Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-02
AN INTERESTING BIT
OF HISTORICAL DATA
Augusta General Hospital Building
Was Erected 80 Years Ago as Home
for Gen. Alfred Rednston, Angus
ta's First Mayor

In these days Of hlydeyeloped,
scientific. ireproof hospital construc-
ton. only few residents of Augusta
are definitely aware that the present
building used by the Augusta General
hospital was built 80 years ago.
Besides enabling the citizens Of Au-
susta to aid the government in car
ing for soldiers requiring hospital
treatment, as the hospital did in the
Spanish American war. the big objec-
tive Of the coming $4,000 money rails
ing movement is to provide an addi-
ton to the present hospital plant so
that the patients will be housed in a
modern building safe from fire hazard.
The structure now housing the hos
pital. 1t was related by member Of
constructed in 1887 by General Reding-
ton, Augustus first mayor. as his home
Thtrty-one years later, through a
fund raised by ST. Marks parish, the
building was bought and became ST.
GATHERINGS school for girls. In 1900,
when the closing Of the girls school
put the building into the market, the
hospital acquired it and moved from
its first home. house on Crosby
street formerly owned by Mrs. F. ".
Kinsman. here the ho.pital had been
founded.
After Il years service as the home
Of the general hospital, the former
school hall has largely outgrown its
usefulness a s hospital plant. On &C
count Of the extreme overcrowded con
ditions. K has been difficult and in
many cases impossible to make neces-
sary repairs. All available space has
so frequently been occupied by pa
tients that workmen were unable to do
the work.
In connection with the hospitals offer
TO take care of Augusta and kennebeC
county soldiers sent back from Euro
rean battlehelds for hospital treat
ment here, II was recalled by officers
Of the institution that in the Spanish
American war the hospital did con-
! sricuous work in treating the boys in
/ blue.
| Soon after the return Of the ist
Maine Regiment from Chickamauga
the field hospitals at Camp Powers be-
came crowded to overlooking with sol
! contracted in the South The general
hospital was called on to help relieve
the situation, Just as the government
has asked it to care for the overflow
of our soldiers returnd from Europg
/ who cannot be admitted by the chain
/ Of government hospitals to be built in
4 this country.
/ Carpenters and plumbers, WORKING
| through a Sunday made additional
rooms ready to admit tho SOLDIER
| Members of the Ladies Aid Society
which is conspicuous in the present
campaign. being represented by five
/ full teams, rallied Loyalty to the hos
( pitfalls enc Urgency call. taking bedding
night robes and other supplies TO the
/ institution.
/ For almost three months the institu
ton was given over almost entirely &c
the boys in blue. The institutions en-
ergies were devoted to the critically i'll
i.soldiers, of whom many recovered. The
/ first deaths in the Augusta General
/ hospital were of soldiers.
/ The experience in 1895 is a graphic
reminder Of how necessary to the con-
tinued effective work of the hospital
the proposed wing has become. The
! campaign will he the means not only OF
! helping the institution meet the city
and countys civilian needs. mem
her of the executive committee pointed
cut but in addition will enable the
people Of Augusta to give effective
support to the government in the sue
CeGsful prosecution of the war
Besides. nc added. it will mean that
those soldiers of Kennebec county, who
are wounded in France and sent back
to this country for treatment may be
cared for right here at home among
their friends and by devoted physicians
and nurses in the new addition to he
made possible through the coming one
week subscription-seek drive.
Charles P. Kinsman yesterday agreed
to cooperate in the coming Prosper
ity parade which will precede the cam
paign. by serving a 8 chief of the staff
Of aides Of Blaine Owen. grand mar
shall of the procession, in which the $50
or moro spirited men and wo-
men Of Kennebec county, who are t.
.-eek subscriptions to the fund will
march