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St. Mary’s
Hospital
Founded and Opened in 1906
Missionary Sisters, Servants
of the Holy Ghost
Watertown Memorial Hospital
Watertown Regional Medical Center
1903
The Beginning
There was a time not so many
years ago when Watertown did not have an emergency hospital and the paper
created such a sentiment for an emergency hospital that the city council by
ordinance April 14, 1903, established a hospital in the building now used as a
garage in (116 S) First Street, and also had a morgue built into the basement
of the old 1885
City Hall building on North First St.
Previous to that time the editor
had witnessed scenes which caused him to advocate these measures. An injured man, were he a stranger, was taken
to the lockup and his injuries treated by a local physician. If he survived he was sent to the county poor
farm and if he died, to the potter’s field.
Laid out on the floor of the old engine house, a man picked up dead was
left to the rats and mice which ate the toes and ears, while well housed men
and women were enjoying the comforts of a cozy home.
The Emergency Hospital
Such was the condition when the
agitation for an emergency hospital was started, and thanks to good men then in
the council a better condition prevailed.
This hospital housed many an unfortunate and proved of great benefit as
a place at least where strangers and those without adequate means or in
emergency cases were treated and put on the road to recovery. At one time the writer knows that three
injury cases, involving the loss of limbs, eyesight and the like were treated
in the improvised hospital within one week.
It was the best the city would
then afford and was actually established under protest. But what was the result. In a few years the demand for a larger and
more up to date hospital was apparent.
1906
The First Hospital - Schiffler residence
In 1906 an attempt was made by
the Rev. Phillip Schweitzer of St. Henry’s parish to interest all the
physicians of this city in a movement which had for its purpose the
establishment of a hospital in the city of Watertown. Previous to this time the importance and
necessity of such an institution where the sick and injured could be properly
cared for had been frequently discussed by the physicians, but at this meeting
the location, cost of construction, method of raising money, were considered
and various plans proposed and discussed.
To provide for the enterprise the
following courses were open: To build a
hospital by raising money from the individual donations of physicians and
others interested and then to turn the building or money over to some
charitable organization or society – to form a stock company, the stock to be
taken by all of the physicians. Both of
these plans failed because no charitable organization could be found to take up
the work and only a small minority of physicians present were
willing to invest money in such a project, because the history of all hospitals
has been that they are not profitable investments. Subsequent to this, the great necessity of a
suitable place for the care of injured persons was frequently shown. An emergency hospital provided for that
purpose by the city proved entirely inadequate.
It was finally taken up by several of the local physicians and a
suitable place secured.
The building purchased was a
modern eight room house located at
09 27 1906
Preparations are still going on
for the opening in Watertown on the first of November of the general hospital,
the enterprise promoted by Drs. C. J. Habhegger and T. F. Shinnick
of this city, and Dr. F. Eichelberg of Reeseville. The Schiffler residence which was recently purchased for this
purpose, will be vacated the first of next week and then the remodeling will
take place preparatory to the opening of the new hospital a month later. The improvements will include sanitary
plumbing and the laying of tiling in the operating room.
The names of the nurses have been
announced. They are four well known
ladies of the city, experienced in their chosen profession. They are Miss Lydia
K. Lehmann, matron, Misses Clara Lehmann (1), Emma Kroeplin
and Martha Eichmann
1906
09 14 Eagles donation for a room;
Brandenburg sanitary furnishings; will open Oct. 1.
10 01 St. Mary’s opens
12 04 Every
evidence since the opening of the new St. Mary's Hospital has been to show its
great popularity in the city and surrounding country, which will increase daily
and the Leader makes the prediction that inside of a year the present building
will be found so inadequate to meet the demand that an addition doubling its
capacity will be found necessary. Even now, less than a month
from the opening (on Nov. 12th) there is agitation among the promoters of the
advisability of building an addition in the spring.
The fact of the popularity of the
new hospital is best evidenced in the fact that it was filled to its capacity
the second day after the opening and since that time a number have been turned
away simply because of the lack of room . . .
the hospital is located in the building formerly known as the Schiffler residence on Main Street . . . The downstairs is devoted to a pretty lobby
and reception room, nurses' rooms, a three-bed ward and the kitchen.
Upstairs there are two wards with
two beds and one with a single bed making twelve beds in all . . . On the
second floor is also the operating rooms with tile flooring and enamel walls
and ceiling and in the glare of the many electric lights is almost as light as
day . . . The operating table, is the
newest design. The cost of equipping this room was over $700.00 . . . At
present there are four nurses, a nurse girl and a cook employed.
1907
04 03 1907
Bids for the construction of the
new addition to St. Mary's will be closed on April 15th, 1907. The doctors in charge are desirous that all
contractors and builders be notified as an impartial bid is desired.
1907
First Officers
The hospital was instituted by
Drs. C. J. Habhegger, T. F. Shinnick,
Watertown, and F. E. Eichelberg, Reeseville,
who composed the board of directors, and May Smith R. N., was the first
superintendent.
