McCook’s hospital in 1914 located at West First

McCook General Hospital, constructed in 1912, was located at the “high land at the north end of First Street West in a whole block surrounded by lawns, orchards and garden.” Courtesy/Ronald Allen

Last week my final note was about an advertisement I found for the McCook General Hospital created by Dr. Reid and located one block west of the courthouse. Lo and behold, Ron Allen contacted me with a complete booklet on the McCook General Hospital that was in a scrapbook from one of his Grandmother Allen’s sisters! What a find. I’m going to share with you some pictures and portions of this booklet, which must really be considered to be an advertisement to use the hospital. It was printed in approximately 1914 since the advertisement I found said founded in 1912 and this book says the hospital has been in operation for two years.

Blowing your own horn is not uncommon in advertising, but this book really takes it to a new level including listing all procedures and the death rate attached to same. But I’ll get to that in a minute after I share excerpts from the opening pages.

“The McCook General Hospital has been established in McCook Nebraska since January 1912, almost two years. The success it has attained has exceeded my expectations in so short of time, and this is due, I feel not alone to myself but to my able assistants and many other friends both in and out of the professions, and in a measure I feel they are as much interested in its success as I am, so will use the pronoun “we” rather than the more personal one. We issue this little booklet to give those who have not visited the McCook General Hospital some idea of its homelike surroundings and comforts and the completeness of its appointments and latest approved methods we employ in caring for those who are afflicted and come to us for treatment. The hospital has an ideal location for such an institution on high land at the north end of First Street West in a whole block surrounded by lawns, orchards and garden. It is nearly a mile from the Burlington depot and far from the noise and dust of the busy streets, and the fumes and smoke from the shops and engines.”

A 1914 handout touting the new hospital includes a picture of the surgical room. Courtesy/Ronald Allen

Continuing: “The hospital is open to other physicians for operations and care of their patients. Their patients will receive the same care and attention as our own. On the following pages you will find a compilation of the cases, surgical and medical since opening.”

In my last article, the ad said that the hospital was located west of the courthouse on First Street West which would mean it wasn’t quite a mile from the depot but then who is counting blocks. In 1912 it would also hardly be considered to be at the north end of the street either, but a full city block for the building is quite impressive.

Going back to the surgical procedures, these examples come from the booklet: Appendicitis, 24 performed with 3 deaths. Gallstones, 6 performed. Abdominal Hysterectomy, 1: Vaginal Hysterectomy 3 with 1 death. Enlarged Prostate, 3 performed with 1 death. Cancer of the stomach, 2 performed with 1 death. Moving on to medical cases from the printing: Straightening of arms after contraction following burns, 1 treated. Typhoid fever, 14 , from which two died. Babies born at hospital totaled 4. Acute Inflammatory Rheumatism, 2 treated. Spina Bifida, 1 treated. Lobar Pneumonia, 1 case.

Those were all Dr. Reid’s cases while four other physicians, Dr. Fahnestock, Dr. R.R. Reed, Dr. Anderson and Dr. Smith, all had patients in that hospital with ailments ranging from amputation below the knee to abdominal section.

When the SWNGS library re-opens, I plan to have this book printed off and available there for research. Until then, you can join us on-line at www.swngs.org to search our available records for free.