The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-30
THEIR NEW HOME.
Maternity Hospital Building Dedt-
Gated Yesterday.


Simplicity was marked feature in
connection with the dedicatory services
of the new Maternity hospital yester-
day afternoon.
The earnestness of the women who
have labored for so many years to as
sist the sick and needy Of their sex was
manifested in the simple and Informal
dedication of the new building, with
it's spacious grounds. In securing these
grounds, the A. I. Ankeny homestead,
the organization has come in posses
sion Of a spot that is ideally beautt-
full. 1t is situated just near enough
to the city, Western avenue and Penn,
to be convenient and far enough from
it to give it's inmates the beneht OF
turesque. During the summer months
there is much about it and the outlook
to make one think Of fair Italy
The grounds, comprising five acres,
are located at the top of g. hill, at the
foot of which runs Bassetts creek.
The little stream at this point is clear
and beautiful and not the murky,
sluggish water that enters the citye
On the opposite side OF the creek rises
another hill. Farther up the creek this
hill turns towards the one on which
the hospital is located, and thereby
forming a large amphitheater, which
during the summer months is dressed
hills rise in snoW-capped grandeur.
The hospital grounds are wooded and
park-lke in appearance. The building
is a three-story structure Of twenty
rooms. On the first floor are the laun-
dry, kitchen and five sleeping rooms.
Reception rooms consutute the sec
ond floor, with sick rooms and nursery
on the third. The building has been
renovated, and is modern throughout.
The organization has had possession
of the place since May last, but had
postponed the dedication until time
when the building was in first-class
shape, and to the time which was also
their tenth anniversary.
The services yesterday were held in
the reception rooms, and were presided
over by Rev. David N. Beach, Of Plym-
outh Congregational church. He
opened the services with prayer and
Bible reading, after which he spoke
briefly on the work of the hospital.
He, on behalf Of the women having
the service in charge, expressed the
wish that everything be informal, which
proved to be heartily In accord with
the spirit of those present. The next
speaker was Mrs. R. S. Smith, the pres
| ident who has been connected with
the organization since its inception.
She was followed by DR.. Martha G.
| Ripley, one of the three charter mem
bers present, and who has daily been
| in attendance at the hospital for ten
! years. Her short talk was RETROSPECT
tive and to some extent statistical.
She stated that the first building Sc
cured for hospital was 1856 Sixteenth
| street south, and was subsequently,
removed to different locations, until
! finally the grounds and building at
| Fourth avenue south and Twenty sixth
! street were secured. This place was
occupied until the new location was
secured last May.
! During the ten years Of its existence
the hospital has admitted 1,15O pa
! tents. To many the Maternity hos
pital had been the only real home they
had known. Some had been able to
| pay, most had not, but they had been
as carefully treated and given as con-
scientious care as the others. For the
| last eight years Miss Emily Paddock
! has been matron, and through great
noble work The hard times had done
| one good thing for the hospital, said
! DR.. Ripley, in that 1t had brought the
price of land down to such point that
! 1t had been able to secure these ad-
mirable grounds. She looked forward
| to the time when the place would be
more than a hospital. She hoped that
built here, and that the place would be
a refuge for worn and tired women of
the city who needed rest. This place
would furnish them with a home where
a much needed vacation could be
spent. The place was still heavily In
debt, but she had the most sanguine
hopes for the future.
Other speakers were Mrs. M C. An
derson, Miss Emily Paddock, DR.. Cora
/ Smith Eaton, Mrs. M. Dorsett, Mrs. 8.
! w. Fiske. The latter ladies spoke
briefly on their experience in the work
Many valuable suggestions were made
and adj had the brightest hopes for the
future Of Maternity hospital After
the singing of q hymn the benediction
was pronounced by Rev. Beach.
This morning at 10 o'clock the annual
meeting of the board of directors will
be held at the hospital