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The Gift |
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 Caleb Cooley Dickinson died in 1882 leaving a bequest of $100,000 as he said in his will:-"To establish and put in operation in the town of Northampton a hospital for the sick poor of the town of Hatfield in the County of Hampshire, Whately in the County of Franklin, and Northampton in the County of Hampshire, where they may receive such care, nursing and medical attendance as their diseases and sickness may require, either gratuitously or at moderate charge, according to the circumstances, each."
"It is my design with the prosperity which a kind Providence has given me, to found a hospital where the sick among the poor of said towns shall be tenderly and kindly provided with such care and treatment as their condition needs, and which in numerous cases it is impossible for them to receive in their homes, and the same to be wholly or in part free of charge. Also, patients from the more wealthy classes in the community may be received into the hospital for treatment upon the payment of a reasonable compensation. All applications to be received into said hospital and the terms on which they shall be received, shall be at the discretion of the Trustees for same."
The original amount was reduced by a lawsuit to $87,000. With this amount to use the trustees received their charter of incorporation April 10, 1885. On April 18, 1885 they held their first meeting and elected the following officers: President, George W. Hubbard, Secretary and Treasurer, John Whittelsey. The third member of the trustees named in the will was William H. Dickinson. It was Mr. Hubbard who suggested founding a hospital for the sick poor to Caleb Cooley Dickinson.
A tract of land, part of the old Denniston Farm, was purchased from the City at a nominal fee of $100. It might be noted here that on the Denniston Farm near the site of the original hospital building was a water-cure called "Erinstein", opened in 1848 and operated for some years by Edward E. Denniston, M.D.
The Cooley Dickinson Hospital officially opened its doors on New Year's Day in 1886. Miss Emma Castle, a graduate of New Haven Hospital, was Matron. She was assisted by one full-time person and another "on call" when necessary. The building accommodated twelve patients, had an operating room, wash rooms, doctor's room, dining room, kitchen, parlor, and matron's room. It was heated with steam radiators and was equipped in an up-to-date manner with drop gas lights and hot and cold running water.
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