The staff was composed of the
following: Consulting physicians and
surgeons – D. D. Lewis, M. D. Chicago; Charles Rowan, M. D. Chicago; Harry Sifton, M. D. Milwaukee; W. H. Washburn, M. D., Milwaukee;
Henry V. Ogden, M. D. Milwaukee; W. F. Whyte, M. D. Watertown, president state
board of health.
Attending physicians and surgeons
– F. E. Eichelberg, T. F. Shinnick,
J. S. Kings, Joseph O’Connell, Louis
H. Nowack, C. R. Feld.
Attending surgeons – C. J. Habhegger, E. H. Cook, eye, ear, nose and throat.
Visiting staff – F. C. Werner, F.
C. Moulding.
1907
07 17 The city
council at its regular meeting last evening adopted a resolution authorizing
the payment of $200 out of the general fund for the endowing of a bed in St.
Mary's hospital, the same being in the nature of an encouragement by the
general public and city. According to
the provisions . . . the owners of the hospital manifest a willingness to
provide the city with a bed in the ward room of the institution together with
the right to transfer its emergency hospital equipment from it presents
location to said institutions for a period of one year from the first day of
October, 1907, and to take care of all such cases which are charges upon the
city, to be determined by the mayor, health commissioner and the committee on
hospital and health, upon the understanding that no one patient shall remain in
said institution for a longer period than six weeks and upon the further
understanding that said care to be furnished is to include the services of a
nurse and all hospital conveniences . . .
1907
11 06 Proposed city building for storage of
city property; second story would be devoted to emergency
hospital, janitor’s room, and hay and feed storage.
1908
04 01 Skin graft operation performed by
Dr. Habhegger
08 07 Seven
pieces of birch furniture donated
12 11 X-Ray machine installed WG
1909
01 08 Copeland-Roach Motor Co purchased former fire
engine house/emergency hospital WG
1910
06 24 Lorenz operation; local physicians
performed WG
1911
08 05 Nurses ride in Homecoming parade
1914
The New Hospital - St.
Mary’s
On January 5, 1914, the present
sisterhood took over the hospital which had previously been conducted by the
physicians, and plans were soon made for its enlargement. This necessitated a new building and it was
finally decided to erect it adjacent to the old hospital, to which it is
connected by a structure which is used as a sun parlor and which proves to be
one of the most pleasant rooms in the structure. To the west it is connected with a recently
purchased residence property which has been converted into a chapel, and the
second floor of which is used as a dormitory for the nurses. When it was decided to build a new hospital
the sisterhood in charge invoked the aid of the citizens of this section to
help in securing a portion of the funds necessary to construct the necessary
building, which it was estimated would cost complete in the neighborhood of
$100,000. Several committees of men and
women took charge of this work and made a canvass of the city and adjoining
towns. A considerable sum was raised in
this manner, but of course the bulk of the amount required was of necessity
financed by the sisters. Our entry into
the war, which necessitated the raising of large sums of money put a stop to
the local solicitations for hospital work and reduced the total which might
have been raised under normal conditions.
Its Equipment
The equipment at St. Mary’s is
said to be the best that money can purchase.
In the institution are appliances of the most improved type for the
treatment of diseases. The X-Ray room is
fully equipped with the most modern articles that can be secured, second to
none in the country. It is known that
the X-ray is being wonderfully developed until now it has reached such
efficiency that with its aid the interior organs of the body can be seen in
action. In locating fractures of the
bone, dislocations and the like, its value cannot be measured in dollars and
cents.
There has also been installed a
complete electro-therapeutic and physical equipment and it will no longer be
necessary for those suffering from acute and chronic diseases to leave home for
complete relief and cure: for the
equipment is equal to that found in any sanitarium in the world, and the
sisters are to be commended for their progressive foresight and excellent
judgment in providing the hospital with this most modern and up to date means
of curing suffering humanity. But that
is not the end. Its bath facilities are
of the best and most modern. To its
shower, needle electric and other forms of bath, has been added an electric
light cabinet such as was used by the late King Edward of England, thus
acquiring the name of the “Bath of Kings”.
Fireproof Construction
The new St. Mary’s hospital is of
fireproof construction throughout. The
furnishings of the various rooms are in native white oak, but this is used only
sparingly. The corridors, hallways,
stairways, operating rooms, bath rooms and the like are of strictly fireproof
material. The building proper is 42x118
feet, three stories in height, and steam heated throughout. The foundation walls are of concrete and the
building is of red pressed brick with reinforced concrete floors finished in
granite Mosaic style. The stairways are
of iron supports with the same style of construction used in the floors. The corridors and hallways are constructed of
like material.
The general contract for the
construction of the hospital was let to Block Mallow
& Kaddatz, local contractors, who completed the
building in a manner satisfactory to the architect, Herman J. Gaul of Chicago,
who spent considerable time in Watertown overlooking its construction. The plumbing was installed under contract by
the Otto Biefeld Company, and the painting contract
included in the general contract was done by W. C. Raue
& Sons Co. The heating was put in by
Chicago contractors as was also the electric wiring and marble and Toronto
floors.
