The Hospital

( Originally Published 1921 )

It is fair to presume that even in the day of Dr. McGill and Dr. Rae, the medical fraternity began to have dreams of a hospital for the town of Oshawa. In 1895 the matter began to assume proportions of public discussion. In 1899 Mr. John Cowan made a proposal to the County of Ontario in regard to using the Gibb's farm for a House of Refuge, and in the same year Mr. W. F. Cowan intimated to his friends that he would take the initiative in placing a public hospital beside the House of Refuge if it were established in Oshawa. The county having decided against the proposal to come to Oshawa with the House of Refuge, this hospital idea faded away at the same time.

In 1905 Dr. Hoig, Dr. Kaiser, Rev. Mr. Talbot and others circulated petitions for public support, but met with very little encouragement. During the years 1908 and 1909, an organization of ladies took up the matter, and with commendable skill they carried their ideas to a logical concluson, and in August, 1910, the hospital was opened for the reception of patients. The ladies who are to be particularly mentioned do this regard are Mrs. R. S. McLaughlin, Mrs. Robt. Williams, Mrs. Jno. Bailes, Mrs. J. 0. Henry, Mrs. V. B. Woodruff, Mrs. H. E. Morphy, Miss M. Mothersill and Mrs. J. D. Storie. In the management of construction and subsequent control, Mr. J. D. Storie, Dr. F. L. Henry and J. P. Owens gave unstintingly of their time, and deserve public recognition. In 1917 the Pedlar Memorial Wing was added.

There are so many very worthy citizens who played a splendid part in the municipal life of Oshawa, during the past half century, that one regrets that space will not permit a full or a fair account of each. We therefore beg to give a list of such names as in our opinion deserve a much more extended notice: Lyman C. English, C. A. Jones, L. K. Murton, John Bailes, W. T. Dingle, 0. Hezzelwood, Walter Coulthard, Chas. W. Scott, J. F. Tamblyn, Wm. Dickle, G. F. Grierson, Wm. Glenny, Jas. Provan, Carpus French, Samuel Luke, Thos. Morris, R. J. Mackie, James Carmichael.

List of Physicians—Drs. Clarke, McGill, Burdette, Tempest, Rae, Martin, McBrian, Farewell, Coburn, Belt, Wilkinson, Hoig, Kaiser, McKay, Ford, Montgomery, Rundle, Young, Carmichael, McDonald, Donovan, Wilson, Cameron. Brown, Walker and Finnigan.

Lawyers—Silas B. Fairbanks, Edgerton Ryerson, John Billings, Holland, English, J. E. Farewell, R. McGee, C. A. Jones, L. K. Murton, A. Rundle, J. F. Grierson, L. Drew, W. E. N. Sinclair, H. E. Morphy, Chas. Farewell, D. A. J. Swanson, Jno. McGibbon, T. Maher.