Washington Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1950
History of the Washington Hospital, Washington Pennsylvania
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MUSIC while you
view
Disney Beauty and the Beast 1945 View of Washington
Hospital
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| This is a 1900 photo taken from the top of the Trust Building looking
out North Main Street from the center of Washington, Pa. It
shows the tree line off in distance and to the right which was to be the
future location of what we 'affectionately' call.....
"The House on the Hill" The Washington Hospital was built and opened to the public in 1927. |
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| The first hospital opened in Washington, Pa., in 1898, when a private home on Acheson Avenue was converted to a 20 bed hospital and opened to the public in May. This hospital did not have an operating room and physicians were forced to perform their operations in a room intended for classes. |
| Shortly after opening, an addition of a brick kitchen
on the first floor and an operating room, on the second floor, was added.
In 1905, a full story was added providing 12 additional rooms and a second
operating room.
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| A campaign took place
several years after the hospital was founded with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
offering an appropriation of $10,000 on condition that the hospital raise
a similar amount within two years. The campaign was successful "by
the skin of its teeth" when Washington County Commissioners contributed
$3,000 at midnight on the last day of the two year period. For the
County contribution, the hospital had to supply beds and medical attention
for all jail and County patients needing such attention.
In 1906, a meeting of several prominent physicians was called and a movement to organize a new hospital started with a charter granted on June 25 of that year to the City Hospital Association of Washington, Pa. |
Photo postcard about 1917 Members of the City Hospital
Association decided to erect a new building and considered many locations before finally deciding on a site. Ground was broken for the new building in August, 1906, and the structure was completed and dedicated in April, 1907.The idea of consolidating the Washington and City hospitals was finally brought about in 1921 when all equipment from the City Hospital was moved to Washington Hospital. On November 15, 1921, City Hospital officials deeded the property to the Washington Hospital and on February 6, 1922, the merger was approved by Washington County Courts.
The movement to erect a new hospital building was started when seven acres of land for the site was donated by the Wilson Development Company in 1922. A campaign in the city raised over $60,000 for the new building but construction was not started until 1925.
Construction of the new hospital was pushed to completion and on March 23, 1927, the building was officially opened for public inspection.
With the construction of a three-floor wing in October, 1946, Washington Hospital reached its goal of 238-bed capability and was (and still is) considered one of the finest hospitals in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
In November, 1946, a new three story Nurses Residence was constructed with 101 bedrooms, eight lounges, two libraries, class-rooms and a recreation room.
A similar aerial view of the Washington Hospital Complex today can be seen from a different angle on WH Web Page.
Click HEREAerial photo of Washington Hospital Complex in 1950
For History of the Washington Hospital Nursing School GOTO
Return to Nursing Home Page
Photos used are the from the postcard collection of the Web Master
