Evening star., 1951-06-27
Providence Plans New
81 Million Hospital;
Federal Grant Awaited

A new Providence Hospital is
to be built at a probable cost OF
between Sc and So million, pro-
vided pending legislation is passed
authorizing the Government to
contribute up to $2.8 million for
the purpose.
Plans to construct the new 400
bed hospital and nurses home on
la 15-acre tract at Twelfth and
IVarnum streets NE. were disclosed
yesterday at a luncheon, which
was part of the hospitals goth
anniversary observance. The prof.
ect has the full support of the
Most Rev. Patrick A. O'Boyle,
Archbishop of Washington, who
attended a celebration banquet
lat the Kenwood Country Club last
might.
Under preliminary plans out
lined by John A. Reilly, president
Iof the hospitals advisory board,
the Sisters of Charity. who op-
crate the hospital, the city's oldest,
would put up 81 million of the
contemplated cost. This sum
would represent the value Of the
old hospital building and its real
estate at Second and D streets
Sc. the value of the new site,
and about 81 million in cash.
$1.2 Million by ID. C.
The District would contribute
up to $1.2 million. and the balance
|of the approximate cost would
come from the Government as an
outright grant. it was said, if the
Legislation in question passes
Congress.
The pending bill, in effect,
would enable Providence to apply
for Federal assistance. It also
would mean that at least two
other hospitals in the city could
do likewise to acquire new build
ings. These hospitals, it was said,
are Casualty and Sibley. !
A Providence official explained
that the pending legislation
which may be voted on by the
House this week, has the full sup
port of the District Commission
ers and the Hospital Council, as
well as representatives of the
other two hospitals, who appeared
at recent House hearings on the
bill.
This official stressed that with
out Government aid the contem-
plated construction of new
Providence Hospital will be impos-
sible. He even pointed to the pos
sibility that within a few years
the present Providence Hospital
might have to suspend operations
because of antiquated facilities.
Public Fund Drive.
If a Federal grant comes
Through, Mr.. Reilly said, it also
will be necessary to raise another
81 million through a public fund
drive to equip the new structure
when it was completed. He said
Providence "has not asked the
people of Washington for one cent
in it's 80 years of existence, fol-
Improvements or expansion" De.
spite the fact that Embarrassing
campaigns have experienced set
backs in the last few years, he
Expressed confidence this would
succeed.
The Northeast site has been &C.
quired from the Sisters College o1
Catholic University. It is 4.e
miles from the present Providence
location.
Limited Operation in Southeast
Proposed movement of the hos
pitals, through the new construc-
ton, to another part of the city
brought this comment from Mr.
Reilly:
Some have asked us what will
happen to the Southeast section
when the hospital moves to the
Northeast. We are not unmind.
full of our responsibilities to the
fine group of citizens in this area
Our present plans include thu
continuance of limited facilitie.
at the present location"
The Sisters of Charity opened
Providence Hospital on it's present
site in June, 1861, at the request
OF a group of local doctors, to care
!. for the INDECENT sick.
i $50 Doctors Attend.
Present at Kenwood were about
j $50 doctors connected with Provi.
dence in staff or advisory capaci-
ties. Three of them, Drs. William
P. Argy, Paul S. Putzki and Fred
SanderSon, were presented with