Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing - Oak Yearbook (Williamsport, PA)

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Through the efforts of the Ladies ' Auxiliary, a children ward was built. This buil ding was dedicated on September 3, 1907, Attached to this was a private pavilion built by funds donated by Mrs. Amanda Howard. This building was occupied in 1911 • The enlarged area of activity gave a more diversified practical experi- ence to the student nurses. The daily average of patients was 121 in 1931. This helped the 60 student nurses of that year to meet the curriculum successfully. The nursing school was supervised by a Director of Nurses, educational instructors, and a staff of supervisory nurses. Lectures to the students were given by members of the medical, surgical, and speciality staffs. Mrs. Alta King Merritt was the first student nurse to be graduated in 1881 . Ten years later her sister, Miss Debbie King was graduated. We believe that Miss Debbie King is the oldest graduate of the school of nursing who is living today. Another citizen interested in the cause of good nursing was Dr. Horace G. McCormick. Upon his death in March 192li, a permanent fund was established to pro- vide a yearly prize. This prize is given to the student nurse who n has shown the greatest proficiency, skill, adaptability, deportment, and other fine qualities pertaining to a good nurse during her course in training. Expansion of clinical facilities became imperative, so by 1927 a magnificent new building was added. This was a seven story structure facing Rural Avenue which connected with the original building by an underground tunnel. In our present group of buildings it is known as the North Building. Wishing to increase the housing facilities for student nurses, the hospital authorities purchased The Maples in 19li2, and through the generosity of Irvin W. Gleason, the Campbell Street nurses home was bought and furnished. Now we could house approximately 90 student nurses. Realizing that modern hospital care is a keystone of our way of life and that the health of its citizens is Williarasport • s greatest asset, civic-minded men and women decided that the facilities of their hospital had become completely outgrown by the steady increase of population and the advances in medical science. On Janu- ary 3 19l 5, a drive was opened to raise funds for a wing to be added to the North Building. Construction was started on June 5, 191 8 . With the completion of these new additions on January 31» 1952, all patients were transferred from over-crowded space in the original buildings to bright, cheerful accommodations conducive to speedy recovery in its new South Wing and the North Building. This enlarged, modern hospital houses every essential service required for its function of saving life, restoring health, and preventing disease. The outmoded buildings have been remodeled into a recreation hall for student nurses, classrooms, medical hall, nutrition and science lab, library, offices for the faculty, and a very modern dormitory for sixteen additional student nurses. As of 1952 the total number of nurses who have been graduated from The Williarasport Hospital School of Nursing was 986. In the past seventy years The Williamsport Hospital has been transformed from a simple nursing home to a complex, scientific institution offering the best in clinical observation and patient care. The nursing school has met all the require- ments for high standards in nursing and is fully approved by the State of Pennsyl- vania. Margaret Harlan, Kathleen Wolfe, Carlene Hall

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A (OSS The first conception of The Williamsport Hospital was born of necessity. The attention of the medical profession was especially called to the great need for a hospital through a railroad accident in 1872 • The members of the community were stirred into action, and by 1873 a committee of three men was appointed by the Lycoming County Medical Society to look into the feasibility of establishing a hospital. Their report of such an existing need was unanimously and promptly adopted and by decree of the Court of Lycoming County, The Williamsport Hospital was incorpor- ated August 30, 1873. For a time, The Williamsport Hospital was located in a three story brick building at the southeast corner of Elmira and Edwin Streets, This was purchased with funds raised by public subscription. By November 22, 1877, the pur- chase price of five thousand dollars was raised. The hospital was opened on April 1, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. A, F, Zahn were the only attendants. They were in complete charge of both patients and hospital. The patient census for the first year was nine. Much of the actual nursing service was given by the physicians. State appropriation of the sum of four thousand dollars helped in the financial picture in 1881. Dr. Jean Saylor Brown was a very active and aggressive person. She became attached to the hospital in its infancy and contributed the first one hundred dol- lars to initiate necessary changes and provide for an Operating Room, The school for nurses was started on June 5, 1883. One young woman was ad- mitted with the promise of training for fifteen months. Lectures and classes were given by Dr. Jean Brown and Dr. Rita Church. Dr. Church was also appointed to the positions of Superintendent and Resident Physician Growth continued in both the training school and in the number of patient admissions. More room was a pressing necessity. The Holden property at Fifth and Pine Streets, now known as the St. Charles Hotel, was purchased and the hospital was moved to this building in 188$. Plans for the improvement and extension of service in this building were swept away by a flood in June. It was then decided to purchase three acres of land known as Oaks Park on the corner of Louisa and Campbell Streets. By September 10, 1891, it was possible to move the hospital to this location. Six months later, on March 1, 1892, a ward for communicable dis- eases was opened and additional wings were added to the hospital. Dr. Rita Church resigned on April 10. 1893« She was succeeded by Miss Vir- ginia Loomis (Pennsylvania Hospital, 1888), Miss Loomis was succeeded by Miss Daisy Mann (Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, 1896). For the next twenty-six years Miss Mann acted as Superintendent of the hospital. Her leadership was force- ful and she elaborated the service within the hospital in every department. Under the able direction of Miss Lulu M. Hippie (The Williamsport Hospital, 1907) from 1926 to 19l 6, the school advanced steadily. The nursing course was extended to two and one half years shortly before 1900, By 1900 it became a full three year course. The opening of the nurses ' home on Louisa Street was an outstanding event in the history of the school of nursing. This home was a donation to the nurses in the hospital by Mrs. Ida Hays McCormick. The opening of this residence took place November 1, 1900.

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