The Sun Parlor
One of the coziest corners in the
institution is the sun parlor, which admits the sunlight from the south and
allows a fine view of the sweep of Rock River to the north. It is comfortably furnished and is in
constant use by those patients who are not confined to their rooms and wish to
spend an hour or two and imbibe the healthful influence which nature has
provided, a stimulating influence in the case of all sufferers where the genial
warmth of the sun’s rays exert a beneficial condition. Here convalescents may lounge at leisure and
occupy their time with books, needlework or like light occupations.
On the same floor is also
situated the diet kitchen where the meals are assembled after being prepared in
the kitchen on the ground floor. As one
enters the hospital from Main Street, the vestibule opens into the waiting
parlor on the right and the general office on the left. A main corridor traverses the whole length of
the building on this floor and leads to the maternity hospital on the east and
the chapel on the west.
The two floors above are devoted
to the care of the sick, the rooms opening onto wide corridors excellently
lighted as are also all the rooms occupied by the patients with window
exposures.
On the first floor are also
arranged the baths, electric treatment room and rest room, emergency operating
room, X-Ray room and lecture room, all needed and necessary in an institution
of this character and all amply provided with the necessary equipment. The general operating room is located on the
third floor, furnished in white enamel, and the pink of cleanliness. Adjacent to this operating room are smaller
rooms devoted to the care of surgical instruments, dressings and other
appliances necessary in a well ordered hospital.
The Sisters
Such in brief is the history of
St. Mary’s hospital, but it would be incomplete were mention not made of the
glorious and self-sacrificing work of the noble women who have brought it to a
success and made the name of St. Mary’s revered not only among our own people
of Watertown, but in many outlying hamlets and villages, in the homes of the
farmer, artisan, professional man, and indeed to those in all walks of life. The Sister Superior who controls and directs
the work of the institution is a woman with great executive ability, and with a
quiet, unassuming personage. To her must
be given great credit for the high plane on which the hospital rests. No better testimonial could be given than
that expressed by the head of a big Chicago hospital, who
was called here during the prevalence of the Spanish influenza when his
son-in-law was being cared for. He said:
“Watertown should be proud of this splendid institution and should be
proud of the great and noble work being done by the sisterhood. It is as complete in every detail as one
could wish for”.
Such unstinted praise coming from
a man who had the chance to observe, goes to show the magnificent work which
has been accomplished in Watertown. And
a visit to this place will repay anyone.
Homelike surroundings greet you on every hand. The dread of the ordeal is dissipated by the
knowledge that you will receive the care and nursing which in many cases cannot
be given you at home.
Citizens Furnish Rooms
But although the exigencies of
the war discouraged the solicitation of funds for the building of the hospital,
it did not deter citizens and civic societies from contributing to its
furnishings. The city for years has
maintained a room for the indigent who might seek its services. In addition the city council furnished one of
the rooms complete. The matter of
furnishing was taken up in turn by the societies and clubs of the town, and
every room in the hospital was furnished at considerable expense as a donation
and token of good will. Not content with
that, many private citizens contributed of their means for many articles
needed. There was no stint on the part
of the public and creed or nationality did not enter into the work. It was a fine spirit admirably shown and redowns to the credit of the people of Watertown.
Watertown has advanced well in
this great undertaking for the cause of suffering humanity and from the humble
beginning in the little emergency hospital of a few years ago has crowned
itself with a diadem more lasting than can be bestowed in another sphere. And let us not forget that while we may be
enjoying all the blessings which come to us through the medium of good health,
there are many more who crushed with sickness or in need of a surgical aid are
less fortunate, and to them is dedicated the noble work of the sisterhood in
charge of St. Mary’s hospital without recompense or reward in this world.
1916
10
27 Building the
New Watertown Hospital
This enterprise is now commanding
the attention of everybody in this part of the state, because it is an
undertaking in which all have a personal interest; no one knows the moment when
the service of a hospital will determine the matter of life or death.
The instinct of the head of the
family should prompt a plan to care for the sick members in emergency which may
arise at any moment, and provisions should be made in time for a situation,
which is sure to occur.
Use of hospitals is now known to
be more economical than the attempt to care for the dangerously sick in private
homes, besides the hospital afford a greater certainty for a happy recovery.
This last applies more
particularly to maternity cases, which the State Boards of Charities have
recently shown, and have a far lower death rate when they have been treated in
hospitals as against the supposed advantages of home treatment in rural
communities.
The understanding has the
enthusiastic endorsement of all classes of citizens. The workman knows there is a place for him in
case of accident. The business man
figures it is much more economical to have his sick taken care of where every
preparation is made for this service.
The professional man, with his
knowledge of scientific matters, knows that he will have scientific treatment
in a well ordered hospital. The
Ministers of the Churches feel that there is a heaven of refuge for the
unfortunate sick and maimed in the local hospital.
Civic pride is aroused in
Watertown and will show its interest in securing suitable buildings and
equipment for St. Mary’s Hospital.
11 10 Help the New Hospital at Watertown
At some time the necessity arises
for the use of a hospital in the life of almost every man; the better the
hospital, the nearer and quicker it can be reached may determine the recovery
or death of the patient.
