McKINNEY CITY HOSPITAL
Weekly Democrat Gazette, June 17, 1926
McKINNEY CITY HOSPITAL, NURSES'
HOME-ITS HISTORY, AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS SUCCESS
SCHOOL HISTORY.
McKinney City Hospital
Dedicated in 1921.
For many years the
people of McKinney felt the need of a city hospital. This need was urged at
every opportunity by many of the most progressive citizens, among whom were
several physicians. However nothing was proposed in a concrete way until 1918,
when a number of citizens agreed to subscribe to a hospital fund, which resulted
in several thousand dollars being pledged for the purpose. It was soon realized
that sufficient funds could not be obtained by this plan, for the erection and
equipping of an institution such as was needed. Consequently the president and
two of the members of the Chamber of Commerce met in conference with the
Hospital Movement in the Chamber of commerce headquarters, and decided the time
was opportune for circulating a petition for a bond issue to be voted upon by
the people. A petition was drawn, circulated and signed by city tax payers. This
petition was presented to the city commission, then composed of H. A. finch,
mayor, Sam J. Massie and Joe W. Barnes, city commissioners, asking that an
election be ordered for the purpose of passing upon a 100,000 dollar bond issue
to provide funds with which to erect a suitable hospital building.
The Board of
Commissioners in session Aug. 6, 1919, ordered the election to be held Sept. 9,
1919, with the result that the voters endorsed the proposed hospital bonds, by
an overwhelming majority of 5 to 1. Soon thereafter the bonds were purchased by
the Collin County National Bank, two acres of land on South Parker street
overlooking Finch Park were purchased, architects were employed by the city
commission, and actual work on the new enterprise was begun.
At 3 o'clock on the
afternoon of November the 25th, 1920 (Thanksgiving day) the corner stone was
laid. Editor F. C. Thompson was Master of Ceremonies. The McKinney City
Municipal band discoursed music. Rev. E. B. Fincher delivered the oration. Dr.
J. C. Erwin, president of the McKinney Medical society, made an address. The
invocation was by Rev. J. Sam Barcus. The formal laying of the corner stone was
by Mayor H. A. Finch, and the city commissioners, Sam J. Massie and Joe W.
Barnes. Howell E. Smith, later president of the first board of governors, and E.
H. Cotterell, city engineer, also made addresses. The dedication Hymn was "Rock
of Ages." Benediction was pronounced by Rector John L. Oldham of St. peter's
Episcopal church.
The first board of
Governors of the institution was composed of Howell E. Smith, President, W.
Avery Dowell, secretary-treasurer; W. R. Abernathy, Walter B. Wilson, Henry W.
Warden and J. A. Rountree. City Engineer Ernest H. Cotterell was an ex-officio
member of the board of governors.
By the time the
building, a three-story brick and re-enforced concrete structure, modernly
equipped and fire proof, was completed, there was little left of the 100,000
dollar bond money. The Board of Governors conducted an active campaign for
donations of funds, with which to furnish and equip the hospital. Among the
larger pledges for this purpose were those of St. Johns Lodge No. 51 A. F. and
A. M. $1000; Elks Club, $500; Young Men's Business Association, $2000. Many
smaller amounts were donated by individuals, and firms, lodges, churches and
women's clubs. When completed the building was pronounced one of the most modern
40 bed hospitals in the South.
The new hospital was
dedicated on the afternoon of April 1, 1921. Mayor H. A. finch presiding at the
services, assisted by the city commissioners. The Municipal band furnished
music. Speakers were Dr. Clifford S. Weaver, Dr. E. L. Burton, Mrs. J. L.
Lovejoy, Mayor H. A. finch, Sam J. Massie, Joe W. Barnes, Ernest H. Cotterell,
and Howell E. Smith. Prayers were offered by the Rev. J. Sam Barcus and Dr. G.
L. Yates.
In April, 1921, the
hospital was opened to the public patronage, under favorable circumstances. With
Miss Eunice Broussard as superintendent. Miss Breland, assistant; superintendent
and 6 student nurses. To Miss Broussard and Miss Breland much credit is due for
the organization and preparation of the hospital, for the work to which it was
dedicated. After 6 months service these two nurses resigned, and were succeeded
by Miss Ann Brown Smith, and Miss A. M. Ross, graduates of the Montreal General
Hospital, Montreal, Canada. Miss Smith taking charge as superintendent Oct.,
1921.
The first Board of
Governors of the Institution, resigned in April, 1921. The new Board of
Governors, succeeding them was composed of J. Ed. Rhea, President, J. P. Crouch,
Vice President, Robert H. Brown, Secretary-treasurer; Wallace Hughston, J. W.
Ashley, Fred Emerson.
In 1922 a charter
was obtained for the McKinney City Hospital Training School for Nurses. The
Training School was incorporated on May 4th, 1922, with 7 student nurses. In
1924 the requirements for an accredited Training School were met, an a full time
instructress, and night supervisor, were added to the staff. Five nurses have
graduated from the school. At present there are 10 student nurses and 4 graduate
nurses on the staff. The work of the Training school is inspected annually by
the Nursing Educational Department of the State of Texas.
In December 1923,
Mr. Ed Rhea, president of the Board of Governors called a meeting of the
physicians for the purpose of presenting to them the constitution and By-Laws of
the staff of the McKinney City Hospital for signatures. These By-Laws cover the
Minimum standard required by the American College of Surgeons. Sixteen
signatures were filed at this meeting. In 1924 the hospital name appeared on the
list of accredited hospitals, it being at the time, the only 40 bed hospital in
the state that had reached this standard.
During the first 6
months of hospital administration, the nurses were housed on the third floor of
the hospital building. Later a house on South Parker street was rented for the
nurses, biding the time when more suitable accommodations could be arranged for.
In the meantime the Board of Governors were feeling the need of a nurses home,
large enough to house the students and staff, more convenient to the hospital,
and more suitable for the carrying out of the work, and rules of the training
school. Early in 1924 this need was being keenly felt, much needed hospital
space was being used for nurses rooms. Active steps must be taken, and soon.
At the weekly
meeting of the Rotary club on Feb. 8th 1924, the members were thrilled at the
announcement of a gift by Rotarian Fletcher B. Pope of a splendid, modern Nurses
home for the McKinney City Hospital. The gift was announced through the meeting
of the Rotary club, with J. Ed. Rhea acting as spokesman for him. This was the
largest single bequest of philanthropy in the history of our city and was made
by Mr. Pope in Memory of Jesse Shain, Fannie Eubank Shain and Maggie Shain Pope.
The building
occupies a lot north of the hospital and adjoining the hospital grounds on the
south, and is a modern two story brick building of twenty five rooms capacity.
The building contains reception and lecture rooms, sun parlor, bath rooms,
closets, trunk room and boiler room. No detail of a modern nurses home was
overlooked.
The home was
dedicated on Nov. 3, 1924 in the presence of many appreciative citizens. Mayor
Tom W. Perkins presided at the dedicatory ceremonies. Dr. Clifford Weaver
offered the invocation. F. B. Pope donor, made the formal presentation of the
Nurses home, free from debt to the city of McKinney. J. Ed Rhea, chairman of the
Board of Governors, accepted the gift on behalf of the board. Dr. J. C. Erwin
made the closing talk.....
McKinney
Places Index
Recommended
citation:
"McKinney Hospital and Nursing School - Places, COLLIN COUNTY HISTORY," Collin County, Texas History and Genealogy
Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004].
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