The Parkersburg Day Nursery was founded in 1908 by five local women who financed the Nursery by conducting weekly sales of home baked goods, needlework and flowers. Among these early founders were Mrs. Monroe Rathbone, Mrs Herman Hogg, and Mrs. J.B. Sammel, who served as Treasurer for over 40 years. Miss Agness Mayhall was the able director from 1908 to 1953.

Widowed mothers who needed to work to support their families found that the Nursery provided excellent supervised care for their children. Initially the Nursery was located in a four-room house at 1114 Market Street. By the time that the organization incorporated in 1913, the Nursery had outgrown its original location and purchased property at 1021 Market Street from Dr. Williamson. Monies for this project were raised by bake sales held by local women. The women formed the Women's Exchange and sponsored an annual dance, forerunner to the Charity Ball.

The Parkersburg Day Nursery, which was the first day care center in the state, entered the local Community Chest in 1925, and, since then, has received support from the United Way. Throughout the years, the Parkersburg Day Nursery prospered through local, state and federal grants and through the generous support of the Parkersburg area residents and organizations.

Initially, the services of the Parkersburg Day Nursery were free. As the economic picture has changed throughout the years and the two income families have become the norm, the Parkersburg Day Nursery has adopted a sliding scale fee schedule based on family income.

The present day program at the Parkersburg Day Nursery, licensed by the state to care for 42 children, includes planned activities specific to each age group, learning centers, age-specific curriculum and the availability of two meals and a snack per child each day. The Parkersburg Day Nursery has been, and will strive to be, as asset to the community for many years.