Suppose something like this
should happen to you, young man, or someone near and dear to you:
On a very cold night in a
blinding snowstorm, with the thermometer below zero, a stalwart young railroad
man had the misfortune to stumble and fall on the track while running ahead of
his train to unlock a switch. The
engineer blinded by the snow lost sight of the brakeman for a few moments and
supposing he had stepped alongside of the track kept his engine moving; before he realized
it his engine had run over the fallen man severing one of his legs below the
knee. The trainmen picked up their
injured comrade and carried him to a vacant room where a plain board table,
dusty and dirty, had to serve as an operating table. The wound was treated as well as the
circumstances would permit in this unheated and unclean room and the man was
made as comfortable as possible. His
recovery was attended by results arising from the unsanitary conditions under
which it was necessary to treat him, and he will pay for the lack of hospital
accommodations by having a “bad leg” as long as he lives.
A broken leg may heal
satisfactorily with home care but with the scientific attention to be received
in a hospital there is seldom if ever a question as to the results.
Another story of the life saving
advantages of a hospital easily reached the farmer’s life was saved by being
near a hospital.
A strong, healthy young man, a
farmer, was descending from a load of barley, holding a pitchfork in his right hand, he fell upon the handle which turned under him in such
a manner as to impale him and thence to the ground. He pulled out the handle of the fork himself,
and pressing his hands tightly to the wound managed to walk home. Intestines protruded from the wound and after
washing with hot water and applying a bandage firmly, he was removed to the
hospital in an automobile a distance of twelve miles. An examination showed the serious character
of the injury and an operation followed which could only have been successfully
performed under the favorable conditions afforded by a hospital, and where the
patient had the advantage which are to be had only in a well-regulated
institution. In five weeks he had
recovered and was discharged a cured man; had there been no hospital near, this
man would have died in a few hours.
The above facts but
illustrate the slogan, “When you are helping St. Mary’s Hospital you are
helping yourself.”
11 24&12 08 Building fund and campaign. Offer of fifty cent for every
dollar donated made by Sisters of the charge of the institution WDT
1919
Watertown Daily Times, 07 14 1919
On an eminence of rising ground sloping
gently from the bosom of Rock River in the eastern part of the city of
Watertown, stands a new structure devoted to the cause of relieving suffering
humanity. This structure, which bears
the name of St. Mary’s Hospital, has just been completed at a cost of more than
$100,000 under the inspiration and efforts of the Missionary Sisters Servants
of the Holy Ghost, Institute of Techny, Ill., the
head house of which is at Style, Holland, who took up the burden after the
establishment of St. Mary’s hospital several years ago by some of the local
physicians.
This institution means much for
the city of Watertown and the country adjacent thereto, and in time will be of
incalculable benefit for humanity in its wide scope and most modern equipment
to keep in touch with all that tends for the alleviation of suffering and
bringing back to health those who place their confidence in the conduct of the
institution and are relieved of the anxiety which anyone may have in entering a
hospital.
St. Mary’s is certainly a
homelike institution. Mothered over by a
sisterhood of women engaged in the greatest and most ennobling task that can
fall to anyone, without chance of pecuniary or other reward this side of the
gates of paradise, these women, devoting a life long struggle for the benefit
of manhood have created and reared a monument in the city of Watertown far
greater in dimensions and far greater in its scope of work that any monument
hewn out of granite or iron.
Watertown has reason to be very
proud of St. Mary’s. It asks no
questions, whether you are white or colored, whether your ancestry was from
Alaska, The Orient, Africa or in any zone on God’s
footstool. That you are a human being
appeals to these sisters only. Russian
or Jew, Catholic or Protestant, the same roof shelters them all and the same
treatment is willingly given.
1938
25th
Anniversary of Hospital Observed
Mark
Occasion with Banquet and Program
Work
of Sisters Praised By Speakers Here Last Night
Watertown Daily Times, 12 02 1938
The 25th anniversary of St.
Mary’s Hospital was observed last night at a banquet and program held in the
dining hall of the hospital.
Approximately 50 doctors attended, in addition to several priests and
other guests.
Glowing tributes were paid the
Sisters of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Ghost which operates
the hospital. Their untiring efforts to
give Watertown and this locality one of the finest hospitals to be found
anywhere, the many sacrifices they have made to provide the facilities now
available, and the fine manner in which the sick are being cared for were
lauded by the speakers who took part in the program. The many achievements that have been made in
the quarter century that the Sisters have been operating the institution were
mentioned by several of the speakers who outlined the growth of the hospital.
Some of the early history of the
hospital was recalled by the Rev. Dean F. X. Schwinn,
pastor of St. Henry’s congregation, who came to Watertown about the time the Sisters
took over the institution. The much fine
work that the Sisters have done at the local hospital was emphasized by Father Schwinn who has seen the hospital grow from its first
location in the Schiffler residence to the
institution it is today.
