Name/Title
Program, Opening of Waupun Memorial Hospital,1951Scope and Content
Pamplet issued by the Waupun Chamber of Commerce and the Hutter Construction Company for the July 1951 opening of the Waupun Memorial Hosital. Included are photos of the 10 of the eleven members of the staff, Sister M. Fortuna, S.F.C., who was in charge of the hospital, one of the major operating rooms, one of the 53 patient rooms and a floor plan of the third floor. There is a history of the hospital and a description typed on the inside of the pamphlet.
FOREWORD -
We have come in response to your invitation to operate for you, the people of Waupun and the surrounding area, a general hospital to be recognized as a memorial to your war dead. This invitation you extended on December 13, 1947, through the members of the Hospital Committeee. From the beginning we were convinced of your sincerity of purpose and loyalty to the cause.
As negotations proceeded and plnas began to take shape during, the months that followed, it became more and more evident that our trust was well placed. The people of Wauun appreciated our efforts to provide for them a hospital which would rank among ther foremost in the state. Not only did they assist with generous contributions but they manifested their genuine personal interest in many other ways. The citizens as a whole and the people individaully have already made the Sisters feel that they are an integral part of the City of Waupun. All this has been most heartening and encouraging.
As we open the doors of the Waupun Memorial Hospital, we stand ready to serve you in the Name of Him "who went about doing good." May He belss our efforts to ease the aching brow, to mend the broken bone, and to restore health to the pain-racked body. This is the prayer of the Fransican Sisters of St. Joseph Convent, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as they take up their work among you.
HISTORY -
The story of Waupun Memorial Hospital commenced in 1943 when, at the suggestion of several residents of Waupun, Mayor Juson J. Rikkers appointed a committee to investigate the possibility of constructing a hospital for Waupun, and, if it appeared feasible, to proceed with plans for the same. The original committee, with the addition of several other members, has served continuously since that date. The deaths during this period of four of the original committee members, Dr. Kenneth A. Swartz, Matt Rens, Merle E. Faber and W. E. Raml. were a real loss to the committee and to our community.
The original plan was to have a hospital built and operated by the City of Waupun, but with rising construction costs, it seemed impossible that enough funds could be raised, either by the city, or by the residents of this area, to provide a hospital which could adequately service the community. The committee met with Mr. Geroge Huttler, of Fond du Lac, at the instigation of Dr. Swartz, and at this meeting the first suggestion was made by Mr. Hutter hat we attemptto interest the School Sisters of St. Francis in completing the project.
Throughout the negotiations with the members of the Sisterhood and Father Klink, the only consideration of all parties was to obtain for Waupun the very best possible hospital facilities that could be provided.
Aside from the very obvious need of the community for a new hospital, the two things that most impressed and interested the Sisters in undertaking this project were first, the splendid and whoehearted cooperation of the entire community, and, second, the exceptional site for the building, which had been the very generous gift of Mr. Matt Rens and Mr. George J. Landaal. The final agreement with the Sisters determined that the community would invest in the building upon the site provided by the last two named gentlemen, the sum of $300,000.00, and that the SIsters of St. Francis would invest a like amount or whatever additional sum would be required to complete the project, which, at that time was thought to total about $900,000.00.
Other outstanding work was contributed by the Chairmen and committee members from our four surrounding townships of Alto, Chester, Trenton and Waupun, whose assistance went far to make the project possible.
For the record, Waupun's contributions were as follows: The site was given by Mr. Rens and Mr. Landaal as a portion of their contribution to the Hospital, the CIty of Waupun paid in $150,000.00, the Town of Alto donated $10,000.00, the Town of Chester gave $500.00, and very subdstantial payments were received from National Rivet & Mfg. Co., The Shaler Co., Mid-State Shoe Co., Canned Foods, Inc. Carnation Co., Teeple Shoe Co., The National Bank of Waupun, the State Bank of Waupun, and from many other firms and individuals. But the united response of the general public, both in undertaking the solicitation and making so many contributions, in the final drive was what finally put Waupun's quota over the top.
Waupun can well be proud of Waupun Memorial Hospital. It is a fine building. We are asssured that its operation will be the very best. It should server the entire community for many years to come. --E. W. Hooker, Chairman, Waupun Hospital Committee
Sister M. Fortuna, S.F.C. will be in charge of the Waupun Memorial Hospital.
Drs. C.P. Reslock, James P. Semmens, William J. Petters, Howard Bayley, Beaver Dam, Leonard W. Schrank, James M. Sinnett, Drs. E. Schmidt, Raymond E. Schrank, Harmon H. Hull, Roland F. Schoen, Beaver Dam and Dr. William A. Wagner are the members of the staff of the hospital.
Description of Hospital -
Waupun's beautiful new Memorial Hospital on West Brown Street, between Beaver Dam Street and Elm Avenue, faces the City Park. It is an impressive building with a center unit connecting a north wing and a south wing. The south wing, which is the hospital wing, is 284 feet long. The center portion of the building, which is the sevice section, is 66 feet long. The north wing is 155 feet long and is the residential section of the hospital. The building is set back 238 feet from West Brown Street and has a semi-circular drive.
The ambulance entrance and the service entrance are at the east side of the building.
The building will have a basement and four floors.
The First Floor is five steps above the finished grade at the building. The main entrance faces south. A vestibule leads to the lobby. There are alcoves in the lobby on both sides of the entrance. The lobby is beautifully finished in oak paneling. The information Desk is at the left. The area west of the main entrance is assigned to hospital administration, offices, guest rooms, and Chaplain's suite; Records Room, Staff Lounge, Nurses' Lounge, and an Auxiliary Room.
The laboratory, pharmacy, electro-therapy, radiography, fluoroscopic and X-Ray Department, Emergency Operating Room, and Cystoscopic and Fracture Room are located east of the main lobby area. This area has a separate entrance to the east.
SECOND FLOOR:
The Second Floor of the south wing is set back and has a solarium at the west end and a play room at the east end. This entire wing is devoted to medical patients and pediatrics. There are four private rooms, twelve semi-private rooms, one four bed ward and a four bassinet nursery. All rooms have separate toilets.
The Chapel is located in the center of the building, east of the main corridor. The balance of the center and northe wing is assigned to the Sisters and the technical staff who will operate the hospital. These facilities include a Community Room, a Sewing Room, and 25 bed rooms which furnish sleeping accommodations for 30 people.
THIRD FLOOR:
The Surgical Department is on the third floor. All roioims in the south wing are assigned for surgical patients. There are four private rooms, 10 semi-private rooms, and four wards. All of thee rooms have private toilets. The balance of this floor is devoted to two Major Operating Rooms, a Minor Operating Room,central sterlizing and supplies, doctors' and nurses' dressing rooms, anaesthesia, and the numerous other facilitiers required in the modern surgery.
FOURTH FLOOR:
The Maternity Department is on the Fourth Floor. There are three private rooms. Two nurseries, separated by a work room, accommodate 20 bassinets. Adjoining each nursery is asmall suspect nursery. There is one Labor Room, one Delivery Room, and one combination Labor and Delivery Room. The Doctors' Dressing Room, Nurses' Dressing Room, and Fathers' Room are located off the north and south corridor.
The hospital has many special features, such as oxygen piped to each patient's room; a Teletalk system; Williams reversible window fixtures which permit the windows to be wadshed from the inside; silent hardware; dry mop cleaner; and other conveniences and innovations too numerous to list.
The Operating, Labor, Delivery Rooms, and the Chapel are air conditioned. Air conditioning has also been provided in other areas where required.Acquisition
Accession
2015.0059Source or Donor
Zick, Lynn
