The main part of the rest home is the original Victorian home designed by architect William F. Pratt for Samuel Porter and was completed in 1887. This was a grand home in its time boasting of all the modern conveniences of the time and adorned with fresco’d walls and ceilings.

After being the home of Samuel Porter for many years the home was eventually sold to the Annunciation Church to become a home for the nuns of the nearby Catholic School. Sometime in the late 1960’s the home was purchased by Mr. Ryder who converted the home into Ryder’s Nursing Home (a skilled nursing facility) and he subsequently added the newer section of the building in 1970 to meet DPH codes.

As times changed and regulations became more onerous it was decided to convert the home from a skilled nursing facility into a rest home in the mid 1970’s. Mr. Ryder then sold the facility to a partnership formed by a Mr. Wade and Ms. Williams. This partnership did not last long and Ms. Williams became the sole owner somewhere around 1980.

By 1984 the facility was purchased by Anita and Anna Thompson, and a partner, Monroe Bethea. When Monroe Bethea divorced, his portion was transferred to Anita Thompson and thus Anita and Anna became the sole owners of River Valley Rest Home. Viorel and Elizabeth Duca purchased the home in June 2012. In March of 2018, Raj family purchased River Valley Rest Home from the Duca family. The home is currently under the governance of Raj family.