Early Need Seen
The need for a hospital was seen
by the early doctors who operated the first hospital and by the Sisters who
followed in the operation of the hospital, Dr. T. F. Shinnick
of Beloit, declared. The expansion
program which the Sisters undertook shortly after they took over the old
hospital here was lauded by Dr. Shinnick who,
referring to the Sisters said that the ”owners and
operators had confidence in themselves and their God” and went ahead and built
a hospital that was finer than Watertown and the locality ever had before.
Dr. Ivan G. Ellis, Madison, X-ray
specialist who calls at the local hospital once each week, declared that St.
Mary’s Hospital was one of the finest he has seen. He highly praised the Sisters for the
splendid work they are doing and the manner in which they are operating the
hospital.
Other speakers, all of whom
expressed a deep gratitude for the excellent work the Sisters are doing and the
fine manner in which they are operating the hospital, included Dr. E. J. Eichelberg of Reeseville, who
with Dr. Shinnick founded the hospital which was the
immediate predecessor to St. Mary’s; Dr. M. Wilkenson
of Oconomowoc, who named some of the doctors who practiced in Watertown years
ago; Dr. Harlow Caswell of Fort Atkinson; Dr. L. H. Nowack
of Watertown; Dr. G. J. Fiebeger and Dr. Philip Leight of Waterloo; Dr. O. Goetsch
of Hustisford; Frank P. McAdams, Watertown, member of
the hospital board; Rev. Joseph Burke, C.S.C., pastor of St. Bernard’s
congregation; Rev. John Devers, C.S.C., chaplain at Sacred Heart College, and
Rev. Stephen Klopfer, hospital chaplain.
Sisters Talk
Among the Sisters who addressed
the gathering last night was the Venerable Sister Margaretha,
Mother Provincial of the order. She as
well as Sister Majilla, the Sister Superior at the
hospital; expressed deep appreciation for the co-operation received from the
doctors who use the hospital. Other sisters who talked were Sister Dolorita, who is in charge of surgery, and Sister Gertrude,
who is in charge of the X-ray room.
The Rev. Christian Glassauer, who became chaplain at the hospital 22 years ago
and who is now retired, also received recognition during the program for his
long period of service.
All those present paid a tribute
to the memory of the late Dr. E. J. Hoermann, local
dentist and member of the hospital board, Dr. Hoermann
worked in behalf of the hospital for many years and during the hospital drive
two years ago was treasurer of the St. Mary’s Hospital Fund Committee and one
of the spark plugs in the successful effort to raise $12, 500 for room
furnishings.
A huge cake, containing 25
candles, the insignia of the Sister s order and the insignia of the
medical profession was placed on the banquet table.
Dr. T. C. H. Abelmann,
Watertown, served as toastmaster.
1914
Taken Over in 1914
St. Mary’s hospital was taken
over by the Missionary Sisters, Servant of the Holy Ghost, on January 6, 1914.
Previous to that the hospital had
been privately owned and consisted of a wooden building which had been the Charles
Schiffler residence located on the present site of
the hospital. Three years after the
sisters came here to operate the institution they began work on plans for a new
building, constructed of brick and forming the nucleus of the present modern
St. Mary’s hospital.
1918
The building was opened in
September 1918. The original wooden
building continued to serve as a unit of the hospital, being used as a
maternity section. This was demolished
when the new addition to the hospital was built on the site, thus forming the
present large building.
1937
The new addition was dedicated by
Archbishop Samuel A. Stritch on May 21, 1937.
The present hospital has 75 beds,
modern operating and X-ray rooms and laboratories and other modern facilities.
Early History
1906
While the operation of the
hospital by the religious order dates back to 1914, the actual history of the
hospital is older, going back to 1906 when Dr. Thomas Shinnick,
now of Beloit, and Dr. C. J. Eichelberg of Reeseville, sponsored a movement to obtain hospital
facilities for Watertown. The Rev.
Philip Schweitzer, then pastor of St. Henry’s Catholic Church
, also became interested in the movement and the Schiffler
residence was purchased and remodeled to serve the needs of a hospital.
It had an operating room, X-ray room and wards to accommodate 16
persons. The property was purchased by
the two doctors mentioned, with the assistance of Rev. Schweitzer. The late Dr. C. J. Habhegger
also became interested in the hospital movement and gave it his support,
serving as secretary and treasurer with Dr. Shinnick
the first president. Dr. Eichelberg was the first vice president. The first
superintendent of the hospital when it was opened was Miss Clara Lehmann (1).
Later her sister, Miss Lydia Lehmann served as superintendent.
1913
1914
In 1913 Dr. Shinnick
left Watertown for Beloit and sold his interest to Dr. Eichelberg
and Dr. Habhegger who retained possession of the
place until 1914 when they sold their interest to the sisters.
Capacity Doubled
Since that time the hospital has
grown from its small beginning in the Schiffler
property to the modern structure and institution it is today. The new addition, which doubled the size of the
institution, was built along the same lines and of the same material as the
original brick structure which replaced the wooden building and so today the
two units look like one.
