Welland County Hospital

[The People’s Press  Tuesday March 2, 1909]

Formal Opening—Addresses by Lt.-Gov Gibson and Others

A large attendance

The Welland County General Hospital has been formally opened, and the dream of the interested ones about two years ago is now an accomplished fact.

The opening took place on Monday afternoon in the presence of a large number of citizens and a goodly number of visitors from the county and St Catharines.

The hour was set for  2.30 and very shortly after that hour the carriage conveying his honor, the Lieutenant-Governor, Col. J.M. Gibson and Dr. Bruce Smith, inspector of public charities ,arrived

His Honor and Dr. Smith were accompanied by Hon. Richard Harcourt at whose home they took luncheon.

It was a very happy opening.

The note of optimism  was clearly heard through all the addresses, the note of optimism and hope.

The men’s ward was turned into an impromptu auditorium for the afternoon, and on the wall at the rear of the platform the Union Jack was seen. In front were palms and decorations.

The visitors were received at the entrance to the hospital by Mrs W. M. German, Hon. President of the Hospital Auxiliary; Mrs George W. Wells, 1^st Vice President; Mrs Phin 2^nd Vice Pres.; Miss Margaret Hagar secretary-treasurer, assisted by the ladies of the board. At the conclusion of the addresses, Mrs Burgar, Mrs Garner, Mrs Howell,, Mrs Colbeck and Mrs Binns, wives of the local doctors, dispensed tea and coffee in the dining room, while a bevy of charming young ladies of town waited courteously on the hosts of visitors and townspeople.

MR PHIN

President Phin welcomed the visitors. In speaking of the illustrious guest, the representative of  His Majesty, the King in Ontario. Mr Phin said that perhaps Mr Gibson was largely responsible for creating the need for this hospital. As father of the  Cataract Power Company, creator of cheap power, he had given Welland an impetus which had resulted in bringing factories here,employing a large number of people.

Mr Phin then,  in an admirable and concise address, outlined the work done in the connection with the building of the hospital. About two years ago a number of those interested met in the town hall. And commenced the hospital agitation. Five thousand dollars in subscriptions were finally received, and $1,000 each from the town council and the county council. Then the ladies auxiliary, with their Fair of Nations, came along and raised $5,000. The cost had been $20,400 to Contractor Peacock, and the building complete, exclusive of furnishings had cost $21,000 and the furnishings $4,000, and to fully build and equip, it cost had been $25,250.

The site had been donated by Hugh A, Rose and the Morwood estate. The board had been criticized for choosing the site, but the objections had not been well taken. The outlook was fine and it was sufficiently near the electric cars to make it easily available to those from different parts of the county.

The institution was known as a thirty-bed hospital and had one of the most modern and best equipped operating rooms in Canada.. Mr Phin paid hearty compliments to Miss Moore and Miss Regan of the hospital staff.

Referring to the financial aspect of the hospital Mr. Phin said that, that was problematical. The cost to the patients in the wards would be but $4.50 a week, which was less than the cost to the hospital. The speaker hoped that the town would give $1,000 a year, the county $1,000, and that $1,000 would be forthcoming from the manufacturers. He was pleased to say that $500 had been promised yearly by one manufacturing concern alone. He looked to the people to show the same generous spirit as in the past. The hospital was something of which the residents of the county could justly be proud. Speaking of the change of attitude of the public towards hospitals, Mr Phin said that it was no longer…. to go to a hospital, but the proper thing. He impressed upon the gathering the need for consideration and support.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Hon, Mr Gibson was warmly received. He said he did not come as an orator,–Welland had one wellknown and he was at his side, Hon. Richard Harcourt. The speaker had been through the building earlier in the morning and had been much pleased with everything he saw. He paid a very flattering tribute to the ladies, who, he said, always led  acts of mercy. Men seemed too mercenary and usually do not think they have time for developing such splendid schemes as this. In fine language the honorable gentlemen described the man who was unselfish enough to sacrifice his money and yet still promote himself in giving his time as well. This man would have his better emotions stirred a broader outlook on life, and undergo a most useful experience by his sacrifice. The speaker knew of nothing that had the warrant of Christ more plainly upon it than work just such as this. Happy reference was made to the change in attitude towards hospitals on the part of the public. Not long ago it was thought almost as bad to go to the hospital as to go to jail. Now people leave luxurious homes to go to the magnificently equipped institutions for treatment. Everything in the hospital is based on precaution. There was  precaution against bad air, against irregularity, and from contamination. The change in attitude towards nurses was touched on. Years ago they were thought of as old maids. Today many, not only young, but rich, are devoting their lives to the sacred work of nursing.

Welland’s Advantages

The Lieutenant Governor then said he looked upon Welland as a place more favorable in respect to power, railway, canal and transportation facilities combines, than any other town or city in the province.

