Officers and trustees for the Minnesota Hospital for the Insane. William Schimmel is seated at left and Rev. Aaron H. Kerr is seated at right. Addison L. Sackett is the seventh man from the left in the back row. Schimmel and Sackett were prominent businessmen in St. Peter.
This early photograph of the St. Peter State Hospital was taken at a time when the hospital complex appeared to be housed in a single large building. A fire in November of 1880 destroyed the north wing of the complex, shown here to the right of the large stairway at the main entrance.
In the early 1880s, several attempts were made in St. Cloud to meet the growing need of provisions for medical care. Dr. A.C. Lamothe Ramsay, lately graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago, began practice in St. Cloud in 1882. He and the sisters petitioned the city council for funds to help them erect a three-story hospital. When these funds for a hospital were not forthcoming, Dr. Ramsay, in 1885, opened one on his own in Joseph Pendel's newly constructed home. Because he soon found that he could not run his own hospital and at the same time take care of his regular practice, Dr. Ramsay persuaded the sisters to take over hospital work. The community, under the leadership of Mother Scholastica Kerst, was quick to take up the challenge. At first they decided to add a third floor and renovate St. Agnes Academy in St. Cloud (which had closed in 1880) to refit it for hospital use. However, in December, 1885, the sisters purchased a newly erected building on Ninth Avenue from John Kropp for $2,000 and by February announced the opening of the hospital under the name of St. Benedict's Hospital (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 251-254).
In 1887, two years after starting a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota, St. John's Abbey gave the sisters the minor seminary which was part of the monks' St. Clement Priory building complex of church, rectory and school in Duluth. Encouraged by the success of their hospital in St. Cloud, the sisters converted the seminary to a hospital and named it St. Mary's Hospital (2nd building on the right ). The hospital was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Benedictine sisters in Duluth when they branched off from St. Benedict's Convent, St. Joseph, MN, to form an independent convent in Duluth in 1892 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
As early as 1878 while prospecting for a site to establish a college for men in the Dakota Territory, Abbot Alexius Edelbrock, OSB, became aware of the need for a hospital in the still undeveloped area of Mandan and Bismarck. In 1885 he bought the Lamborn Hotel in Bismarck and succeeded in interesting Mother Scholastica Kerst in converting it to a hospital. It was a challenge to change the settlers' prejudice against hospitals as institutions for the wayward and shiftless. However, after five years and with the expertise of Dr. E. pageQuaine in surgery and Sister Boniface Timmers, OSB, in administration, the hospital gained favor and grew from a primitive institution to one of the finest hospitals in the land. With the help of a donation from St. John's Abbey, the Benedictine sisters were able to repay the abbey for the debt incurred by the original purchase and they named the hospital St. Alexius. By 1913, they were able to build a new hospital and to organize a school of nursing there (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 126-137).
Several patients are recuperating in the 10-bed ward at Saint Marys Hospital. A large spittoon is located in the center of the room surrounded by beds and wooden dressers. A crucifix and religious paintings are hung on the wall. The two nurses are Sister Joseph Dempsey and Sister Constantine Poutal.
Street view of the B Building at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. The photograph was taken from the present corner of Eighth Street and Tenth Avenue. Modern Elliot Park is still Elliot Farm. The barb wire fence at the edge of the farm's pasture is visible in the photograph.
The interns' dining room at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. A serving girl is posed behind one of the chairs. There is a silver bell at the head of the table to allow the diners to ring for service during the meal. The profusion of candles on the sideboard indicates that the interns were not frequently allowed to use the gas chandelier hanging above the table.
By 1889 the increased patient rate at St. Benedict's Hospital forced the sisters to look for larger quarters. John Coates and Daniel H. Freeman offered the sisters a five-acre site on the east side of the Mississippi River near the reformatory. The following year, because they were assured that a bridge, road, and even a streetcar line would connect that site with St. Cloud proper, the sisters built a three-story, up-to-date hospital there. Upon Bishop Otto Zardetti's request, it was named St. Raphael's Hospital. For ten years they labored against odds to make this venture a success in spite of the fact that the transportation facilities never materialized. When it became obvious that the site was unsatisfactory, the sisters planned to build another St. Raphael's Hospital (II), this time back on Ninth Avenue next to the site of their first hospital, St. Benedict's Hosptial (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, McDonald, pages 256-257).
Image includes two, two horse drawn vehicles and man standing beside bicycle. Mr. Orr near bicycle; Mr. McFadden (hospital farmer); Bert Hoxie and Laura Titus in wagon. Mr. Titus and nursing staff in carriage.
