, a facility that would not exist without the historic support of its community.
Bath VA Medical Center
Bath VA Medical Center is located in Bath, New York, in Steuben County, and plans for the facility date back to 1863, when former Gov. Edwin Morgan made the first attempt to establish a Veterans’ home in New York.
Unfortunately, the project was abandoned due to lack of interest, but a second effort was made in 1872, incorporating plans for a facility to be built and maintained by the state. Despite interest, no funds were provided by the state for the project.
To keep the project alive, an appeal was made to the public, and donations were collected in the amount of $100,000. Thanks to the community of Bath providing nearly a quarter of the donations—more than any other community in the region—it was chosen as the site of the new facility.
The original hospital was established in 1877 to house disabled New York Veterans of the American Civil War, but as the men aged, it largely became a geriatric facility.
The facility was transferred to the state in 1878. Following an extensive expansion, it was rededicated in 1879 as the “New York State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, Bath.” The federal government took over operations in 1929, and the property was deeded to VA in 1932.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, and is designated a national historic district.
Bath, New York
Bath can trace its roots back to one of the wealthiest landowners in Great Britain, Sir William Pulteney, who began to expand his holdings in the new lands of America in the late 1700s. The deals he struck ultimately led to the founding of several communities in western New York, including Bath.
From the Pulteney Estate, the town’s official founder, Charles Williamson, purchased what is now Bath, New York, on April 11, 1792. Early on came mills, a tavern and eventually, dignified homes. A theater was constructed, designed to bring a measure of culture to the rural area.
Manufacturing plants like the Babcock Ladder Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and Lane Pipe all helped the region grow throughout the 1900s. Today, Bath has found economic stability through the presence of Bath VA Medical Center and multiple agricultural enterprises.
Bath is close to many favorite tourist locations, including numerous wineries along Keuka Lake, and is home to the Steuben County Fair, the longest continuously running fair in the United States.
Jobs at Bath VA Medical Center
Bath VA Medical Center is one of 7 locations in the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, which serves 33,000 Veterans across a 12-county area that includes upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania.
The facility provides primary care and specialty health services, including eye and vision care, dental care, mental health care, nutrition services, treatment for spinal cord injuries, and much, much more.
Current openings at the facility can be found here.
Work at VA
Find a community that’s right for you, and help us promote the health and well-being of rural Veterans with a career at VA.
- LEARN more about our work with rural Veterans.
- EXPLORE the benefits of working at VA.
- SEARCH for your new career.
NOTE: Positions listed in this post were open at the time of publication. All current available positions are listed at USAJOBS.gov.
