Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-04
NEWS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.
Evolution Of a Hospital Shown by Changes
Now in Progress
PLANS FOR THE NEW INSTITUTION.
Handy Arrangement OF the old Build
ding Now Undergoing Complete
Mctamorphosis-W Who're Ailing
and Maimcd Nili Rest.
LANS FOR THE NEW INSTITUTION.

The old MacMahon property situated on
Ninth street between Fifth and Sixth ave
nucs has been one Of the landmarks of COun-
Gil Bluffs for number of years, but appear
anCes indicate that It will not be a landmark
very much longer. Since it has fallen into
the HANDS of the Womaus Christian associa-
tiOn wonderful changes have come over 1t,
and change Is still the order of the day
Unul recently the building has attracted
attention mainly because it was seven or
eight feet lower than the street while all the
ncighboring houses are high and dry. Among
the first things that was done in the way of
improvements was the raising of the entire
building nine and half feet above Its old
level, The lot has not yet been filed, and
the only way to enter the house is over a sort
of suspension bridge that connects it with
the street.
A. present the house is in a baGly demoral-
lied condition owing to the fact that the car
pcuters have been, and are still, at work
making extensive alterations. A wing has
been added to the northwest corner OF the
building. The raising of the house has given
a chance for the making of a basement un-
dcrucath, while the roof has been lifted up
and the attic formed, which will add four
more rooms to the establishment. In the
| basement are the dining room, kitchen, pan
! try, cellar laundry and boiler room, the lat
| ter Of which is to contain the heating appa
ratuS The first floor has the room of the
| mutron, Mrs. Hail, and the reception room
| just aCr oss the hall On the south side a
| room has been partitioucd Off, nearly the
ell tire south wall of which, as well as part
Of the ceiling, being made of glass. This
| re ON has been set apart for surgical
operations. 1t will be equipped
with all the necessary tools for per
! forming any surgical operation from
pulling a tooth to setting a broken neck.
| Across the hail is a room which will be used
| for the accommodation of patients who have
| undergone an operation and can not be moved
| farther away
The second floor has two rooms, located on
| the north side OF the house, for patients who
| are able to pay good price for their keep
ing. They will be nicely furnished In the
rear part Of the same floor are two rooms set
| apart for the county patients. Each room
can be made to hold three beds.
When all the changes have been made,
| there will be eighteen rooms for the use OF
the patients, without the four on the attic
floor, which are not to be used for patients
| unless they should be needed. This is six
| more rooms than were III the whole house
before
The work of furnishing the rooms has been
| undertaken by various church and charitable
organizations The Married Ladies' Socia
society, the Order of the Eastern Star, the
ladies' OF the Broadway Methodist cnurch
and the Kings Daughters of the PrCsby
teriau and Congregational churches have
each taken one room and will furnish IL
Mrs. John Il. Stewart has also furnished {
room. All The rooms are large, and each one
can be made to hold at least two beds. so tha
the hospital eau be made to accommodate
| more patients than ever before.
| The members of the association have beer
| compelled to 90 in debt for the greater par
| of these improvements. They are out solicit
| i'm NM hap ina in ntnn man
day, bnt the work is necessarily slow. Th
work of filling the lot on which the hospita
stands will probably be commenced durint
the present week. After all the work ha
been completed and the hospital has teel
gotten into proper shape, it is the intention
of the ladies to have grand opening ant
give the public an opportunity to go throug
the building and see the improvements.