First hospital opened in 1907 years ago
Forerunner of Modern St. Luke Has Served Community For 45 Years. Founded by Dr. R.C. Smith.
The new St. Luke hospital which will be formally opened October 18, will mark a memorable advance in medical service the community can offer its citizens. By comparison, Marion's first hospital, when Dr. R.C. Smith started it with "four or five beds" in 1907 in the old YMCA building at Main and Fifth streets, was just as memorable an advance over what medical service the town had previously offered.
At that time people were not "hospital conscious." A hospital was almost an institution of doom in the public's estimate, to be used only as a last and almost hopeless resort.
In 1907, Dr. Smith who had come here two years earlier, fitted up several rooms in the second floor of the YMCA building, where he had his offices, to be used as a hospital. It had only the bare necessities of such an institution, but served its pioneer purpose well. Miss Anna Schoneman was the first head nurse. She was highly fitted by training and temperament for the position and remained in that capacity for a number of years.
Dr. Smith bought the first X-ray machine, a hand-cranked affair that took presentable pictures. It later was fitted with a water motor — that was before electricity in Marion.
In 1911 the C.B. Wheeler building, adjoining the YMCA building was being constructed for business rental. Dr. Smith conferred with Charley Wheeler who agreed to make the entire second floor available for a hospital. The room plan was carried out from plans drawn by Dr. Smith.
On April 11, Dr. Smith was joined by Dr. G.J. Goodsheller who had practiced a short time in Lincoln, Nebraska hospital, and the two had their offices in the new Wheeler building. They operated the hospital with a top capacity of 11 beds until 1915, when a stock company was organized — the Marion Hospital Association. From that time until now the hospital has been operated either by it or by the churches. Among the efficient head nurses, who acted as superintendents, have been Pearl Minner, Zoe Marner, Maude Kreutziger Firebaugh, Bertha Lehmann Johnson.
Some years after the hospital was started a second one was started by Drs. Marner and Coffman in the second story of what is now the Firestone building. It did not operate many years.
Much credit for the first hospital must be given to C.B. Wheeler. He cooperated enthusiastically in plans for the institution, and gave generously in expenditures to carry the idea into execution. He was very helpful says Dr. Smith, during the early years in his aid to the new business.
With the opening of the new St. Luke hospital the old one will close its doors. Whatever equipment of the old hospital is usable in the modern institution has been offered and turned over to the newer one. In the 45 years of its existence Marion hospital has been used to advantage by many hundreds of patients.
Practice in those early days, says Dr. Smith, was handicapped in many ways compared to the modern facilities, but "All's well that ends well."
(Copied from the October 2, 1952, microfilm file of the Marion Record-Review.)
