The hospital was endowed by the sale of a farm in Ridgeway owned by the late Rebecca Rutan-Williams. The farm was sold for $74,000, half of which was to be used for building and equipping and half for maintenance. The medical facility was to serve as a memorial to Rebecca William’s mother, Mary Rutan.
With monies available for construction, their responsibility of designing the hospital structure came to rest upon the person and abilities of architect Frank L. Packard.
Knowlton Brothers was then made the general contractors for the project. The hospital contract was the companies first job in this area. The community was very pleased and encouraged by Knowlton Brothers work and made them feel very welcome, inducing the brothers to make Logan County their home.
In March of 1919, the two story colonial style building was complete. The original brick was described as velvety red with seven colors blended, additional trim was white. The original building was 96 by 40 feet, the main building contained a wing that was 50 by 38 feet. The land upon which it was located had a frontage of 176 feet and a depth of 340 feet. Picture this description of the hospital, "the grounds are spacious, sloping from the building, which faces west and rolling in the rear to the broad acres that lie to the east commanding a splendid view. Comfortable porches are about the building, spots that will be sought by invalids who are convalescing, and above all else there is an air of remoteness to the place because of the wooded sections to the rear, although the building is easily accessible, but a few minutes’ ride from the city."
When the hospital opened it could accommodate 24 patients, and had the potential of serving an additional 11 persons in emergency situations.
A hospital is more than a building or a location. The success of a hospital rests in the people who serve that organization and that organization’s patients. Members of the first staff were:
Directress: Hazel Webster
Clerk: Ruth Barnes
Surgical Nurse: Ella Fisher
Night Nurse: Alma Denney
Janitor: J. C. Biely
Cook: Mrs. Prater
The first Trustees to serve the local hospital were:
Anson B. Carter
William T. Haviland
O. L. Jo Hantgen
D. W. Askren
Harry N. Kennedy
Since 1919, six expansions have occurred, each time increasing the services offered to the community. Keeping in mind the original 1919 hospital contained approximately 7,680 square feet, the sixth and largest expansion was completed in 1995 and added 57,000 square feet to the existing facility. This is where the current Family Birth Center, Surgery, ICCU, and Pharmacy are located. Our most recent project, completed in 2008, included a major renovation and expansion of 34,000 square feet. This included a new 17,000 square foot Emergency Department, renovated lab, renovated medical records, renovated radiology department and additional patient service areas.