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History 1920 - 1960 |
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The third decade saw little construction, but, in 1920, the McCallum family gave the funds to build the beautiful McCallum Nurses' Residence. This was a gift in memory of Alexander McCallum, local industrialist.
The original hospital, which was moved in 1907 and refurbished for use as a nurses' home, had become inadequate. Sometime following completion of the new McCallum Nurses' Residence, the old nurses' home was made over into a home for employees, a role it played until 1961.
Over the years, the original hospital has served varied purposes on two different sites . . . patient care, nurses' residence, employee housing, and several areas of the venerable structure are still being used for storage. At some point, the original wooden structure acquired a coating of stucco. The laundry wing is attached to the original hospital building.
In 1927 there was an addition to the Shepherd Surgery Wing of two major operating rooms, a new plaster room and an accident room. This was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Childs. Sun porches were built on the Wright Memorial Annex, a separate power plant built and a new elevator installed in the main building.
On June 21, 1931 the Maternity Wing was formally opened. The maternity Wing, a three-story, two wing structure, was erected according to plans but it was decided to finish only one floor to be used for maternity patients. This building added 20 adult beds for obstetrical patients, including private rooms, two-bed rooms and a three-bed ward; a nursery of 20 bassinettes for the newborn babies; an isolation nursery; a modern delivery suite with a preparation room, labor room and two delivery rooms, with all the most up-to-date sterilizers and equipment, and four sun parlors for the use of convalescent patients and their friends.
The unfinished floors of the Maternity Pavilion stood idle for some time, funds being scarce and the need for more patient areas not too pressing. In 1935 the Pediatric Ward on the first floor was completed. This Ward provided accommodations for 16 children from the ages of two weeks to 13 years and consisted of one ward of four cubicles for babies under two years of age, a unit of ten cubicles, an isolation room and a private room, a sun parlor and playroom, an open porch, an examining and treatment room, and the necessary utility rooms, bathrooms, and diet kitchen.
In 1942, on the ground floor, the new Dietary Department was installed. This included new kitchen facilities and a spacious cafeteria. It is noted in the 1942 Annual Report of the President of the Board, Aubrey B. Butler, that the floor of the still unfinished first floor of the Maternity Wing was cemented and 35 beds were placed there for emergency use. These beds were put to use when in May of 1947, 99 victims of ptomaine poisoning were admitted within a period of five hours. All were guests at a wedding reception. Although the situation was rather acute and hectic for awhile all personnel and Medical Staff responded beautifully; however, there was a humorous side. It seems after the turmoil had somewhat subsided, one of the Resident Doctors was making his rounds and noticed at the foot of one man's bed, dungarees and an old shirt. This seemed odd to the Doctor as all these patients were supposedly admitted from the reception. He went up to the man and started questioning him. The man replied, "I wasn't at any wedding Doc, I banged my thumb with a hammer and came in to have it looked at. First thing I knew I was put to bed. Will you have a look at my thumb, please, Doc?"
The final utilization of the Maternity Wing came in 1949, 18 years after it was built, with the completion of the East Wing patient area on the first floor and new X-ray, Urology, Laboratory, and Cardiology facilities on the ground floor.
In 1944, the hospital trustees acquired the Elizabeth K. Thompson House to be used as an overflow residence, the McCallum House being filled to capacity because of the number of Cadet Nurses training at the Hospital. The house was located adjacent to McCallum Home. It has since been torn down to make room for an employee parking lot.
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