Hospital Update

We would like to do a 2-part series on the history of healthcare in Garfield County. Excerpts have been taken from "The History of Healthcare in Garfield County, Washington" written by Ray Cardwell, M.D., a native and PHS graduate of Pomeroy.

"Garfield County's first hospital known as Williams Hospital was established in Pomeroy in 1903. Its location was at the residence of H. Williams on the south side of High Street, second house west from the corner of 6th and High Streets. There were eight beds and the hospital in operated until 1913. During the national influenza epidemic of 1918-1919, the Union Lodge Hall was used as a hospital, site of the present Odd Fellows Hall and Baptist Church.

In 1925, a large residence in the west part of town near Pataha Creek, on the SE corner of 2nd and Columbia was obtained as a hospital. It also had eight beds and patients paid $5 a day for a room, board, and care. This hospital closed at the beginning of WWII because of the non-availability of nurses. Soon, however, the county commissioners planned to set up a design for a county-financed hospital. In 1947, the county commissioners established Garfield County Memorial Hospital to build and maintain. The land on which the hospital was built was donated by Dr. Levi, although he did not practice medicine in Garfield County.

Garfield County Memorial Hospital (GCMH) opened February 28, 1948 with 18 beds and the total construction cost was $129,177.25. The hospital was dedicated in memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice in WWI and WWII.

Much work and time was put into the preparations and readiness of the hospital. Shortly before February 28, the boys from Garfield County Volunteer Fire Department came up and worked all night, dusting down the ceiling and walls, then washing and waxing the floors in the entire building. The next day a crew of about 30 women from all over the county volunteered their services. Paint was scrapped off windows, beds were washed, dressers, all cupboards, windows, and bathroom fixtures were cleaned and they helped ready the rooms for future use.

The afternoon of the twenty-eighth, the first patient was officially admitted, Beverly Bunch, and within a few hours, the first baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bunch whom they named Rebecca Lynn Bunch and was delivered by R. J. Weiland Sr., M.D., fondly known as "Doc Weiland." Fifty-seven babies were born in the hospital between 1948-1949. Before GCMH opened, a few homes in Pomeroy and Pataha were used for maternity patients. Best known of these was the "McKeirnan Maternity Hospital," located on the SE corner of 3rd and High Streets, operated by Florence McKiernan, RN for Dr. Brink. Louisa Cline, a maternity aide, also used her home in Pataha for maternity patients.

The first year of operation was soon completed and from pioneering efforts, cash donations, and economizing, the hospital showed a profit of $3,100, but also a great need for more bed space and room.

The Garfield County nursing home was opened as an addition to the hospital in February 1976. It cost $1.2 million. A contest was held to name the facility. Patty McKeirnan submitted the name "Memory Manor," which was chosen as the winner from among 112 entries. The first resident of Memory Manor was Lenna Scoggin. "Memory Manor" officially became known as the Long-Term Care Unit of Garfield County Memorial Hospital in 1986. Several years later a secured "Gentle Wing Unit" was added in May of 1999 to the nursing home to accommodate dementia patients."