This photograph shows the sickroom in the Lower Flat South unit of the St. Peter State Hospital. An old wheelchair can be seen to the right of the fireplace. A note on the reverse of the photo states that the photo was taken prior to 1900.
First steam sterilizer in More hospital in Eveleth; replaced in 1937 with an electric model; framed diagram of this equipment is hanging on the wall of the room
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This photograph shows the main building at the St. Peter State Hospital. The cupola is on the Center building. The North Flats portion of the building is to the right of the cupola.
Mrs. Sandford and 5 year-old Lucy Gray, of DeSmet, South Dakota read a book in Lucy's room at Saint Marys Hospital. Paper chains, each link representing one of Lucy's new friendships formed while at the hospital, decorate the screen in the background.
Surgery Room B at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. The large window would have allowed an ample supply of natural light to illuminate the room during a surgery.
This photograph shows two nurses tending patients on the second floor of the Center building at the St. Peter State Hospital. The room has been decorated for Christmas.
This photograph of buildings at the St. Peter State Hospital has the date March 7, 1900 written on the reverse side of the photo. Another note there refers to a fire at two o'clock in the morning. The rear of the Center building can be seen at the far right of the photo.
The medical and nursing staff of The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis are posed in front of their horse drawn ambulance. The nurses on each end wearing striped blouses are nursing students. It was common during this era for nursing students to supply the bulk of nursing care in hospitals.
Formal front entrance to the nurses' dormitory at The Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis. In the early twentieth century, nursing students lived on the hospital grounds. The parlor seen in the photograph would have been reserved for leisure time and entertaining special guests.
Nurse Amanda Porter (left) is receiving instructions from The Swedish Hospital School of Nursing superintendent Ida C.L. Isaacson (right). The lush furnishings of the superintendent's office in addition to her non-nursing uniform wardrobe indicate the power of her position at the School.
Nurses Eleanor Fundberg (standing) and Signe Lindstrom (sitting), both members of The Swedish Hospital School of Nursing class of 1902, are delivering medicines to patients at The Swedish Hospital on floor 3A.
An operation at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis during the early twentieth century. The nurse at the head of the patient, The Swedish Hospital School of Nursing class of 1902 graduate Elsie Nelson, is administering anesthesia.
Hallway in the Old Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis. Following the construction of a new hospital, this building became the Alpha Dormitory for The Swedish Hospital School of Nursing.
The staff physician's dining room at The Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis. The linen tablecloth, fresh flowers and crystal on the sideboard were special features not seen in the nurses' dining room.
Nursery on Floor 4A at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. Notice the small portable heat lamp and thermometer attached to the long crib against the wall.
This coal furnace at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis featured two Detroit multiple retort underfeed stokers with two 300 horsepower boilers manufactured by Brothers Weatherbee.
Combination formal dining room and front parlor located in one of the dormitories at The Swedish Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis. Several student nurses are gathered around the piano for entertainment prior to the beginning of the meal.
Small diet kitchen located on the second floor of The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. A patient's tray is resting on the table. Patients were served with an elegant assortment of china and silver.
Failing in their hope to dispose of St. Raphael's Hospital (I) by a sale to the State that was then looking for a location for a women's reformatory, the sisters converted St. Raphael's Hospital (I) to a nursing home. St. Joseph's Home (rear view) served the elderly for 78 years (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, McDonald, pages 261-262).
The reception room in the B Building of The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. Friends and family of hospital patients would have waited here to meet with physicians and medical staff. The marble table, fresh flowers in the crystal vase and carved furnishings are elegant features of the room.
This photograph shows several costumed employees of the St. Peter State Hospital. A variety of forms of entertainment were made available to the hospital patients, apparently including a performance by these employees.
Building at the far left is the former first hospital (St. Benedict's) converted to the nursing school. In 1928, when St. Raphael's Hospital was no longer adequate, the sisters built their fourth hospital in St. Cloud, named St. Cloud Hospital; the School of Nursing was moved to that new site. St. Raphael's Hospital was then converted to a home for the elderly, known as St. Raphael's Rest Home; later it became a retirement center for the Sisters of St. Benedict. Then in 1999, it was purchased by a private organization to serve as a shelter for the poor and homeless called "Place of Hope" (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
This photograph shows the greenhouse at the St. Peter State Hospital. Notes on both the front and back sides of the photo provide extensive information about the greenhouse, including a statement that it was built in 1885. The note also states that additions were made later.
