ATCHISON HOSPITAL.
The first attempt to found a hospital in the city of Atchison originated in 1884, and after a general meeting for organization a board was appointed which purchased and re-constructed a building situated on South Seventh street between U and V, and the institution was open to the public May 20 of that year.
The following named Atchison ladies were prominently identified with the movement that was responsible for the building of the first hospital in Atchison: Mrs. A. A. Carey, who was the first president of the association; Mrs. J. J. Berry, Mrs. W. W. Campbell, Mrs. E. A. Mize, Mrs. D. P. Blish, Mrs. C. B. Singleton, Mrs. J. J. Ingalls, and Mrs. C. S. Osborn.
After five years of activity this building as a hospital was closed through lack of support and the misapprehension of the purpose of a hospital on the part of the community.
From about 1889 until 1912 the hospital necessities of Atchison were provided by private institutions and cases were sent outside of the city, but in the fall of 1912 the need for a hospital within the city had become very apparent, and as a result the following public spirited citizens of the city associated themselves together for the purpose of building a modern hospital: W. P. Waggener, president; R. W. Ramsay, vice-president; Otis E. Gray, secretary; Joseph M. Schott, treasurer. The directors with the above officers were: Frank Harwi, T. M. Walker and L. R. Seaton. They instituted a campaign for the purpose of raising $50,000 to purchase a site and construct and equip a building for a general hospital.
The campaign was to a very large degree successful, sufficient money being raised in this initial effort to warrant the directors in purchasing a site, the square block situated on North Second street between N and O streets, where a fire-proof building was constructed to accommodate thirty-five patients with a maximum capacity of fifty. The building is equipped with the most modern appliances for hospital activities. The operating room was modeled and equipped after the suggestion of the most celebrated surgeons in the country, and since the opening of the hospital to receive patients in July, 1914, its success has been assured and its need demonstrated. It possesses appliances and equipment conservatively valued at $65,000.
The present board of directors are: W. P. Waggener, president; Frank E. Harwi, vice-president; O. E. Gray, secretary; Joseph M. Schott, treasurer. Directors: R. W. Ramsay, H. E. Muchnic, Eugene Howe and Leo Nusbaum.
The purpose of this institution is to take care of the sick and injured of the community without distinction of race, color or creed. Those who can afford to pay are expected to pay the fees of the institution. No one is refused attendance by reason of his or her inability to pay for such service. The biological and X-Ray laboratories are among the best equipped in the State and these laboratories with their equipment, like most of the furnishings and equipment of the hospital, are memorials of the former residents of Atchison county.