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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 281 CHAPTER XXI HOSPITALS GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL By Miss Mary Melville Thirty-nine years ago, on the 26th of June, at half past 6 in the evening, the cornerstone of Good Samaritan Hospital was laid. The idea of founding a hospital in Sandusky originated in the mind of the Rev. William Wilberforce Farr, at that time rector of Grace Church. His vestry warmly supported the idea, and one of them, Mr. C. C. Keech, gave about an acre of ground on the south end of Fulton Street, on Lewis Street, for the location of the building. From the outset the hospital was to be truly catholic—universal-in its activities and benefactions. No particular religious body or civic organization was to control it, but everyone was appealed to, to aid this noble work of charity, which was then though not so well understood as it is now, an ever increasing necessity in our community. The title of the land given was held in trust by Peter Gilcher and J. 0. Moss. The personnel of the first board of managers was James Woolworth and Peter Gilcher for three years; C. C. Keech and George J. Anderson for two years, and J. 0. Moss and Charles H. Moss for one year, with the rector, W. W. Farr, chairman. This board determined upon a plan for the hospital which embraced a central building 36 by 38 feet, two stories high, over a basement and connected with the two wards on either side by a small building 20 by 24 feet, one story in height over a basement. This building was to contain a heating room in the basement and bath rooms on the main floor. The wards were to be in a building 32 by 100 feet wide with a commodious sitting-room 16 to 30 feet at the south end and over a c laundry of the same size in the basement. The wards proper were to be 30 by 50 feet and designed for the accommodation of sixteen patients . each. There was also to be two rooms 14 by 16 feet for pay patients attached to each ward, besides the rooms for the nurses. The basement under the north end of each ward building was to contain the kitchen, store-room and cellar for the ward above. The design contemplated separating male and female patients, having a ward for each sex. The foundation was laid, at first, for the eastern ward. On this evening in June nearly forty years ago, the papers of that, date tell us, the laying of the cornerstone of this hospital attracted a large concourse of people, many from the laboring classes particularly, 282 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY and great interest was shown. Reverend Mr. Farr, Reverend Mr. Lehrer, Reverend Mr. Coleman, Reverend Mr. Sturgiss, Reverend Father Marks of Huron, Mr. U. T. Curran and Doctor Massey took part in the exercises, and the Great Western Band, even as Ackley 's band does now, gave their services gratuitously, furnishing excellent and appropriate music. The clergy, to a man, urged the need of a .hospital in Sandusky and enumerated the benefits which would accrue from establishing such an institution, the Reverend Mr. Lehrer 's address being in German. Mr. Curran spoke of the awakened interest of the people in the project and was loud in his praise of those fathering the enterprise. Doctor Massey gave an interesting account of hospitals in large cities and their conduct, even tracing the work of the European houses of healing from their founding in the sixth century. In America the first hospital came into being fifty years ago. The placing in the cornerstone of the tin box by Mr. Farr, with its list of the national, state and municipal office-holders, the copies GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL, SANDUSKY of the daily papers, and hospital documents, was followed by prayer and the benediction, which closed the services. In response to a call of all those interested in the new hospital, forty ladies assembled, some fourteen months after the laying of the cornerstone, and named an executive committee, to devise ways and means to establish a free pharmacy at the hospital, and also to aid in completing the building. This committee included Mrs. John R. Miner, Mrs. John Zollinger, Mrs. W. A. Simpson, Mrs. R. M. Wilcox, Mrs. J. Kronthal, Mrs. Sophia Norris, Mrs. John L, Moore and Mrs. Cornelia Clemons. Two physicians of each school had signified their willingness to attend, free of charge, to the compounding of medicines and prescriptions in the proposed free pharmacy, two evenings of each week. Later, one person, presumably Mr. Keech, gave the whole amount, $150, to establish the dispensary. The ladies comprising the Hospital Aid Society immediately determined upon raising $1,000 by forming a Century Club, each member of which was to give $10, and the club to number 100 members. As soon as that was accomplished, they planned a house-to-house canvass of the city, to accept HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 283 amounts from 5 cents to $50 to be used by the building committee. People were invited to come and examine the progress of the hospital building, being assured that Mr. Levi Till, who was in charge, would welcome all comers, show them about, and exhibit the plans. To add to the sums already available, there were given innumerable entertainments, balls, concerts, bazaars, etc., all done in the name of sweet charity. Ten years after the laying of the cornerstone, the hospital was formally opened for patients. Ten