Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 251, Decatur, Adams County, 24 October 1958 — Page 9

Second Section

New Hospital Addition Will Be Dedicated By Rev. Busse Sunday

■ ihSf ■o «< I ■ ||L AH I Rev. 0. C. Busse

The Rev. O. C. Busse, former pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church in Preble township, retired U. S. Army chaplain, and past state chaplain of the American Legion, will make the dedicatory address for the opening of the new addition to the Adams county memorial hospital Sunday at 2 p. m. ‘ Preceding the dedication the Decatur high school band, under director Clint Reed, and the Decatur Catholic high school band under director Joseph Morin, will play several numbers.

Colors will be posted by Adams Post 43, the American Legion, and by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Rev. Robert Jaeger, assistant to the pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic church of Decatur, will pronounce the invocation. Judge Parrish MC Judge Myles F. Parrish, of the Adams circuit court, will introduce the guests on the stage, which will be set up on the lawn next to the hospital. Cal E. Peterson, chairman of the board of trustees of the hospital, will then be introduced for a few remarks. He will be followed by Mayor Robert D. Cole, of Decatur, and Dr. John B. Terveer, president of the Adams county medical society. The Mennonite men’s chorus of Berne will then present “Glory to God” by Bach, under the direction of Dr. Freeman Burkhalter. Rev. Busse’s address will follow. “Songs of Praise” by Owen will then be sung by the chorus, again under Dr. Burkhalter. Dedicated To Vets The building will then be officially dedicated to the memory of veterans of all wars by Rev. Busse, and the entire assembly will sing “America” under the direction of Dr. Burkhalter. The Rev. Willis Gierhart, pastor of the Monroe Methodist church and president of the Adams county ministerial association, will then give the benediction, and Miss Marie Felber, R.N., director of nurses at the hospital, will officially open the door to the new addition. Five veterans groups will b# represented, including the Spanish American War veterans, the Veterans of World War I, and the Disabled American Veterans, in addition to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

“Dedicatoity MUSICAL SELECTIONS: Decatur high school band, Clint Reed, Director. Decatur Catholic H. S. Band, Joseph Morin, Director. MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Judge Myles Parrish of the Adams Circuit Court. POSTING OF COLORS: Adams Post 43 American Legion, Decatur, Ind Robert Smith, Commander. INVOCATION: Rev. Robert Jaeger, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Decatur, Indiana. INTRODUCTIONS: Judge Myles Parrish of the Adams Circuit Court. REMARKS: Cal E. Peterson, Chairman of Board of Trustees The Hon. Robert D. Cole, Mayor of City of Decatur Dr. John B. Terveer, President of Adams County Medical Society. MENNONITE MEN’S CHORUS: “Glory to God,” By Bach. Dr. Freeman Burkhalter, Director, Berne, Indiana. THE DEDICATORY ADDRESS: Rev. Otto C. Busse, Chaplain U. S. Army Honorary Retired MENNONITE MEN’S CHORUS: “Songs of Praise” By Owen. Dr Freeman Burkhalter, Director, Berne, Indiana. THE DEDICATION OF BUILDING IN MEMORY OF VETERANS OF ALL WARS: Rev. Otto C. Busse, Past Department Chaplain, Indiana Department of American Legion “AMERICA”: Assembly. Directed by Dr. Burkhalter. BENEDICTION: Rev. Willis Gierhart, Pastor Monroe Methodist Church, President of Adams County Ministerial Association. THE OFFICIAL DOOR OPENING: Miss Marie Felber, Director of Nurses D'' ' ' - Following the Dedication the Hospital will be open for inspection by the general public. Guests are asked to enter door at north side of building, where guides will be ready to conduct you through the Hospital.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NDWRPAPBR IN ADAMS COUNTY

Myles F. Parrish

ORIGINAL HOSPITAL BUILDING *• '• ’• ;! . . . ’. ■ > • r ni l 656 r 1111 > • ILJI rji iijSW MMHfI .... .. ORIGINAL HOSPITAL, lower left, as it was in 1923 when completed. The building was built for less than $90,000. and only SIOO,OOO in bonds were issu ed for the building. In May of 1920 the people of Adams county voted on whether they desired a county hospital. The results favored the hospital, so on January 4, 1921, the three county commissioners appointed a four-man board, as required by law. Henry B. Heller served as county and hospital at torney. The hospital was dedicated on July 29. 1923, and opened in August. Above, center, is the picture of the hospital addition as proposed once in the past. Tw’ice additions for the hospital were turned d own. once by petition, and once by the county council. The design above shows an addition which would have extended north and south, rather than west

Hospital Receives Yews from James K. Staley Mr. and Mrs. James Staley of 235 North Sixth street, presented the board of trustees of the Adams county memorial hospital with five Japanese yew trees for the plant-

VIEWS OF HOSPITAL I ' ■ . . ■ .> ■ ’ ' ■ ■ / : •** • < | - J I t ,<Z.. X/ ... *■■.., ' ' ' • ? I I ' ' 13S; ~~ S ——\ n rw/7 1 illi l ■k Jr JBi a JHU .... iJi l *

er at the front of the hospital building. Staley supervised the digging and planing last week’of the evergreens, and has assured the board of trustees that he will personally check the condition of the plants at regular interview to assure proper growth.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, October 24, 1958.

