Gage County, Nebraska - Chapter 28: Hospitals, 1918

Institute for Feeble Minded Youths - Heppeeun's Hospital - New Lutheran Hospital - Fall's Sanitarium - The Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hospital.

A community is often distinguished by its beneficent institutions, both public and private. If the aphorism "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn," as the old school readers had it, then it must be equally true that man's humanity to man causes countless thousands to rejoice. Nothing is more indicative of the altruistic principle in human affairs than asylums and hospitals for the afflicted, the helpless, the hopeless. Though the commercial spirit may largely prevail in a community, there will always be found those to whom the cup of cold water given in kindness, the gentle word, the alleviation of pain and suffering, the care of the unfortunate, are more than gold, than much fine gold.

Beatrice is widely known on account of its being the site of the Institution for Feeble Minded Youths, as well as on account of its two private hospitals and a private sanitarium located within .the city.

The state institution was created by act of the legislature of 1885, which became a law March 5th of that year. The second section of the act reads as follows :

Besides shelter and protection, the prime object of said institution shall be to provide special means of improvement for that unfortunate portion of the community who were born, or by disease have become, imbecile oi feeble-minded, and by a wise and well adapted course of instruction reclaim them from their helpless condition, and, through the development of their intellectual faculties, fit them as far as possible for usefulness in society. To this end there shall be furnished them such agricultural and mechanical education as they may be capable of receiving.

The fourth section of the act provided for the location of the institution "at or near Beatrice and within two miles of the corporate limits of said city; Provided, that said city of Beatrice or the citizens thereof shall donate and convey to the state not less than forty (40) acres of land, near or through which runs a stream of living water sufficient to ' afford water supply for said institution, said site to be approved by the board of public lands and buildings."

Pursuant to this proviso, the money to purchase a site and thereby secure the location of the institution at Beatrice was readily subscribed by the citizens, amounting to the sum of $4,000, and the east ten acres of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 35 and the west thirty acres of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 36, in Midland township, were purchased and, by warranty deed, conveyed to the state as a site for this institution.

The ninth section of the act appropriated the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of constructing and furnishing a building for the use of the inmates, as provided by the act, and the tenth and last section reads as follows :

In order to create a fund for the support of said institution, there is hereby authorized and shall be made an annual tax levy on the taxable property of the state, not to exceed one-eighth (}i) of one mill on the dollar; said fund shall be known as "The Fund of the Institution for the Feeble Minded."

Shortly after the passage of the act and the purchase and conveyance of the abovedescribed tract of land to the state, work was begun on the first structure erected on these ized the state board of public lands and buildings to appoint a superintendent for it, to whom was to be committed its control, and also provided for the appointment of a matron, teachers, and other employes. Dr. J. T.

that credit is due for the founding of this great charity, one of the very few of like character in the United States. He remained superintendent until his death. The Beatrice Institute for Feeble Minded Youths stands as a lasting monument to the enthusiasm and election to the office of clerk of the district benevolence of spirit of Dr. J. T. Armstrong, court. Both he and Dr. Armstrong are and to Frank M. Holt, who at that time rep- buried in Evergreen Home cemetery. His bill establishing the institution won him the The first child was admitted to the institurespect and gratitude of the entire state. He tion May 24, 1887. It is a matter of history

A number of prominent physicians have served the state as superintendent of the institution since the death of Dr. Armstrong. They are Dr. CHfiford P. Fall, of Beatrice, Drs. Sprague, Deering, Johnson, Osbourne, G. L,. Roe (also of Beatrice), Thomas, and Fast. Dr. D. G. Grififiths is the present superintendent, and under his able administration, stantly increasing. Few are ever discharged except by death, and it is a matter of record that patients of this class are as a rule shortlived.

The state of Nebraska is entitled to the greatest possible credit for what it has done to alleviate the condition of these unfortunate children and to relieve their relatives from the great burden of their care.

The state has been most liberal in providing the necessary buildings and conveniences for these youthful but hopeless wards. In addition to the buildings here shown there are an up-to-date dairy, barn, laundry, store-room, bakery, engine house, pumping station for the water supply and a large stand pipe for water service to all the buildings as well as the grounds. By successive purchases the state now owns a fine body of fertile land, comprising three hundred acres, adjoining its original forty-acre tract, and the institution is in a large measure self-supporting. There is at this time a population of six hundred children at the institution, a population which is convate hospital, which immediately secured a large patronage from the city and surrounding country. After several years of prosperous existence under its founder's personal care, it was purchased, in 1909, by the United Brethren church, which continued its beneficent mission until 1913, when it was sold to the Lutheran church. This organization has carefully nourished the plant, attracting a widely distributed patronage. The old building in which the hospital was first started, after some additions and changes had been made by Dr. Hepperlen, could accommodate twenty-five patients. But latterly these accommodations have been found insufficient, and the present owners are now erecting a modern hospital, to cost $150,000, and to be equipped with the latest and most modern appliances of every description for hospital work. It is the intention to spare no pains or expense to make it one of the most complete institutions of its kind in existence. It will be a fire-proof building and when opened to public patronage will contain one hundred beds. The new structure is located a little north of the old building and the latter will continue to be used, as a nurse's home.

desire to make a special thanks-offering to God for all their blessings. It was at first proposed to establish a home for the aged, but it was finally determined to found a hospital, to be known as the Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hospital. By the congregation was chosen a board of directors consisting of twelve brethren, who went immediately to work, their first object being to raise the funds necessary to purchase a site and erect a suitable building. When $20,516.25 had been subscribed for the building, Hon. Peter Jansen and wife donated to the church for practice. It is located at No. 723 North Eleventh street. This institution has had a very successful and a very useful career. It contains twenty-five beds, has the service of eight nurses, and it is open to the use of other physicians and surgeons. Dr. Fall came to Beatrice a young man, in 1888; he is now a veteran in his profession and has achieved an enviable reputation both as a physician and a surgeon.

The Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hospital is located at Eleventh and Arthur streets. Its inception can be traced to a jubilee celebration held by the Beatrice Mennonites several years ago, for the purpose of praising the Lord for His merciful guidance during the twenty-five years of their settlement in this country of religious liberty. On this occasion the congregation was seized with a hospital purposes block 2 of Fairview Addition to Beatrice. The plans for the building were drawn by Richard W. Grant, architect, and the work of erecting the structure was begun during the year 1910. It was completed in 1911, and, with appropriate ceremonies, was dedicated to its work of mercy on July 16th of that year.

The hospital is arranged to accommodate thirty patients, and these are cared for by the sisters in a faithful and conscientious manner. It employs from eight to ten nurses, and every effort is made to alleviate suffering, mitigate despair, and awaken hope in the breasts of the despondent and afflicted. With generous unselfishness and absolute impartiality, the management invites all practising physicians and surgeons to avail themselves of its facilities.