A tribute to Perry Memorial Hospital’s 100 years Perry Memorial Hospital is celebrating 100 years this summer. Its history is rich — one that’s marked by both glory days and times of turmoil. Here’s a walk through Perry’s decades:
1913
renovation. As staff were trained to fundraise, the materials and labor costs for the project skyrocketed Perry’s husband dies leaving the remainder of and the cost of the entheir assets, more than $50,000, for the creation tire project doubled. The hospital failed to raise sufficient funds of a hospital. The Perry assets back then were equivalent to for a new wing. more than $1 million in today’s terms. A public referendum went out to voters asking whether Perry should become part of a hospital City of Princeton passes an ordinance for the establishment and maintenance of Julia Rackley district that would collect money to help pay for an addition, but voters rejected the idea. Administrator Arnold Walter and Perry Memorial Hospital. the board decided to use the money to renovate as much of the A public vote led the decision to purchase the for- hospital as it could with the money staff and the board were mer Princeton Hospital property on Park Avenue able to raise two years prior. East for $4,711, which is the location of where the hospital stands today. A small addition was built on to the hospital’s east wing to accommodate 16 more patients, but it didn’t solve the overcrowding issues. June 17, the hospital opens it doors to patients. The two-story building On average 98 percent of hospital beds were occonnected by way of a ramp to cupied each day. the former hospital house, could hold 28 patients and five babies. It Perry Memorial Hospital again asked for commucontained the latest equipment in the operating room and x-ray nity support to erect a new wing. This time, they department. Nurse Kathryn Pond ran the day-to-day operations raised $300,000. Construction started with the demolition of of the hospital until 1925. the original Princeton Hospital house. Julia Rackley Perry, a Malden native, bequeathed $25,000 to the city of Princeton with the provision to plan a public hospital in Princeton within the following five years.
1915 1916
1952
1917 1920
1954 1955 1957
1931
1959
1939
1960s
A need for more rooms become urgent. An east The new addition was completed, but new regulawing was built on at a cost of $45,000. It included tions were making the other wings in the hospital space for an additional 13 beds and seven bassinets for babies. unusable as fire codes become more strict. Space again was an issue at the hospital, which forced the need to build a west wing onto the original building, adding nine new beds, new operating rooms, preparatory rooms, an x-ray room, laboratory and other needed space.
1940s
Amidst a growing staff, a widening range of services, increasing expenses and new government regulations, it became apparent that managing the hospital would require more than a nurse supervisor. The city began to re-evaluate the organization of the hospital.
1947
The hospital board again decided to pursue community fundraising to construct a new wing. In addition to funds raised by the community, Perry’s leadership was able secure grants and the city sold bonds so that the hospital could borrow money for the project. A three-story building was constructed with an unfinished third floor, which could be completed at a later date when more funds were available.
Princeton City Council voted to change the leadership structure of the hospital. A board of directors The third floor of the 60s addition was completed, was appointed. The first members included Watson Lawton, but most of the space was meant for patient care, Robert Zearing and Celia Diller. Their first task was to hire a not offices. Administrator Hal hospital administrator and auditor. Autry came up with the idea to build a large office buildThe hospital auxiliary formed with 66 members. ing onto the hospital that Mrs. Abbie Jean Gunning was elected as the first would allow space for visiting president. The auxiliary gathered funds through membership specialty physicians, which fees and donations, using the money to purchase equipment would mean better care withor to help with facility improvements. Gunning opened the out having to travel to a larger hospital. The Medical Office Building was completed two years hospital’s first gift shop in 1953. later and attracted Princeton Family Physicians, and dozens of Following WWII, people had more money and specialty services from area groups and hospitals, which conmedicine had advanced to be able to treat more tinue to serve the community today. illnesses and perform more surgeries. For much of the 50s, the hospital was nearly fully occupied or sometimes completely The hospital had space for nearly 200 patients. occupied. The hospital board pursued a $350,000 addition and The hospital continued to stay at the forefront
1976
1948 1950
1980s
10 – Summer 2020
Living magazine
