Hospital

In the center is Merle Clason, Hospital Administrator. On her left are two nurses. On her right are her parents, her mother did cooking and her father did the maintenance. However, I was told by Lois Killackey (Merle's cousin and source of photo) that Merle's father preferred to walk around in a suit than do maintenance.

In 1931, following a particularly bad series of accidents along the highway, Dr. RJ Walker, who had an office on the Village Square in Saugatuck, called a meeting of area citizens to consider the advisability of starting a community hospital.

The original site for the hospital was to be the former Michael J. Spencer homestead, located on a hill overlooking the new highway (Blue Star Hwy.). His children donated the homestead after his death some years earlier. Carl Hoerman of Saugatuck was the architect to plan the renovation of the old building.

William R. Takken was named chairman of the hospital committee. Contributions other than money were to be handled by Mrs. Faith Nevins (Sarah Kirby's daughter), "in this way articles not absolutely necessary can be averted."

The committee set to work, but the country was in the midst of a depression and the money came in slowly. The committee met on October 27 at the Fruit Growers Bank, according to the newspaper account written by Dr. Walker:

"The different financial committees gave their reports. These reports were so encouraging that considering the suddenness with which this proposition was brought before the community, and the unusually bad year, everybody felt the proposition could surely be carried through in the near future."

"To make certain the work would not be delayed from any cause, after starting it, the committee advised postponing everything for at least six months."

In the meantime, Mrs. L. Faith Nevins, a nurse who assisted in Dr. Walker's office, announced that she would turn her family home, the Kirby House on Center St. into a three-bed hospital. Mrs. Harold VanSyckel was asked to form a woman's group to help equip the new hospital with trays, dishes, silver and linen. Local church groups began sewing patients' bedgowns.

The money that had been set aside to refurbish the Spencer house was used to assist Mrs. Nevins, and the Spencer homestead was sold to become the first Tara Restaurant.

During the depression the little hospital had a difficult time and in 1934 foreclosure by the bank was imminent, but averted at the last minute. In the summer of 1933 the building was damaged by fire.

Following the administration of Mrs. Nevins, Mrs. Eva Nelson came to work at the hospital, and served as administrator for several years. She observed that of the first 23 babies born in the hospital, 18 were boys.

In 1935 there was a community fund drive to purchase the building from the Saugatuck Depositors' Corporation which held the title, although the plan was to "rent" it back to Mrs. Nelson and continue its use for hospital purposes, because "at present no other building suitable can be purchased as reasonably." The committee set to raise $8,000. The first $6,000 was the purchase price of the structure, with an additional $2,000 for an emergency fund. By December of 1935 the committee had $3,000 in pledges, $1,000 in actual money, and felt that the balance of $5,000 could be easily raised in the next five years so they went ahead with the purchase, and expansion of the building into a six-bed hospital.

In January of 1936, the Community Hospital was incorporated as a non-profit organization by the Michigan Securities Commission.

In July of 1938, the first board of trustees was elected to serve as governing board for the hospital, although the hospital continued to be leased to a registered nurse-administrator. It was not until 1952 that the hospital board took over active management and hired an administrator.

By 1957 the old Kirby House, by now expanded to 14 beds, with a few others squeezed in occasionally, was inadequate as a hospital and the State of Michigan served notice that unless steps were taken to decrease its deficiencies, the Community Hospital would be denied a license.

In July, 1957, the community launched a drive for $250,000 to build a new hospital just off the highway on the southern edge of Douglas. Theme song of the effort was a parody on the popular song: "This Ol' House."

"This ol' house has many problems
It's inadequate, they say;
To fulfill its duties rightly
It needs very much more space.
This ol' house has served its purpose,
And we know she'll wish us well
When we more to our new
quarters
She will bid us fond farewell..."

By August 16 volunteer workers had brought in $254,000 worth of pledges with a few more to go.

An oldtimer of the area commented that the campaign had been the greatest "do it yourself" project that this section has ever known. "No extra taxes, no government handouts, just good old-fashioned community spirit, working together for mutual benefit."

In 1960 a new 30-bed $273,000 hospital opened its doors for the first time. Moving day was March 12, 1960 with a steady stream of station wagons and trucks from the old building to the new.

Due to changes in State regulations, the Community Hospital was forced to close in 1985.