1903
First Hospital
The hospital housed in the Schiffler residence was not the first hospital Watertown
had, however. For long before that there
was a one room affair in South First
Street which served as a hospital for the city. It was opposite the present Hotel Carlton and near what was then known as Specht’s harness shop. This one room hospital was started by Dr. Shinnick and Dr. J. M. Sleicher,
who latter went to Chehalis, Wash. No
actual record of when it was opened exists, but it was about 1902 or 1903. The city provided $100 to equip it and also
paid the rental. Its first patient was
Tom Gibson, who was better known as “Blind Tom” because he had his eyes blown
out during blasting operations.
In the days when the one room
afforded the city’s only hospital facilities, it was kept heated only when in
use. Patients were few. There was still
a general public apathy toward hospitals.
Small
Beginning Marked
St.
Mary’s Hospital in City
Watertown Daily Times, 12 08 1927
The present St. Mary’s Hospital
grew from a small beginning to its present efficiency and on this anniversary
of the sister superioress twenty-five years of
service the following historical sketch will be appropriate:
1907
In the year 1907, an attempt was made
by the Rev. Phillip Schweitzer, pastor of St. Henry’s Catholic church, to interest all the physicians of the purpose the
establishment of a hospital in the city of Watertown. The result was the purchase of a modern 8
room house located at 1301 Main Street. With the conversion of the largest
rooms on the second floor into a modern operating room, and with a few minor
changes the hospital was ready to enter on its first year of service. At the
end of the first year the building was found to be too small and was then
remodeled and enlarged and the present St. Mary’s Hospital began its existence.
1914
In 1914 the Missionary Sisters,
Servants of the Holy Ghost, under the direction of Sister Mary Euphrasia, S.Sp.S., took charge of the hospital which they had recently
purchased from Dr. D. J. Habhegger under whose
patronage the hospital had been conducted.
Shortly after the transfer of the hospital property and the change of
management a banquet was held at St. Henry’s hall on January 23,1914 for the
purpose of calling together the physicians and business men of the city. Those
present under mutual agreement promised their aid, loyalty, and will
co-operation with the institution. This was a great encouragement to the sister,
and was also the underlying foundation of the establishment on a permanent
basis.
In the first six months the
sisters were in charge 85 patients were admitted and cared for and fifty-four
of these were surgical cases. On “tag
day” that year the people of Watertown and vicinity showed their liberal
generosity together with their kind and willing cooperation toward the
hospital. The liberal donations received
by the sisters were far beyond their expectations, and they were highly
appreciative.
1915
On January 1, 1915, the first
year, two hundred and twelve patients were admitted. The year 1915 proved a very busy and active
year. The hospital seemed too small, and
at one time five emergency cases were unable to receive care for want of room.
1916
1917
A bequest of $10,000 in 1916 from
the estate of the late Mr. Michael
Carroll encouraged the sisters to proceed with further building and plans
were drawn bids let, contracts drawn and excavation began August 25, 1917 after
the Watertown city council closed Summit Avenue and presented the narrow tract
of land to the hospital management thus enabling the sister to connect two
pieces of property previously purchased for the hospital expansion. The corner stone was laid December 3 the same
year.
1918
Following this occasion cold
weather set in and work was somewhat delayed.
The building progressed slowly and at times the workmen were
handicapped, being unable to obtain the desired material. The following summer work progressed rapidly
and about September 1, 1918, the building neared it completion.
Furnished Rooms
About this time the people of
Watertown and vicinity were contributing most generously to the furnishing of
the rooms of the new hospital. Great
credit is due them for their liberal generosity and manifestation of their
kindly feeling toward an institution of this kind.
1918
About October 1, 1918, the first
patients were admitted to the new hospital.
In the course of time the various departments were equipped with their
individual and necessary furnishing: In
September 1919, an X-ray machine was installed at the cost of $5,000 in
connection with which a very successful drive instituted financially covering
the expense of the same, the latter through the efficient supervision of a
committee especially appointed to supervise this drive.
The present hospital capacity is
50 beds, twenty private rooms, four rooms with bath connected, two wards three
beds each, the remainder semi-private rooms, two beds in each room, serving an
average of about 1,200 patients a year.
The operating and delivery rooms
are completely equipped. The electric
treatment rooms are furnished with very modern equipment adapted for various
treatment of disease such as the oxygen vapor generator, therapy lamp, kromayer quartz lamp, alpine sun lamp, universal mode
electric bath cabinet and shower baths.
The laboratory is equipped with all the necessary apparatus. The X-ray department is equipped with the
latest and best appliances. It is also
equipped with both electrical and X-ray treatments having portable
equipment. The X-ray department with its
interrupter less transformer, high tension current and a Collidge
transformer is capable of doing excellent work both radiographic and
fluoroscopic, and a great deal has been accomplished since its installment.
A General Hospital
Since establishment, St. Mary’s
Hospital has been maintained as a general hospital accepting all kinds of patients
except those suffering from contagious, mental or tubercular diseases. The institution is non-sectarian. No distinction is made as to creed or
nationality, while the poor receive the same attention as those more
fortunately situated. The attending
physicians and surgeons are men of high professional standing, some of them
holding positions of public trust.