Original Rooms Gift-Furnished By Residents Memorial Units Numbered 32 In First Building There are 35 memorial units in the new addition, and there were about 50 memorials in the orginal hospital. Memorial units are those rooms for which individuals or organizations donated the money for furnishings after the hospital was completed. In the orginal building the rooms were given by: Decatur Rotary Club In Memoriam, Dr. W.W.P. and Mrs. McMillen by Mr. and Mrs. John D. O’Brien. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bell Alpha Delta of Psi lota Xi Dr. and Mrs. J. M. Miller in memory of daughter Zells. Gecode Girls club of the General Electric _ Catholic Ladies of Cloumbia, St. Mary’s Council No. 20 Loyal Order of Moose In memory of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Former by Mrs. A. J. Smith M. J. and Mrs. Sam B. Wertzberger Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schafer Rebecah Lodge No. 86 Mrs. S. A. Fry in honor of Samuel Doak Eastern Star, Decatur Pythian Sisters, Decatur Alpha Sigma of Kappa Kappa .Mr, and Mrs. F. E. France In memory of Joel Falk Erwin by Daniel D. Erwin , . 8.P.0.E., Decatur Decatur Methodist Church Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Wehmeyer

x/wßziV'l as the present addition does. Right, the new addition as it now looks. Yost and Company won the general contract in December of 1956, and work began on January 15, 1957. As soon as the basement was completed, facilities were moved in, and the hospital utilized the modern kitchen and dining room. The front addition, which includes the new office and the waiting room, was finished and the staff moved, allowing the completion of the director of nurses’ office and medicine room where the old office was located. The third floor is now practically completed, with just the warning bell system left to install.

F. & A. M. No. 571 Womens Christian Temperance Union of Adams County Omicron Chapter, Delta Theta Tau Mr and Mrs. J. Fh Arnold Knights of Columbus Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Shrock Women’s club of Decatur Evangelical Ladies Aid In memory of Judge David Studebaker and wife Harriet Evans Studebaker by their children. In memory of Dr. T- T. Dorwin by Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Dugan. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob R. Schafer, of Dallas, Texas. General Electric Employees. in : Meshbergers Give Is u I Hospital Blacktop 1S $2,000 In Labor Given By Local Stone Co. 'd Mrs. Oscar Meshberger, of s Meshberger Brothers Stone corporation, announced Thursday afternoon to the board of trustees of the Adams county memorial in hospital that the company will donate the gravel and blacktop work now being completed on the --drives and parking area around the hospital. Meshbergers have constructed a new driveway to the ambulance area from the west, and the emergency ambulance entrance, z ' built a new employes and doctors parking lot at the northwest, and enlarged parking area in front of the hospital. This will now be covi- ered with blacktop. The pre-job estimate for the • hospital Work was $2,000. Mrs. Meshberger had previously furnished a double unit in the new addition. n Harold Owens, of Monmouth, superintendent of construction for the company, appeared before the board on Thursday and told them of Mrs. Meshberger’s decision.

One Member Lives From First Board Henry B. Heller County Attorney Only one member of the first board of trustees of the Adams county memorial hospital, Mrs. Clara H. Anderson, of Geneva, is still living today. Mrs. Anderson, A. J. Smith of Decatur, Frank Heimann, of Washington township, and E. M. Ray of Berne, made up the first board. Henry B. Heller, Decatur attorney still practicing, was the county attorney who acted as hospital attorney at that time. On January 4, 1921 the three county commissioners, R obert Schwartz, Grant Owens, and Ernest Conrad, acting on the mandate of the people in an election held May 20, 1920, ordered a hospital board established. The first board met on January 8, and as provided in the referendum issued SIOO,OOO in bonds, for 20 years, in units of SSOO each, at 6% interest. At a meeting of the board on April 30, 1921, the board decided that high freight rates and the unsettled business conditions that followed the first world war made it too expensive to let the con tract at that time. Oscar Hoffman, of Decatur was finally hired as architect. The bonds were sold December 6, 1921, and the hospital visited the other hospitals in this area at Bluffton, Huntington, Wabash, and Fort Wayne, the plans were then approved by the state board of charities, then in charge of hospital construction. — — — Hospital construction Started in 1922. and was completed in August, 1923. Bids were let June 6. 1922, and the general contract went to Charles Sanders and Son, 1

