83 Main St. East - Pettit Nursing Home
Name/Title
83 Main St. East - Pettit Nursing HomeEntry/Object ID
P2000-01-23-136Description
83 Main St. East (near Main East and Maple Ave.) William Hamilton Pettit and his wife Mabel Isabel Nelles lived in the home since the 1920s and the home was known locally as the "William Hamilton Pettit house" . In their later years, they were in poor health and their daughter Marion (1897-1972), a Registered Nurse, stayed home and nursed them. In 1942, after the death of William Hamilton Pettit (died November 10, 1941) the house on Lot 263, Lot 4 was willed to Marion Isabelle Pettit. Marion continued to care for the community at her home - called the Pettit Nursing Home. According to the Grimsby Independent (dated Nov 26, 1942) - the Nursing Home was forced to close. Under Government regulations oil could only be secured for a private residence but not for a nursing home. An expectant mother, who had been in the operating room, for a considerable period of time, had to be bundled up by the attending physician at midnight and rushed to a Home in Vineland, when the heating unit of the Pettit Home ceased to function due to lack of fuel oil and the Home began to get very cold. Several other women patients and their babies were removed the following day by ambulances as soon as other arrangements could be made. The situation at the Pettit Home was a serious one for the entire district. According to the newspaper, Miss Marion Pettit, a Registered Nurse, had operated the home for over 12 years, very successfully and the Home was a great boon to the doctors and mothers in the area. After the patients were removed, the home ceased to be a Nursing Home and became a private residence - the Oil Controller allowed a supply of oil to be delivered to run the furnace. Dr. MacMillian, Medical Health Officer of Grimsby stated the closing of Home created a serious situation in the district as enlistments in the armed services reduced the number of doctors in the west end of Lincoln and the east end of Wentworth, leaving them short. He is quoted as saying "With the nursing home operating it was possible to take many of the maternity cases there, thus centralizing much of our work. Now we have to take them to Hamilton or St. Catharines, at greater expense to the patients and a great more deal of work for the doctors." It is believed the abrupt closing of Pettit Nursing Home led Dr. MacMillian to advocate for a local hospital. Marion Pettit resided at 83 Main St East until 1956. In 1958 - the home became part of Kilean Lodge Nursing Home.Category
Photos - Homes - Main Street East