Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-27

her husband in the good work Of the
church In the Treasure state. The me-
mortal she left behind her at her death
in 1908 was st. Peters hospital and
Of her it is not, perhaps, too much
/ to say that if it had not been for her
/ efforts that present institution would
not have been put up. Certainly 1t
would not have been established as
early as 1t was.
Established Hospital
This woman, devoted to the affairs
of mankind, was given an excellent
opportunity to exercise her great love
Of humanity when she married that
young Episcopalian minister, the Rev.
Mr.. Brewer, in New York, July 10,
1866. At that time, however, 1t was
hardly possible that she thought she
would some day be called upon TO
come into the west and begin project
which was to occupy most Of her adult
life. Yet that Is what happened, for
in 1880 the Rev. Mr.. Brewer was
elected bishop of Montana and he and
his wife came to Helena In 1881, ar
irving there on Friday, March 20. The
Episcopal diocese Of Montana was, at
that time, without a hospital and 1t
was the hope of the new bishop that
such an institution could be started
Working with the idea in mind Bishop
Brewer Interested several people in the
project and at last a little building
down near the Northern Pacific depot,
known as the Grange, was rented and
the long dreamed of hospital started.
But it was poorly located and not too
we'll equipped and did not prosper.
Feeling that it would be better to have
a location nearer town, small build
ing on North Jackson was then rented
and the new hospital established there. |
The minutes of the early meetings
of those interested in the project
written in a neat, Spencer1an !
hand-are touched every now and then /
with a note Of despair as If they felt I
the task upon which they were en-
barking was a little too large for them. /
Then there came a new influence, /
new light of courage and hope. Mrs. /
Brewer had taken over. The rest Of her I
life was to be devoted to the con-
struction of an excellent hospital IN .
Helena.
Imported First Nurses
She went back to the east and per-
;uaded three capable nurses, Miss
YOUNG. Miss Sperry and Miss Fisher,
10 come to Helena to work in the
-ented building on Jackson street which
vas then st. Peters. Miss Young be-
,ane the first superintendent People
N the east were interested in the
project, largely through the efforts of
Mrs. Brewer, and promised to send
supplies and material. This word they
lept, sending each month huge box
If odds and ends which were always
highly needed. Harriet Brewer had &C
the first step in her cam
)aign-she had obtained good nurses
% carry on the hospital work.
But that was only the first step and
t was necessary almost at once to be-
lin another. Under capable manage
nent, the kind which was rendered by
he three people who came out from
lew Haven. the hospital soon outgrew
is small quarters on jackson street. 1
There were no longer rooms to accom-
nodate patients and the waiting list
vas growing. What was needed was a
lew hospital building which would be-
ong entirely to the parish OF st.
oeter's Mrs. Brewer went to work and
here was no thought in her mind ever
hat she might not accomplish her
purpose. Here and there In Helena she
aiSed money, in small amounts and IN
arge, until she had accumulated 5000 :
or the building fund. Then back east
he went once more, there again to {
interest the friends Of her childhood :
4 her dream. She came back with an
mount to match the 5000 which had
cen raised here. Construction OF the !
oSpital was started and the corner !
tone of the old building-razed two
ears ago-was laid June %, 1887.
Accomplished Gigantic Task !
Miss Young, writing OF that hospital, /
aid: with the exception OF few 8
ooms which were furnished by indt- {
iduals the entire furnishings Of the ]
ospital, all household linens and sup ]
lies were provided through the efforts s
[ Mrs. Brewer" And yet the magni-
Ide OF this gigantic task may almost
e overshadowed by the speed with c
hich she accomplished 1t. After all, q
Irs. Brewer only came here in 1881, (
nd it wasn't until 1888 that the poSsi- c
Ility of q hospital was first discussed. i
was not until 1885 that the first O
uilding was rented and the bishop +
lrned over to Mrs. Brewer the work f
/ going ahead with disqualification. v
wo years later the cornerstone Of the +
lilding which was her dream was laid. o
--14 kH.fv4Ir - IIov-v-faf | n