The Washington times., 1894-07-29
Urqed bv a Mysterious Presence to
Establish a Hospital.
OBEYED THE SPIRIT REQUEST
Gives a Handsome Building to the Deacon
esses in Loving Remembrance of His Late
Wife-To Be Presented and Dedicated in
0ctober-Work Of the Sisterhood.


North Capitol and Pierce streets, which has
been erected at a cost OF $4,000 by Mr.. Will
lam ]. sibley in loving remembrance of his
wife. Dorothea Lowndes Sibley, who died
about four years ago, and will be known as
the ''sibley Memorial Hospital
Mr. Sibley yesterday told a TIMES repre-
sentative that while very i'll in February last
voice seemed to say to him that he ought to
erect such building as his wife, while liv-
ing. took a deep interest in the work of the
deaconesses and a hospital was greatly
needed by them for the successful prosecu-
ton OF their mission. MIR. Sibiey at once de-
termined to set aside $4,000 and erect the
building as q memorial TO his wife. Before
he was able to leave his sick room he began
to devise plans for the construction OF the
handsome building which is to be formally
presented and dedicated to the managers OF
the Deaconess' Home in October next.
The Sibley Memorial Hospital is located on
one of the most commanding sites In WASH
ington, and from any of the upper stories
beautiful view OF nearly the entire city can be
had. 1t is built OF pressed brick laid in black
mortar, is 81 feet front by 70 feet deep, and is
three stories high. While designed as an
emergency hospital the building is SO con-
structed that it is to be a training school as
well for aiding the Deaconesses in their work.
Upon entering the building through large
open vestibue. upon the left wall OF which IS
marble slab bearing these words, ERECTED
to the Memory OF Dorothea Lowndes Sibley,"
the visitor finds himself in reception room
8 feet wide and l6 feet long. Immediately
upon the right a door opens into the examin-
ing room. II feet by l6 feet. This room is
provided with closet for the safe keeping OF
drugs bandages, etc. and a case against the
allf for in str
floor of the room is tiled, thus affording per-
feet cleanliness. In the rear OF this is the
resting room, s feet by u feet, and to be used
by patients who, after an operation or exam
ination. must be left TO revive from the infu-
ence of anasthetics.
sun PorRs ITS LIGHT.
Ascent to the second and third stories is
made by means of flights OF stairs four feet
wide and with easy rises from the entrance
hall Through large windows the sun pours
its light into the spacious place and leaves no
dark corners for stumbling.
Under the staircase is n lavatory for physl-
clans. Opening from the staircase hall is
dining-room 1315 feet by II feet. with connec-
tions to the kitchen by means of dumb
waiter il the pantry. This waiter is two
story affair, the upper part being for food,
ETC.. and the lower apartment for lifting coal
and wood TO the kitchen and laundry on the
third floor. 1t also opens into the hall on
each floor, where cruel. tens, etc, can be
passed out to the wards, examining room or
wherever necessary.
On the extreme left OF the staircase hall is
passage leading TO the dispensary and rooms
connecting Herewith. This passage is TO be
used by physicians and attendants only, as
side door is provided for all dispensary pa
tients, thus preventing them from gathering
in or about the front entrance of the hospital.
The waiting-room is fourteen feet square and
has the dispensary within it, The dispensary
is merely a partition OF wood and glass, open
two feet at the top, placed in the waiting
room for dispensing drugs, ETC., 10 the pa
tients. This room also has connected with 1t
two rooms eight feet by ten feet each, where a
physician and a surgeon may each hold clinic
without interfering. Under the physicians
room is space for ccal and wood. A room
below ground is provided for the heating ap-
paratus.
In the front of the second story there is a
large ward 20!S feet by rs feet. 1his will ac-
commcdste six or eight beds nicely, On the
east wall there is very handsome brick fire.
place making fine ornament and adding TO
the cheerfuiness OF the room. Opening from
the hall is large closet for the accommoda-
ton OF all the the ward linen and many arti-
ces necessary about the rooms. Another
hall leading TO the rear OF the building has
on its right two rooms: one the bath and
laboratory and the second, the office little
room feet by 8 feet, where the resident
physician or matren may hold sway. On the
left of this hall, and in the rear OF the linen
closet is dark room, 8 feet by feet. in
tended only for the examination of eyes
The hall also opens into second ward, exactly
like the front one, with the exception OF the
fireplace.
TEE OPERATING ROOM.
On the third floor there is large room in
front exactly like the ward on the second
floor front. which Is designed for an operat-
ing room. 1t has an enormous skylight in
the ceiling, feet by u feet In size. casting a
powerful light directly upon the operating
table. This room is Is feet high and is SO
constructed that seats may be put in, In am
phitheater style and seating in the neighbor-
hood OF fifty nurses or students. Through
corridor leading to the rear there are in sue
cession the bath and layatory. Similar to the
one below IT, private ward Z feet by feet
another feet by 8 feet. and two large private
wards each being II feet by Is feet. The bal
ance Of the space on this floor is occupied by
the kitchen and laun Try, and these are lighted
by a large skylight which is also a ventila-
tor.
The height OF the first and second stories
are 90 and ~ feet respectively and the third
10 feet, with the exception of the operating
room which, as has been stated, is Is feet
The plumbing is of the class known as '.open
as also the space around it. All the bath
rooms have tiled floors, A frst-class system
OF hot water extends throughout the building,
and electric call bells and speaking tubes are
to be found in abundance. The stairs are of
quartered white oak and of special design.
As the hospital is not to be opened TO the
public until October, no details of manage
ment beyond the appointment of Drs. G. W.
Brown, D. H. Street. and Isaac Stone as mem
bers of the medical staff, have been arranged.
The patients will be attended free of charge.
and everything needed by them TO assure
their recovery will be furnished without price,
Since the Deaconess' Home was opened five
years ago the members have accomplished
a vast amount of good. In their seli-denying
sisterhood they have ministered to the poor.
visited the sick, prayed with the dying. cared
for the orphan, comforted the sorrowing, and
saved the SHINING.
GONE FORTH TO HELP MANKIND.
Many have gone forth to begin work In
other cities and most encouraging reports
these are Miss Lizzie Smith. now superin-
tendent of the Buffalo Home; Miss Phinette
K. Bristol the first superintendent of the
Baltimore Home, now at Bellevue Hospital,
New York. training as nurse deaconess; Miss
Margaret Bell and Miss Belle Goodenough,
now in Baltimore Home; Miss Flora Mcdowell,
now parish deaconess, Indianapolis Mrs. NJ.
J. Aldrich. superintendent of the Deaconess'
Home. Grand Rapids, Mich; Mrs. Ida S.
Mccoy, superintendent of the Deaeoness'
Home. Cleveland, Ohio: Miss Katharine
Henry, Deaconess' Home, Buffalo; Mrs. Mary
IL g. H.. -