Acknowledgment is due them for their devotion to duty and their constant
car, which has done so much to place St. Mary’s Hospital on a level among
similar institutions. The local
attending physicians also comprise the teaching faculty of St. Mary’s Training
school and are actively engaged in giving courses on instruction on the
required subjects to the nurses in training.
In the conduction of the hospital and superioress,
Venerable Sister Mary Suphrasia, the jubilarian, is ably assisted by the devoted services of
fifteen Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Ghost, as well as the services
of nearly two dozen nurses and attendants.
1956
St. Mary's Hospital is up for
sale. For a number of weeks it has been rumored that the local hospital will be
sold by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Ghost, which has operated
St. Mary's Hospital for the past 42 years. The rumors now have been definitely
confirmed by the head of the religious order in Rome. In a letter from M. Margarethis, Mother General, the reports are definitely
confirmed. Confirmation also comes in a letter from Sister Michael S.Sp.S., Provincial of the order
at Techny, Ill. St. Mary's Hospital is under the
direct supervision of the Provincial at Techny. The
reason for the decision to put up the “for sale” sign on St. Mary's Hospital,
the Mother General at Rome states, is that there are not enough nuns available
to take care of a new and modern hospital which is proposed for Watertown, and
which, from reports of doctors and others, is badly needed. For this primary
reason, the Mother General states, the order is pulling out of Watertown, and
putting the hospital building up for sale.
05 30 WDT
1957
Watertown Hospital Association Formed
10 16 At a citizens’ meeting,
held last night at the Elks Club, Watertown Hospital Association, Inc., was
formed “to assure the existence of a hospital in the Watertown, Wis., area.”
Approximately 40 persons were in attendance. The association was formed so that
an organization will be in existence to meet any situation that may develop in
connection with the decision of Missionary Sisters Servants of Holy Ghost to
discontinue operation of St. Mary’s Hospital here. WDT
1958
05 13 Officers of
the Watertown Memorial Hospital Association elected . WDT
1960
04 26 New hospital
possibility, federal Hill-Burton Act
WDT
1961
05 03 Erwin
Bilse yesterday afternoon was elected to a one year
term as president of the Watertown Memorial Hospital Association at a meeting
of the board of directors. Paul C. Kehrer was named vice president, Miss Catherine Jean Quirk,
secretary, and Robert Wills, treasurer. Arthur W. Hilgendorf who was elected a director at the annual
meeting of the association on April 27, was welcomed to the board at
yesterday’s meeting. His term is for
three years. Other directors are William
Guyer, Roy Childers, Attorney Roland F. Dierker and L.J. Lange.
WDT
04 27 At
last night’s annual meeting of the Watertown Memorial Hospital Association,
held in the lower hall of the Elks Club, the board was urged, in a resolution
adopted, to look for a site for a new hospital, and when found secure an option
upon the land. The resolution also urged
that a membership drive be held in order to secure additional funds for the
association. The resolution was offered
by Roy Childers, a board member. He and
others pointed out in the discussion which preceded the vote that Watertown, at
least eventually, will need a new hospital building — maybe that may be years
from now, as Childers pointed out — and that now is the time to acquire the
necessary land. WDT
06 30 The
Watertown Memorial Hospital Association’s board of directors at a meeting held
yesterday afternoon took action to arrange for a meeting with officials of the B.C.
Ziegler Co. next week relative to the offer for the sale of St. Mary’s Hospital
here. Monday’s offer was made in a two
hour conference, attended by Sister Michael, mother provincial of the
Missionary Sisters, Servants of Holy Ghost, and Delbert Kenney, president of
the B. C. Ziegler company, West Bend, agents for the
sale.
1964
Hospital facility was sold to the
local community and renamed Watertown Memorial Hospital.
1971
Watertown Memorial Hospital
relocated to new facility at 125 Hospital Drive.
1981
11
08 Directions Clinic purchased by
Hospital Association WDT
1983
07
22 Royce Rowedder
resigned from the association's board of directors WDT
09 27 Computerized tomography (CT)
scanning to be offered WDT
12 01 Sally Flegner,
R.N., appointed department head of the Newbirth
Center WDT
12 03 Hospital Auxiliary tea, officers, Volunteer
of the Year WDT
12 30 The “Flight for Life” emergency helicopter
unit to serve the Watertown area WDT
1984
01 21 HMO’s approach
Watertown businesses WDT
04 06 Hospital joins suit against the state and
order to cease offering mobile CT scans
WDT
1986
02 28 Watertown
Memorial Hospital has announced the appointment of John Schloemer
as its new pharmacy manager. Schloemer, who graduated
with a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the
UW-Madison, was appointed the new position in January. Since graduation, he has spent 11 years in
pharmacy. WDT
1996
10 06 Watertown
Memorial Hospital and 38 physicians in the community have formed a new
organization to encourage employers, insurance companies and health maintenance
organizations to include Watertown hospital facilities and personnel in their
health care plans. The new organization, called the Watertown Healthcare
Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) is a business approach taken by local
health care providers to deal with local needs in issues of insurance and
health maintenance organizations.