Modern Science Helps Addition Serve County Public Invited To Inspect New Addition On Sunday Following Afternoon Dedication Program

Visitors to the “new” Adams county memorial hospital are impressed by the beautiful office and waiting room that replaces the old entrance on the east side of the building. The one story front addition of latest design provides a modern admitting and business office on the north side pf the entrance, and a beautiful waiting room with glass panels on the south. The glassed-in room, has a restuful view of the hospital grounds, and is very popular with those who must wait to visit their friends. Furnished with modern furniture, designed and built and donated by the Dunbar Furniture Company of Berne, the waiting room now serves the public. It was the first part of the new addition opened to the public. Mod-

of Portland. It cost $81,560 to build, less than one-fifth of the cost of the addition. On a memorial plaque in the hospital hall on the first floor is the following notation: “This haspital was built A.D. 1922 and dedicated as a memorial to the people of Adams county, Indiana who participated in the world war, 1914-1918.” Addition Completed In Two Years Os Work After twice being defeated, once by the county council and once by petition, the hospital addition as it now stands completed was finally approved after a mamouth petition was signed in its favor. Contracts were let December 18, 1956, and construction began January 15, 1957. It was hoped to complete the building in about a year, but difficulties in getting all the work done in the proper sequence hampered finishing the addition. The total cost of the contracts, not counting all of the many donations, amounted to $512,474.33. Dan Eckrotes Worked At Hospital Longest When the hospital was first constructed, the nurses worked 20 hours a day, seven days a week, and lived on toe third floor. They had just four hours off each day, and were subject to call at any time during toe rest of toe day. Amoung the first and best remembered employes are Mr. and Mrs. Dan Eckrote. Eckrote served as janitor from May 21, 1923 until his health broke just a couple of years ago. His wife also served many years as cook. During the first years they- lived upstairs 'on toe third floor.

Second Section

ern rest rooms are located just off the waiting room, and public telephone service is also located nearby. New Lab The old kitchen on the first floor has been converted into a medical laboratory. The former dining room adjoining it is now the elec-tro-cardiograph and basal metabolism room. The old emergency room, which saved many lives, is now a viewing room for x-ray readings by the radiologist Now there are two dressing rooms in this area, and a dark room, made from the former laboratory. The basement of the new rear addition was the first part of the main addition completed. It provides a modern kitchen with a walk-in refrigerator, walk-in deep freeze unit, stainless steel equipment, including a dish-washing machine, garbage disposal and ice cube machine. The office of the dietician is located just east of the kitchen. An adjoining dining room provides a pleasan place for the employes to eat meals. It seats 24 persons. A large laundry, adequately equipped with morern machinery, provides the hospital with clean bedding and patient’s gowns at all times. A sewing room is next to the laundry. A grocery supply room and a room for a standby electric unit is also a part of the new basement. The room foremrly used by the hospital laundry has been remodeled to provide a locker room and rest room for the ladies employed in the basement area. The first floor of the new rear addition, west of the original building, provides a recovery room for post-operational patients. The doctors and employes entrance on the north side leads from the doctors parking lot. The doctor’s lounge is just off the north entrance. Two Surgeries The most important feature of the first floor is now the new modern major and minor surgury rooms. These areas are closed off from the rest of the hospital, are kept surgically clean, have all air-conditioned ventilation, and contain the latest in medical research. Scrubbing and cleaning areas for the doctors and nurses adjoin, as does the central supply for the hospital, and the sterilizing room. A much larger emergency room, close to the new emergency ambulance entrance, is also located on the first floor. Several emergency victims can now be humanely treated at the same time. In the past it was often necessary to keep accident victims, in great pain, in the hallways where visitors to other patients only added to the misery and confusion. Two Nurseries The second floor of the new addition provides five additional twobed wards for maternity cases an emergency delivery room, and a major delivery room. An important health feature is the nursery, which will allow one to be closed and sterilized, while the other is in use, as required by state health laws. An isolation nursery, for sick babies, and a father's lounge, for expectant fathers, is also on the second floor. Patients rooms fill the third floor addition to the hospital, which has not yet been open for patient care. Twenty-seven additional beds are located on the third floor, and the nurses station has been changed so that lights along the new hall and the old hall may be seen from one central station. Included is a pediatric ward, for children recovering from tonsilectomies, etc., and an isolation room for mentally disturbed patients. Formerly even the most mildly disturbed had to be taken to the county jail. It will also be useful for patient suffering from delerium tremens. AU 35 of the* patient’s room are equipped with new furniture donated by the public.

A special , guest for the occasion of the opening of toe new addition will be Mrs. Robert Gibson, of Monroeville. Mrs. Gibson, the former Marcile Braun, had the honor of being the first baby born in the original hospital. The daughter bf the late Martin and Mrs. Margaret Braun, she was born at 2 p. m. August 27, 1923, just after the new hospital was opened. . ,