The Washington times., 1904-06-05

an operating room on this floor. The
whole building is finished In gold and
white. and equipped with every modern
convenience and surgical necessity.
Memorial Ward.
On the second floor are fourteen rooms.
named for various churches who fur
nished them through the ladies' board. a
diet kitchen, eye operating room. and the
Emily Parke Richards Memorial ward
In memory Of Mrs. John F. Parke's
daughter.
The third floor is occupied, by St.
IUke's and Mary's wards. Tor nc gro pa
tents; number OF private rooms. the
main operating room. and nurses quar-
tiers.
The fourth floor. and last. IS used
az apartments for the staff and ser
wants. The basement is given over TO
the dining rooms, kitchen. and laundry
necessary for the domestic requirements.
The hospital Is supported By voluntary
subscriptions, the proposed income from
pay patients OF $1,000. annually. and do
ratiors from churches on hospital Sun
DAY.
Beluests have made possible its build
Ing. in large measure. over $500
was given by the Will and during the
life OF the late Mrs. John a Parke. who
was deeply Interested IN the benevolent
work.
The hospital. although under the
auspices OF the Episcopal Church. is
non sectarian in its ministrations, hay
ing treated. in its short existence. an
overwhelming majority Of persons OUT
side the church. Suffering is the only
requisite for admission.
The founding Of an Eye, Ear. and
Throat Hospital in Washington. was
largely due 10 the efforts OF Or. oliver L
Belt. VINO had been connected with
the Presbyterian Eye. Ear. and Th-oa,
Hospital I'm Baltimore. When ne start.
ed practice in Washington Immediate
~ he saw the necessity for like Insti-
tuition in this city
On May .. 1896. DR.. Belt met in his
Chce with brother practitioners. Drs
W II. Wilmer. J. II. Bryan. T. Morris
Murray. who discussed the feasibility
Of establishing such a hospital. Active
interest was expressed in the project.
and Drs. Frank Hyatt and IS. II. Fox
were asked TO assist in the work
II was thought best TO have the hos
pital under the auspices Of come
church, thus arOusing greater personal
feeling in its favor So a clergy meet
ing Of the new diocese Of Washington.
then in session. was memorialized
Bishop Satterlee and prominent
Churchmen promptly adopted and in
dorsed the movement. on October 26.
1895. and accepted the proposal TO have II
under the charge Of the Episcopal
Church. though open. Of course. TO mem
bers Of other communions.
In the meantime, Mrs Phoebe Hearst
was appealed 20. She became Interested.
and promised Il liberal subscription TO
its support. Others pronered aid. and
on January is. 1897. the institution was
Incorporated A board OF governors,
medical board, and board OF lady
managers were organized
A home for the hospital was found I'm
leased house, at Fifteenth and l.
Streets. This was open for the recep-
tiOn OF patients on April 7. 1897 The
first year, 800 patients visited the hos
pitaL thus practically demonstrating its
need.
For several years the work continued
in the inadequate quarters, with good
success. But II was seen that a regu-
lar hospital building was necessary TO
carry out its full purpose.
Soon quiet plan began 10 materlaIize
70 try TO build this necessary permanent
home. 1t met with favor and In 1902
a site was purchased at ll47 Fifteenth
Street northwest. One year later. I'm
1905 $4,000 had been contributed toward
the new hospital. Enough had been Sc
cured by April to commence building
through the kindness of Mrs John g
Parke. a devoted churchwoman.
On June 8. 1903, the cornerstone was
laid by Bishop Satterlee. a large audi |
ence being present. Addresses we're
made by the bishop, the Hon. Henry II !
+. mcfarland. and the Rev. DR. II II |
McKim.
Today. the hospital Is completed. and |
furnished. largely through the endCaVC |
ors OF the board of lady managers. |
through the ci;y parish churches
The medical board Of the hospital Is |