The upper floors of St. Raphael's Hospital II were destroyed by fire in 1905. This was the sisters' third hospital in St. Cloud. With the failure of the hospital site (St. Raphael's I) east of the Mississippi River, the sisters had again faced the burden of financing a hospital; financial aid from the city was not available. In 1900 they had built this hospital of 2+ stories, large enough for 50 patients, next to the site of the first hospital on Ninth Avenue. It was again named St. Raphael's and often referred to as St. Raphael's II. The fire gave the necessary thrust, not only to restore the upper floors, but to expand the hospital. (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, McDonald, pages 257-258).
View showing the exterior of Ruse Hospital. Ruse Hospital was Windom's first hospital and was started in March, 1905. It was used until 1920 as a hospital.
The sun porch in the Farr Pavilion at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis. A student nurse attends to a pediatric patient in the far corner. The plants and ample sunlight coupled with fresh air were believed to be health inducing.
An external view of the Minneapolis City Hospital's East Wing pictured from 7th Avenue South and 5th Street. A horse and carriage is shown waiting in the yard and staff and patients are shown sitting on the balcony.
This photograph shows the main building at the St. Peter State Hospital. The east front of the original hospital building and much of the north wing is visible. The south wing is mostly obscured by trees.
Exterior view of The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. The building was built in 1901. The unappealing exterior is in stark contrast to the hospital's modern and luxurious interior, which featured comfortable furniture and fine architectural detailing. The lace curtains hung in the patients' rooms are visible in this photograph if you look closely.
After the fire in 1905, St. Raphael's Hospital (II) was restored and the 3rd and 4th floors added on; this increased its capacity to 90 beds. The building to the right was then converted from an art/music academy to St. Raphael's Hospital School of Nursing (1908-1928). In 1915 the School of Nursing received state accreditation and in 1928 was moved to the new St. Cloud Hospital. [Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives , McDonald, ppage258-259]
Street view of the Pavilion Building of The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. A nursing student is relaxing on the front porch. The building was constructed in 1906 and later became the Wellesmere Nursing Residence for The Swedish Hospital School of Nursing.
The garden courtyard on the north side of The Swedish Hospital's B Building featured a small sunken pool and several flower beds. The nurses' residence is visible beyond the courtyard wall.
Doctors and nurses perform surgery on a patient in the operating room at the Rochester State Hospital. A group of women (nurses?) are observing the procedure from a gallery area.
Exterior view of Bethany Hospital. Five women are grouped on the front porch. Ella Oftedahl Winger is seated in the center of the group in a white dress.
This photograph shows the large kitchen at the St. Peter State Hospital. Several cooks can be seen in the photo. A postcard version of this photograph has also been included among the Minnesota Reflections website images.
This large Victorian home served as the maid's residence for The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. Notice the proximity of the servant quarters to the hospital itself.
The up-to-date equipment in St. Raphael's Hospital was the pride and joy of the sisters and the medical staff. The operating room was designed for the radically new method of sterilizing everything. Dr. John B. Dunn, who had studied surgery both in Germany and in the eastern U.S., introduced this method in St. Cloud as early as 1893. It had made useless the elaborate surgical equipment for the wet antiseptic or Listerian method used at the first St. Raphael's Hospital I (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, McDonald, pages 257-258).
St. Raphael's Hospital (II) was furnished with latest type of equipment, including dumb waiters, bathrooms and toilets. Rates for health care services were advertised as follows; Accommodation in private room, per week, $9 to $15; Accommodation in double room, per week, $7.00; Accommodation in general ward, per week, $6.00; Beverages, Medicines and Night Watch . . . Extra; Medical Attendance . . . Payments Weekly in Advance. When the illness is likely to be of long duration, a deposit is to be made with the Superioress (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Sisters were being trained for every aspect of health care, including the distribution of medicine. They served as certified pharmacists in their hospitals in St. Cloud, Duluth and Bismarck, and in the sisters' and students' infirmaries at St. Benedict's Convent/Academy in St, Joseph (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
The homey atmosphere of this room served well as the reception area of the hospital and later as a parlor when St. Raphael's Hospital became a nursing home (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Horses and a carriage are parked by the front steps of the main entrance to Saint Marys Hospital. This view shows the original section of the hospital built in 1889 and four additions added between 1893 and 1909
This photograph shows a dining room in Lower Flat North at the St. Peter State Hospital. Sources at the hospital state that the photo was taken in 1910.
This cropped postcard, mounted on black paper, shows the laundry building at the St. Peter State Hospital. Sources at the hospital indicate that it was built in 1900. Beyond the laundry building can be seen the icehouse or cold storage building, which was eventually converted to a machine shed.
Exterior view of the Minnewaska Hospital, a 14-bed, Georgian Revival frame hospital, was built in 1899 by Dr. C.R. Christenson. The hospital moved to a new brick building in 1912. The 1899 Minnewaska Hospital was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.