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A Most Modern Hospital

On this date in 1912, the Dickinson Press announced that the new St. Joseph’s Hospital would be dedicated the following day at three o’clock.

The Bishop, assisted by Fathers Dingnam and Groetschel, would offer prayers as they walked around the outside of the building. They would also be accompanied by altar boys and the choir of St. Patrick’s Church. They would then go inside where the choir would sing hymns followed by an address by the Bishop. The public was invited to attend, after which they could inspect the building.

The dedication of the hospital was called one of the most important events in the history of Dickinson -- the result of two years of planning. The newspaper said it was the most modern medical facility west of St. Paul. It was expected that the modern facility would attract skilled physicians and provide care for people within a radius of 100 miles.

The center and west wings were completed. The Dickinson Fire and Pressed Brick Company provided the nearly one million bricks required. The building was described as absolutely fireproof, without a stick of wood in the construction. Instead, designers used steel beams and reinforced concrete. Every floor was equipped with a firehose.

The hospital was designed with practicality in mind. The newspaper described spacious corridors and an inviting reception area. A ventilation system would assure patients and staff of fresh air without having to open windows. There was a kitchen on every floor. Several of the rooms had private baths. If the patient needed something, each bed had a button to activate a call light to alert the staff. Next to the operating room was a doctor’s preparation room, an X-ray room, and a dark room for developing the negatives. There was also a chapel and a spacious sunroom.

The six sisters who would oversee the hospital arrived from Switzerland on March 22. They had quarters on the first floor. They expected to be ready to accept patients on April 2.

St. Joseph’s Hospital was obtained by St. Alexius Health in 2008. In 2016 it was renamed St. Alexius Health Dickinson, one of twelve facilities in the St. Alexius Healthcare system.

Dakota Datebook written by Carole Butcher

Sources:

Dickinson Press. “St. Joseph’s Hospital Erected at a Cost of $100,000.” Dickinson, ND. 30 March 1912. Page 1.

St. Alexus Health. “Our History.” https://www.chistalexiushealth.org/dickinson/our-history Accessed 15 February 2018

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