There was no obstacle to the growth of the town and the faster it was growing now the faster it would grow in the future. The speaker predicted that Welland would not only double, but treble its population and be known as the city of Welland and famous throughout Canada as a hive of industry in the not far future. The hospital board were congratulated on their earnest work. Most boards  would have been content with allowing posterity to continue in the work of raising money  for the hospital debt. This board had been exceptionally hard-working. The structure and equipment was one of which residents of the county should be proud. A great beginning had been made and the beginning was half of all. The hospital movement was growing, and today there were ten times more hospitals than there were twenty-five years ago.

A Proud Moment

Then the chief magistrate of the province, taking from his pocket the key of the front door of the hospital, gorgeous with red, white and blue ribbons, handed the same to President Phin, and declared the Welland County Hospital formally opened for all the purposes designated.

DR BRUCE SMITH SPEAKS

Dr. Bruce Smith followed. Dr Smith said there were never had been erected in the Province a hospital more carefully constructed than the Welland county hospital. At the American Hospital Association which convened in Toronto last summer, the cost of a hospital was based on from $1,000 to $1200 per bed. The cost in Welland has been but from $800 to $900. Dr Smith gracefully complimented the ladies on their sympathy and practical aid. He was pleased that it was a hospital supported by the general public and was not the gift of a man or owned by a municipality. There was nothing made a hospital flourish like the general support of a sympathetic public.

HON RICHARD HARCOURT

Hon. Mr. Harcourt followed. Mr Harcourt’s address was filled with interesting figures. He referred to the health of the county and its population. Within its limits, according to the last reports, were 25,683 people, and if they each took an interest in the hospital its future was assured.

Mr Harcourt then traced the growth of hospital work within the last 30 or 40 years, and said the greatest event of the Victorian era was the opening of the hospital with scientific doctors and trained and skilful nurses.

Welland county had an assessment of $12,600,000, and if everyone in the county would give one cent a month for ten months of the year, the future of the hospital would be assured. The distinguished visitor had shown that some good thing could come out of Hamilton and, as father of the Cataract Power Company, Hon. J.M. Gibson had done much to help the county and town.

Mr. Harcourt commented on the richness of the county, Most of the townships were not only out of debt by drawing interest, and there was little doubt but that the hospital would be well aided for it was a fine institution and built for a worthy cause.

OTHER ADDRESSES

Miss Snively of the Toronto training school for nurses, spoke briefly, eulogizing the hospital for its completeness.

Rev. Mr Thompson spoke on behalf of the churches of Welland. He characterized the ladies who had interested themselves in the work as noble, white-robed angels from heaven.

Mr McLaren of McClaren & Co., St Catharines, and president of the St Catharines hospital said that he was heartily in sympathy with  the Welland hospital. In spite of the hospital at Niagara Falls, the St Catharines hospital was always crowded. They were contemplating building a new hospital there. Mr McLaren, during the afternoon added $25, to his previous subscription.

Col. Raymond, who is on the donation committee, said he had promised to be good on this occasion, but would be heard from later with requests for money. He described how he had drawn up one mortgage for ten thousand dollars, another for seven thousand, and finally had been able to open without a mortgage of any kind

This most happy gathering they adjourned by singing God save the King, when, as mentioned, the ladies passed light refreshments.

The ladies desire to thank most cordially George Wright of Welland for the donation of sufficient scones and wafers and J. Norris of Christie Brown &Co. Toronto for biscuits for the tea, also Mr. Parker of the Redpath Sugar Co., Montreal for 50 pounds of “lumps” Mr Latkin of Salada Tea for sufficient tea and Mr. Deerham of Peterborough for rolled oats.

VISITORS TO HOSPITAL OPENING

Among those who attended the hospital opening were J.D. Randall, mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake; R. McLaren, of McLaren&Co., St Catharines, and president of the St Catharines hospital board; ex-mayors McIntyre, Dr. Merritt, Dr. and Mrs Shean, Dr. and Mrs Sutherland, Dr. William Greenwood, Dr. Radcliffe and Manager Seixas, all of St Catharines. Two cars were filled with visitors from points between St Catharines and Fonthill.

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY NOTES

Friday March 5^th at 10.30a.m. in the town hall, there will be a meeting of the women’s auxiliary to consider and adopt a form of constitution for the auxiliary. All members requested to attend this important meeting.

The women’s auxiliary on the happy occasion of the opening of the county general hospital, desire to thank the many throughout the county for liberal assistance, whereby the auxiliary has raised, since April 1907, the good sum of $7160.00. Of this $4000. were given to the building of the hospital, and several hundreds have been spent for furnishings—the combination sterilizer, the electric fixtures and the linen are among these..

Among recent gifts to the auxiliary we note thankfully a sewing machine from Mrs. R. Cooper, Welland; Quaker Oats from Mr Denham, Peterboro; Salada tea, 15lbs., from Mr. Larkin; sugar 25lbs., from Mr. Larkin;biscuits, for 1000 people from Mr Morris of the Christoe-Brown Co., cakes and buns from Mr. George Wright, Welland..

The last four donations being kindly given toward the refreshments used during the opening days of the hospital—Aux. Sec’y.