The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-23

Thanks to the generosity OF Mr..
William II. Sprunt, the James Walker
Memorial hospital now has a delightful
home for the nurses and also we'll ar
ranged wards for the colored patients.
The new annex Of the hospital was
formally opened last night and hun
dreds of people went through the
building both yesterday afternoon and
last night and admired it. Many were
ready to become trained nurses at once
so as to have an opportunity of occu-
plying one of the tidy rooms.
The annex cost $4,000, which
amount was given by Mr.. Will
liam FL. Sprunt for the purpose Of
erecting a building that would provide
wards for the colored patients and the
second floor be used as the nurses
home. A building of this kind was bad
ly needed. The nurses formerly had to
occupy rooms in the main building
which often made it unpleasant. The
| board of managers, b surgeon lit
charge, the nurses. in fact all who
went over the annex were delighted
with the manner in which it is ar
ranged. The plans were drawn by Mr.
! Charles McMillen, a we'll known archi4
tect of this city, and he supervised the
| construction of the building. The sec
| ond floor has no connection whatever
with the ground floor and is entered
only from the main building by means
of a very broad hallway leading from
the main hospital building to the an
mex. This hallway has been fitted up
as a u parlor and the floor is covered
with rugs and comfortable wicker
chairs fill the 1t is for the use
of the nurses. The annex is built in
form Of a t and or either side of the
hallway are the 10 nurses rooms, which
are neatly furnished with a bureau,
rocking chair, white enamel iron bed
stead and a small table. At one end Of
the building on the second floor is a
sitting room which is prettily furnish
cd. This room was furnished by Mrs.
J. c. Wise and Miss Sarah Kenan.
On the first floor are several large
wards and also four private rooms to
be used for patients who wish to pay
4 hS4O ~ CAoo u wv IL S4o oh SAh%
gency room and adjoining this is he
drug room. Patients can be brought
into this portion Of the building with
out coming near any part of the other
building.
The wards on the first floor have not
yet been put into use and the exercises
last night were held in one Of the large
ward rooms, which was filled with peo-
pie. The room was prettily decorated
with palms, ferns and cut flowers. In
attendance were all the members Of the
board of managers and the majority OF
the members of the board of aldermen
The programme was carried out as pre-
viously announced and the exercises
were certainly a success. DR.. JOSEPH
Alderman and Miss Edith Eaton, The
head nurse, have every reason to be
proud of the class which has just grad.
uated.
The exercises were opened by prayer
offered by Rev. N. NJ. Watson. A uie
composed of Mr.. H. K. Holden, Mr.
Charles McMillen and Mr.. Robert Fow'
Ter, rendered several selections which
were greatly enjoyed.
In declaring the annex formally OPP.
ened Mr.. w. III. Sprunt made the fol.
lowing talk, which was received with
hearty applause:
This auspicious occasion is one we
! have been looking forward to witt
hope and great satisfaction. 1t il
pleasing to know that in this busy anC
progressive age which u town has
fully shared, this cause that brings
) us together tonight is n Of the great
t est agencies of Our advanced civiliZa'
ton: / refer to the care of the sicl
and their restoration to health. 1t j:
indeed a great work and a preciou;
privilege to have a part in it.
r I'm behalf of the board of manager!
2 we wish to express u appreciation Il
Il generous public for its support ant
to the noble members of the King!
Daughters, and other visiting ladiei
eve ready with a word of encourage
ment. To our ministers of he gOspe
who have been jealous in their atten
tons to the sick and dying; to oul
physicians and to any and all wh'
have given of their time or money.
1.-The usefulness of the hospital ha'
increased rapidly. 1t is gratifying t.
the watchful superintendent, his staff
and the faithful nurses, to see thei
labOrs rewarded and it will be the ain
of every one connected with the insti
tuition to make it more and more tn
pride of u community.
ITO Mrs. w. L. Parsley we are i'll
debted in a large measure for the fur
nishing of the building, PARTICULAR,
: this floor. devoted to our colored pee
d pie, which she gave in memory of tn,
Y late beloved nurse Evelina Farmer
y whose useful and faithful life Mrs
= Parsley desires to commemorate.
1T is with pleasure to US who re