Story of New Hospital
(Continued from page 2).
help, the hospital would not and
could not be.
The urgency in attaining the
100-thousand-dollar goal created
real' enthusiasm in all quarters.
Everyone will recall the days of
fast and furious activity when
numerous groups and organiza
tions, clubs and individuals took
up the challenge and together
wrote the success story that now
stands to a monument of Chris
tian community enterprise.
Another article in this issue
dwells on this chapter. But plac
ing credit where credit is due
can be stated only like this:
Well done, everyone!
A building was erected near
the corner of Fourth and Douglas
streets to serve as headquarters
for the fund-raising. Before the
office was six weeks old the 44
thousand-dollar goal had been
narrowed to 22-thousand. The
spirit of group activity and com
munity cooperation kept the fund
skyrocketing forward, until fin
ally ii> October, 1949 the goal was
reached!
At last count, almost 125
thousand-dollars had been raised.
The federal government granted
53 percent of the total cost and
the Sisters would assume the
burden of the balance. It was
estimated that one-half of a mil
lion dollars would be the cost
of the hospital furnished and
equipped.
Frank N. McNett & Co. of
Grand Island were engaged as
architects, and sketches were
readied for approval. In April,
1950, one was accepted. Bids for
contracts were opened in June.
The general contract was fixed at
$243,800. James Davidson &
Sons of O’Neill received the nod
for plumbing $78,985, and Lester
Electric of Wayne got the con
tract for electrical installations
for $17,798.
On July 16, 1950, Mother M.
Erica turned the first shovel of
dirt in a scheduled ground
breaking ceremony.
The building was completed two
years later, and volunteer work
men moved, unpacked, and set
up hospital equipment. The
overall plant was infinitely bigger
and finer than the original plan.
Spiraling costs had played havoc
but the move weathered every
storm.
O’Neill’s vision of a hospital
had been freed of the last ha?v
mist of unreality.
It has become a tangible, con
crete reality that a man can step
in and touch, and go to and send
his family to, to be cared for and
healed.
And it isn’t something that is
merely accessible. It is right in
the lap of O’Neill, a queen of
mercy, stretching forth inviting
hands to tne entire surrounding
area.
Tut’ a Liaison
Who Got Job Done
Back during the “terrible thir
ties” a round little fellow breezed
into O’Neill and set up shop as
a farm implement and machinery
Mr. Putnam ... he passed
the hat.
dealer. He had weathered South
Dakota drouths, grasshoppers and
winters and had a peculiar knack
for dealing in cattle, horses and
tractors.
The man: L. D. Putnam.
With the same gusto and en
thusiasm that has marked him
as a success in his own field,
“Put,” as he is popularly known,
tied into the hospital job.
It was Mr. Putnam who per
formed much of the liaison be
tween the committee and those
who could—and might—make
substantial gifts. It was this same
round little fellow who inter
ceded at a benefit auction of base
balls or used furniture and
promptly multiplied the selling
figures. The auction always went
ahead on schedule but the cof
fers were fuller by virtue of the
Putnam touch.
Frequently he accomplished
this by buying the gadget him
14
SGix.
His credo was simple:
It’s all for the benefit of the
hospital; forget the going rate or
actual value; the hospital needs
the money.
When a hurry-up conference
was necessary between the com
mittee and the contractors or fed
eral officals or for any one of a
hundred other reasons, “Put’ was
one of the fall guys. And he
turned in a good accountng.
Above his own personal con
tributions in time and money,
someone has sized up “Put’s” role
in the new hospital like this:
“He’s the fellow who passed
the hat!”
—
Bernard Allen Named
Resident Engineer
Resident engineer at the new
hospital is Bernard Allen, son of
Mrs. Margaret Allen. In charge
of the power units, heating and
electrical equipment, Mr. Allen
will reside in special quarters in
the hospital, being available at
Miss Patricia Cain, laboratory technician at
St Anthony's, poses as perfect patient while Miss
Marilyn Branstreter displays perfect form as
X-ray technician. Both are specialists in O'Neill's
new hospital.
TWO OPERATING ROOMS . . . Outstanding
in the new hospital is the surgery department
with both major and minor surgery rooms.
Anasthesia equipment, lighting facilities and
operating table are of the latest type.
This is the carefully appointed visitors' par
lor on the second floor. Adequate walking space
has been provided for expectant fathers.
all times to maintain indispens
able electrical power and heat in
the building.
The hospital planners have in
corporated certain remote control
facilities into the engineer’s living
quarters, enabling him to “feel
the pulse” of the heating system
at all times.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Photo credits: By John H. Mc
Carville, staff photographer —
Cover layout, Cain, Leidy’s,
children’s ward, superstructure
view in 1951, Corkle, chapel,
aerial, heating plant, kitchen,
construction scene, Delores, Frit
ton, nursery, laundry, Cain-Bran
streter, parlor, Putnam. By O’
Neill Photo Co. — Bertrand,
Mounts, O’Sullivan, surgery
Others (except Erica, Jay, and
Bosn) by staff camera.
Engraving: All except two, The
Frontier’s Fairchild.
Editorial: William J. Froelich,
jr., magazine editor.
—PUBLISHER
HI. KKITTER
Co. of O’Neil!
Home of—
Pontiac
Case
Mpls.-Moline
New Idea
Farm & Home
Hardware
ADDS its heartiest con
gratulations to those who
have made possible this
magnificent addition to
our city.
SB- ::
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LOHAUS MOTOR CO. 1
Phone 16 O’Neill |