The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-12
GROUND BROKEN
FOR NEW HOSPITAL
viii be One of the Greatest lnsti-
tutions of Its Kind.
FATHER O'REILLY OBLIGATED
Uttered Beautiful Sentiment AS He
Stuck the Pick Into the Earth
and Shovelled Away the
Fresh Sod.
FATHER O'REILLY OBLIGATED

Amid the most impressive ceremonies
dirt was broken yesterday for the erection
of the great Sisters of Charity hospital,
which when completed will be one of the
greatest charitable institutions of it's kind,
not only in Birmingham, but in the entire
south.
As we'll known to the people of this city,
the work of getting a site for the building
and arranging other details has been 60
ing on in this district since the early part
of last summer, and during that time has
been pushed most vigorously. The propo-
sition was that Birmingham should furnish
a good location for the building. and the
Sisters of Charity organization would erect
the building. A splendid organization was
formed, composed not only of Catholics,
but of representatives of all the other de-
nominations, and their efforts have met
with the greatest success. AT first a site
was selected on Fountain Heights, but af-
forwards 1t was thought that 1t would be
too far out of the way, SO for that reason
it was changed to Avenue 1, at the head
of Twentyseventh street. The building, as
is we'll known, will cost 100000 when COM
peted and will be built on the modern
plans for hospital buildings. 1t Is to be in
charge of the Sisters of Charity, Catholic
organization, but in it's operation 1t is to
be non-sectarian, patients of all creeds and
denominations being received.
The ceremonial of breaking the ground
was begun yesterday morning at 10 O'Clock,
near the beautiful Walnut Grove where
the building is to be situated President
Harry Sinnege, of the hospital association.
aud hxa
over briefly the work which had been done
to locate the hospital here. He spoke en-
Enthusiastically of the splendid services
which had been rendered in this work by
Father O'Reiley. His efforts have been I'M
firing and have done the greatest amount
of good. Mr.. Sinnege refused to break the
dirt for the building. saying that honor be-
longed to Father GREELEY.
Before proceeding, however, rather
OReilly called on several of the gentlemen
present to make remarks. Among them
were Rufus N. Rhodes, and DR.. b. L. wy
man, dean of the Birmingham Medical col
lege, who spoke most encouragingly OF the
work that had been done and of the still
greater work to be done.
Father OReily then took a pick and
drove it into the ground saying as he did
so: up to this high eminence, A0 feet
above the city, this noble building Will be
seen of all men, reckoning the afflicted of
all degrees, high and low. rich and poor,
into it's comfortable walls.
Every man in the assemblage then took
part in shoveling some of the dirt, after
which the ceremonies were closed and the
contractors who are to erect the building.
began at once to clear off the ground, prep
aratory to digging for the foundations.
Among those present at the exercises
yesterday were Father O'Reilly, Father
Meurer, and Father Kennedy, Sister Bene-
dicta and Sister Placida, H. II. Sinnige,
DR.. B. L. Wyman, Ben NJ Jacobs, T. U.
Walter, Dr. Robertson, James ]. Smith,
DIR. Wyatt Hefin, Dr. Wilder, Rufus N.
Rhodes DIR. Griggs, Mr.. and Mrs. w. ].
McCrossin, DIR. Berry, John McCartin, E. ].
McCrossin, John w. O'Neill and Others