years of storm and stress, of labor and self- sacrifice, for at that time the maintenance of such an institution was a stupendous problem. Many an appeal was sent out to the people, and . many a response came back to those in charge. Mr. Keech tells of the cheer aroused by certain gifts of money, mentioning the sum of $26.67 sent by a German society, Mr. Henry Rudolph, chairman, and $87.79 from the centennial committee, July 4, 1876, not so much in the amounts themselves as in the spirit manifested. He said, "It shows that we have a charity in our city that all classes and all denominations should aid. The idea that Grace Church wants all the glory in building Good Samaritan Hospital should be done away with at once and forever. The very best, and most self-sacrificing work that has been done for the hospital, has been done by some German ladies who never go near Grace Church. The hospital when done will be open to the sick of all nationalities, creeds and color, the only condition being, is he or she sick and without a comfortable home and the possibility of good care?" He further urged that one Sunday every year be set aside to be known as "Hospital Sunday." On that day a special collection be taken up in every church in town for the hospital, and should there be more than one, then the total amount be equally divided between them. There is still an opportunity for the establishment in Sandusky of "Hospital Sunday." After the hospital was opened, the Hospital Guild, the successor to the Hospital Aid Society took an active part in the daily management of the hospital in conjunction with the board of managers. But forty years ago there were two reasons why a hospital was but a partial success. One, that going there was closely akin to becoming an inmate of the infirmary, and the other, that hospitals were intended wholely and solely to ease the last hours of the dying, and that being taken there was but the prelude to a well-conducted funeral, if by chance the weeping, relatives received the body. For, origin unknown, a ghastly tradition gained credence in some minds, that the bodies of the dead were transmuted into medicine after the manner of the hapless canine into sausage. Hospitals of that day were limited in scope, besides having many popular prejudices to combat, so it was not surprising that in spite of the heroic efforts of the founders and supporters of Good Samaritan Hospital and though fairly well-conducted by an efficient matron, it was deemed advisable, after a short term of United States governmental. control for marine patients, to close the institution after having been in active operation seventeen years. Seventeen years later through the efforts of an intrepid leader, Dr. Carrie Chase Davis, backed by an equally intrepid aggregation of women, Good Samaritan Hospital again 284 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY came into its own, and the hope and desire of every public-spirited, zealous worker on its board of managers is, that not only in seventeen but in seventy times seventeen years it may still be actively lending itself to the curing of bodily ills. While years ago people had almost to be -bribed to go to one of these houses of healing, today the facilities and accommodations are woefully inadequate to take care of the ever increasing throng clamoring for admission, and at Good Samaritan Hospital the daily, hourly cry, is "room—more room !" Sanduskians have come to believe that it is the best and only place where certain bone-fractures, fevers, and diseases of other kinds can be efficiently cared for. The operating-room with enameled walls, perfect heating and lighting equipment, tiled floor, weights, pulleys, fracture beds, X-ray machines, equipment for sterilization of surgical instruments and dressings, etc., has every accessory at hand to further the skill of the physician, seconded by the competent care and assistance of his corps of trained nurses. This is especially true of Good Samaritan Hospital, which graduates its class each year from its school for the training of nurses, the system taught being that used in the hospitals of New York, Chicago, and Cleveland. Forty years ago a system of contribution was decided upon by which clubs, individuals or forces of employes in shops, manufactories, or railroads, could control beds by paying a small sum each week, per capita, entitling the victim of an accident or serious illness, the very best medical care and attention without charge except that stipulated. This need of a steady income is now even more pressing, and the same system of giving is extant. Any corporate body may control a bed under like conditions. While the regular income of Good Samaritan Hospital is derived from appropriations from the city, from pay and part-pay patients, donations and bequests are gratefully received, carefully expended and scrupulously accounted for. Every possible purchase of materials, in every department, is made in Sandusky, and Sandusky help is always secured when needed. People of Sandusky have been more than generous in supporting the efforts of those in charge to make the hospital successful. More than one has been ready with the parabohc "oil, wine and two pence," but the need is a steadily growing one, and there is still room and to spare for those who so desire, "to go and do likewise." The present board of managers is : Rev. Edmund G. Mapes, president ex officio ; Rev. Theo. J. C. Stellhorn, Mr. Mozart Gallup, Mr. Willard A. Bishop, Mr. Chas. R. Melville, Mr. Edward Lea Marsh, Maj. Geo. P. Barker. The advisory board of women is : Mrs. Martin Klenk, president; Mrs. James Sawyer, Mrs. E. Lea Marsh, ,Mrs. Merrit S. Wilcox, Mrs, Chas. Graefe, Mrs. Roy Williams, Mrs. A. Bear; Mrs. Carl E. Engels, Miss Elizabeth Graefe, Miss Claire Graefe, Mrs. George Feick, Mrs. F. W. Ohlemacher, Mrs. Carrie J. Wagner, Mrs. G. T. Lehrer, Dr. Emily Blakeslee. . . Honorary membersDr. Carrie Chase Davis, Miss Minnie Emrich. