Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-25

women at the time Of their greatest
need and a providing of a place for
the sick and injured poor. DR.. Spill
man appeared before the class at the
next meeting and urged upon them
the need of hospital and showed
them the way to accomplish it.
"a public meeting was called subse-
quently at the home of Mrs. Isaac
Mast which many influential citizens
and physicians attended and expressed
approval of the plans. After earnest
consideration and prayer it was re-
solved to inaugurate a movement for
a general hospital if the way opened.
Those who with me passed through
the crucial time will agree that the
way was not only opened to us but
We found after the first steps were
taken that there was no turning back.
November 20, 1892 the Ottumwa
Hospital association was incorporated,
consisting of the members Of the
Mary Thrall bible class which had
been increased to twenty-five.
"The first money raised was from
a supper given in the old Lawrence
building on the corner of Court and
Main streets, February 81, 1893. From
this was raised $219. DR.. Stark paid
the first Is cents for ticket.
1t was soon seen that the people
were interested The movement be-
came popular and broad minded citi-
zens individually and through organi-
cation began to evolve plans to raise
funds for it's furtherance. I will not
take your time to tell of the slow but
certain growth of our hospital, its
struggles for life. the disappointments
and encouragement, the victories of
its supporters.
These were all met with the con-
fidence that the work was of the Lord
and that He would take care of His
own. July IA, 1894, the hospital was
opened in the old Caster residence on
East Main street. This building had
been leased, thoroughly renovated and
fitted with steam heat, water baths,
and furnished at an outlay of about
$1,000. supplemented by donations of
second hand furniture and the COM
plete new furnishing of one private
room by our oldest member, and one
of the most enthusiastic, Mrs. Mast,
at whose home the association held
it's meetings for years.
liz pOoAu was lO1 LuloIO III I'D DC
lection of a superintendent Miss Eliza
beth Trotter, graduate of the train
ing school of Guelph, Canada. She
was peculiarly fitted, both by nature
and experience for this, her chosen
work. Time only verifles and aug
ments this confidence and today she
occupies an honored place in the
hearts of Ottumwas people and enters
upon the enlarged sphere in this new
building with the love and best wishes
of all who know her.
1.-THE training school for nurses is
a monument of her ability and our
graduate nurses maintain by their
faithful service the reputation Of the
school throughout the state.
II will not take your time to recount
the progress of the enterprise which
has had it's result in the erection of
this beautiful and modern hospital
building. You know 1t as well as I do.
1t is very recent history. All honor
to the committee which has carried 1t
drought so successfully.
To-day we rejoice in the realization
of our hopes and joyfully take posses
sion Of this splendid new edif1ce for
our hospital. 1t will stand for many
years as an evidence of the philan-
thropy of Ottumwa citizens This
new structure means to the hospital
association wider opportunity and
heavier responsibility. 1t also means
more work, more faith, more prayer,
more zeal. In the name of the asso-
citation l wish to thank the chairman
of the ways and means committee, j.
B. Sax, for his perseverance in raising
the necessary funds and the chairman
of the building committee, I. N. Mast,
who so wisely and judiciously ex-
pended the same and who freely gave
his personal supervision and wide ex-
perience. l wish also to thank all the
physicians of the city who have unit
eddy upheld the enterprise; the indi-
viduals and organizations that have
furnished beds, private rooms and
wards; every one who has helped in
even the smallest way to bring about
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