The primary objectives of the
Watertown PHO are to maintain high quality health care, have a local influence
in employers health care decision-making, encourage fair contracting with
managed care entities and respond to the diverse needs of employers and
insurers in the community. The formation of this organization allows the
physicians and hospital to speak with one voice. In working together as a
larger organization, the PHO allows physicians and WMH to have more input as to
how insurance companies relate to local employees. WDT
1996 New Urgent Care
Center
06 20 Watertown
Memorial Hospital opened the doors to its new urgent care center. The center is designed to offer medical
service to people at a substantially lower cost to the patient. The urgent care center is housed in the
emergency department at the hospital. WDT
1997
06 20 Watertown
Area Health Services, associated with hospital
WDT
1998
12 13 Two new directors elected WDT
1999
04 09 100
units of senior housing; Watertown Area Health Services (WAHS) WDT
07 29 Health
and Wellness Center to be located at the former high school, 415 S. Eighth
St WDT
2000
05 14 Watertown Women's
Center at Health and Wellness Center WDT
06 22 Apartment building for seniors,
northeast of hospital WDT
2001
04 28 A move to make Watertown Memorial Hospital more welcoming and warm
is under way, from providing more private rooms to quieting the echoes in the
hallways. Relocation of several areas of
the hospital will make way for the improvements. Administrative offices will be moved to the
Watertown Area Health Services’ Center for Women’s Health to allow for the
expansion of emergency and urgent care services. Remodeling on the second and third floors of
the hospital will result in more private patient rooms than ever before. WDT
05 04 Health
Connection -- An
effort to reach out to the community was launched in January when Watertown
Area Health Services held its grand opening celebration for Health
Connection. Health Connection is a
community wellness link, providing all kinds of resources that promote healthy
lifestyles, said Diane Olson Hubacher, who has led
the agency since December. Olson Hubacher, a
registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, is also a certified
diabetes educator. WDT
09 26 Watertown Memorial Hospital scored in the nation’s top
16 percent in its accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations. “We voluntarily seek joint commission accreditation as a means of
improving quality and safety for our patients,” according to Watertown Area
Health Services Chief Executive Officer John Kosanovich. “We are proud to participate as a means to
raise quality to a higher level. This
year we can be particularly proud of our quality measures. Watertown Memorial Hospital scored 96 on the
survey and our home health department scored 95. Only 16 percent of hospitals nationally
achieve a score of 96 or above.” The
joint commission continually strives to improve the safety and quality of the
nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. The joint commission’s on-site survey of
Watertown Memorial Hospital occurred in August. WDT
2006-07
Former St. Mary’s Hospital
transformed; Welbourne Hall reopened as Swifthaven Community Assisted
Living Facility. For some reason,
when the building became Welbourne Hall the original
red and cream brick was covered over with a hideous gray paint. This paint was removed in 2006 and the
building restored to its former splendor.
2007
11 15 Watertown Memorial
Hospital and UW Health affiliation announced WDT
2008
02 27 Watertown
Area Health Services will be known by a new name, a reflection of its
affiliation with UW Health of Madison.
The new name, UW Health Partners
Watertown Regional Medical Center, will be implemented in August.
WDT
2009
03 24 Opening of new Neurology Center WDT
07 29 Watertown Regional Medical Center
celebrated first anniversary of affiliation with UW Health WDT
12 02 UW Health Partners Clinic expansion
[Johnson Creek] WDT
2011
02 25 Children's wing
unveiled at hospital
American Family Children's
Hospital at Watertown Regional Medical Center will serve children who need
diagnostic testing, outpatient treatments, ambulatory surgery and general inpatient
care. The unit will provide specialized care that recognizes the vital role
that family, emotional care and social care play in healing.
The children's' unit,
which marks the next phase of the pediatric partnership, is the cornerstone of
Watertown Regional Medical Center's pediatric programming. The first phase of the pediatric partnership
was launched in early 2010 with the addition of UW Health pediatric specialty
physician consultation at the UW Health Partners Johnson Creek Clinic. The first phase also included the addition of
the Watertown Safety Center, which is located at the Center for Women's Health
on Hospital Drive.
Image Portfolio
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Cross-References:
No 1: 2007, Watertown Memorial Hospital website
No 2: 1906, Incident with janitor
(1) June 26, 1907 - Watertown Daily Times - Miss Clara Lehmann
of the town of Watertown, . . . was united in marriage at 5 o'clock last
evening at the home of the bride's parents to Dr. R.L. Smith of Milwaukee Š The
couple were unattended . . . The
ceremony took place under an arch of roses and lilies of the valley . . . The
dining room decorative effect was pink and white. The lawn was brilliantly
illuminated with Japanese lanterns. The
wedding, while a very pretty one, was attended by only the immediate relatives. The bride has resided in the town of Watertown
and this city all her life with the exception of about a year and a half spent
at Albany, N.Y. For the past few months
Miss Lehmann and her sister Miss Lydia Lehmann, have been employed as trained
nurses at St. Mary's hospital . . .