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 285 PICTURE OF PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL 286 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL As Providence Hospital has always been in charge of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, it seems proper to say a few words concerning that order. The Order of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine is one of the American Sisterhoods of the Catholic Church. The total enrollment of these sisterhoods shows that from 50,000 to 60,000 Catholic women devote. their lives to religious work. These sisterhoods conduct about 700 charities, 600 colleges and academies, about 3,000 schools, besides the time devoted by the contemplative orders to purely devotional matters. There are several orders of the Sisters of Charity, the best known being the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, whose members are distinguished by a peculiar white head dress called the cornette, which has been immortalized by the artist Seymore Thompson in his celebrated painting "An Innocent Victim," representing a sister of that order mortally wounded in caring for the wounded during a battle. The Order of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine was established by Bishop Rappe, of the Cleveland diocese, in 1851. The first superioress was Sister Ursula, known in the world as Catherine Bisenette, who had charge from 1851 to September, 1863. Before engaging in this work she lived in Sandusky, Ohio. There during the cholera, 184940, she collected a number of children, orphaned by that dread plague, and took care of them in a house at the corner of Tiffin Avenue and Jefferson Street and which is now owned by Arthur Gallagher. This was the beginning in the diocese of Cleveland, of caring for orphans and the sick, it has also been the chosen work of the order. The original home of the sisters was known as St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, on Monroe Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. In 1885, ten acres of land were purchased in Lakewood, Ohio, on which Bishop Gilmour authorized the erection of a convent, in September, 1890. It was completed in 1891, and together with the chapel was dedicated August 28, 1892. The term of probation of the order is five years, and at its completion the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are taken. During the novitiate the novices are trained in nursing the sick, in the care of children and housework. The order has charge of three hospitals and three orphan asylums, and has about 135 members. About thirty sisters conduct St. Vincent's Charity Hospital, at Cleveland, Ohio, seven sisters are engaged at Mercy Hospital, Canton, Ohio, and ten sisters at Providence Hospital, Sandusky, Ohio. Thirty sisters have charge of St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, at Cleveland, Ohio, sixteen of St. Ann's Infant Asylum, in the same city, and fifteen of St. Louis' Orphan Asylum, at Louisville, Ohio. The history of Providence Hospital begins with a small hospital conducted until 1902, by the Visiting Nurses." Association, in a little brick house known as the Blumer house on Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, Ohio. In the summer of that year the sum of $400 was realized for this hospital, HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 287 through a lecture given by Rev. Father Woesman. When it was finally resolved to turn the hospital (Emergency Hospital as it was named) over to the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, it was also voted to transfer to them this $400, but this action was afterwards changed and the hospital never received the money. About this time Mr. Lawrence Cable one of Sandusky 's pioneer and most highly respected citizens, purchased the Keech Homestead and deeded it to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstmann, the deed reciting that the property was given for hospital purposes. Through the efforts of the local clergy the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine were secured to take charge of the proposed hospital. On September 8, 1902, two sisters of this order (Sister M. George and Sister M. Adelaide) were sent to Sandusky to look after the repairing and remodeling of Providence Hospital, the name given to the new hospital. In October, 1902, Sister M. George was placed in charge of Emergency Hospital, and remained there until the opening of Providence Hospital on April 5, 1904, which was under her charge as Sister Superior until January 1, 1911, when she was succeeded by Sister Eugene, who has been an able successor. During the year 1909, an addition was built to the hospital, at an expense of $16,000, to provide accommodations for the nurses. In 1910 another addition was constructed at a cost of $3,000, to provide room for an elevator. Providence is now an up-to-date hospital, of which the citizens of Sandusky are justly proud. |