The Mankato free press., 1899-12-08
The Building Described.


st. Joseph's hospital is three story
structure, besides the basement and
attic. 1t is substantially constructed
of brick with stone trimmings, and is
heated with hot water and lighted with
gas and electricity. Its view is COM
manding, the location on the second
bench giving plenty of fresh air
After the Sisters of the Sorrowful
Mother had managed Tourtellote hos.
pital for year, they agreed to lease it
for term of years if the citizens of
Mankato would contribute $4,000 to
aid in the construction of new hospi-
tai to be erected. owned and operated
by themselves. This proposition was
accepted and about s., ,OO8 was raised,
Father Sutor becoming RESPONSIBLE for
the balance. The Sistersphrchased the
J. A. Willard homestead, at the corner
of Sixth and Washington Streets, and
remodeled the residence, swhichsis now
to be used as part of the hospital, a
covered passage way connecting the
two buildings. The old residence con-
tains the kitchen, 3Sxt5 feet, cold stor-
age, visitors dining room, Sisters din
ing room and sleeping apartments for
the Sisters who are not on duty. A
dumb waiter runs from the kitchen to
the hospital, where it connects with an
elevator, and at each landing is a gas
range for heating food that may have
cooled in transit.
The hospital building contains a
hydraulic passenger elevator, seven by
five feet, and so arranged that the en-
tire side of the iron fence swings out,
so as to allow patient to be rolled in
to the elevator reclining full length up
on carriage. There is hot and cold
city water and also cistern water on
each floor. x@
At the southwest corner of the third
floor is the operating room, with tile
floor and sides tiled five feet high. 1t
has every modern convenience and
sewer connection in the center of the
floor. Across the hall is medicine
room and dispensary, and next to it
a room where patients can be wheeled
in carriage from the operating room
and have their wounds dressed. Ad-
joining the operating room on the
north is sterilizing room, where the
instruments of the surgeons will be
sterilized by steam generated in cop
per boilers. Next to this is an anes-
thetic or recovering room for patients
who have had operations performed. :,
On each floor is a bath room. and
toilet. with floor of white tile and
marble base board The bath tubs are
white porcelain lined.
On going into the main entrance,
the visitor finds himself in hallway.
To the left is the Office, and across the
hall is long and pleasant reception
room, which has been furnished by st.
Joseph court of the Catholic Order of
Foresters at an expense OF S23O. ihere
are seven chairs, a settee, table and
rug, all of the most elegant descrip-
tion. The chairs are mostly cherry,
with mahogany finish, and the table is
of quarter sawed old oak. }eaiJ SD
Just over the reception room, on the
second floor, is beautiful chapel. The
organ is the gift of Fred Kron.
The entire building is finished in
oak, and has hard maple flooring
where tiling is not used. There are
accommodations for fifty patients in
separate rooms.
Room 1S, in the southwest corner,
has been very handsomely furnished by
the local lodge of Elks Room 81, in
the northwest corner, has been taste
fully furnished by DR.. and Mrs. An
drews. Room 13 has been furnished
by the Married Ladies' Sodolity, and