West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Oct. 23, 1949
Name/Title
West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Oct. 23, 1949Entry/Object ID
P2008-01-31-40Description
About 18 months after the fire that destroyed the original WLMH the new hospital on Main Street opened. The new WLMH was designed by Architect Chester C. Woods (1890-1970) - a man described as "a new generation of hospital planners". He designed hospitals throughout Ontario including in Brampton, Cornwall, Parry Sound, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie to name a few. The new hospital cost $270,000. The community played a huge part in fundraising for the new hospital - whether it was many who donated their own money to the hospital fund or many organizations who hosted events like the West Lincoln Ladies Auxiliary, Girls Guides and Scouts, Grimsby Legion, Lions Club, I.O.D.E. and others. April 1948 - the site was chosen for the new hospital - property on the Nelles Peach Orchard was selected - it was 3 acres on Main Street East with 400 ft frontage. June 24, 1948 - first tenders were called for the hospital. August 12, 1948 was the official Sod Turning ceremony on the former Peach Orchard. In a newspaper article dated August 19, 1948 an update was provided to the community by Alexander Globe, President of WLMH about the progress of the construction and it was noted that excavating was completed in record time. The schedule called for the construction of one wing per week! October 3, 1948 was the Dedication of the Cornerstone. The Dedication prayer was by Rev. E.F. Maunsell of Beamsville and the child's prayer was done by Lois Bedford of Grimsby. The contents of the cornerstone were: - a jar of wheat from Smithville - a bottle of wine distilled from Grimsby grapes - a jar of peaches from Beamsville - a bottle of tomato sauce from Winona - a variety of stamps, coins and newspaper articles and records of the opening of the original hospital. October 1949 - During the opening ceremony the 32-bed hospital was described as "modern as tomorrow" and was complete with all the modern services and equipment like two operating rooms, one for minor surgery and one for major surgery. Another modern feature was the availability of oxygen in every room. The hospital opened with 29 beds, 14 bassinets, and three children's cribs. Beside each crib was a cupboard of metal and stainless steel, with a thick rubber pad on which the new arrival would be bathed.Context
New West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Oct. 23, 1949Category
Photos - Hospital & Medical