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St. Mary’s
Hospital
Founded and Opened in 1906
Missionary Sisters, Servants
of the Holy Ghost
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 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 Shiffler
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 1907
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 . . .
1908 Skin graft operation performed by
Dr. Habhegger 04 01
o
Seven pieces
of birch furniture donated 08 07
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.
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.
