St.
John's Hospital
1884-1973
|
In 1869,
six Sisters of Charity from Leavenworth, Kansas arrived in Helena,
and set about their mission to educate youth, nurse the sick,
and care for orphans.
Read
the interesting story of "Catholic
Hill" and the institutions founded there, by visiting
"More
From the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch" on the
METNET
site.
|
The 1884
St. John's Hospital • Demolished 1950
46°35'6.47"N
112° 2'16.54"W
| The first
St. John's Hospital was a wooden frame structure built in 1870.
The brick building shown above was built in 1884 and enlarged
in 1901-02. It was weakened by earthquakes in 1935, fell into
disuse, and was finally demolished in the spring of 1950. This
edifice stood atop "Catholic Hill", across South Ewing
St. from where the "new" St. John's was built in 1939... |
| Footprint
of the 1884 St. John's Hospital superimposed on a recent satellite
image. |
St.
John's Hospital, 1920s
COURTESY
OF SEAN LOGAN • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG
VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
Earthquake-damaged
Stack Shot Down, 1935
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD
| Men with
high-powered rifles brought down the damaged stack of the St.
John's Hospital heating plant in October of 1935. |
1939
St. John's Hospital
46°35'4.71"N
112° 2'13.51"W
| The 1939
St. John's Hospital building is still standing, but the hospital
closed in 1973. It now serves as offices and a nursing home facility. |
Dedication
of the cornerstone, St. John's Hospital, June 24 1939
COURTESY
OF KATHRYN FEHLIG •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
|
The cornerstone
from the 1884 building was relaid in the 1939 building. The
stone was opened after being removed from the 1884 building,
and was found to contain a dedicatory review of the hospital's
history, a prayer for the instution's success, business and
professional cards from Helena's leading citizens, and a sprig
of pine -- an evergreen symbol of life. These relics were replaced
in the stone, along with items from 1939.
|
COURTESY
OF KATHRYN FEHLIG
| Dedication
of the cornerstone St. John's Hospital, June 24 1939 (detail).
At the center is Bishop J. M. Gilmore. |
COURTESY
OF KATHRYN FEHLIG
|
An informal
photo taken on the day of the cornerstone dedication. Standing
at center is George Jacoby, the building contractor. Seated
to the right is Msgr. Victor Day. The man on the left may be
architect J. G. Link.
THANKS TO SISTER DOLORES BRINKEL,
ARCHIVIST OF THE DIOCESE OF HELENA, FOR HER HELP ON THIS SECTION.
|
Shrine
and oratory, St. John's Hospital
COURTESY
OF ORCHARD LAKES SCHOOLS, ORCHARD LAKE, MICHIGAN
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