April 21, 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of Orillia’s first purpose-built hospital. While Orillia's hospital was first established in 1908, it operated out of a modified home (Dunn Residence) from 1908 to 1922, until an actual hospital was built (approximately where the emergency department currently sits). The 1922 opening also coincided with the re-naming of the hospital from Orillia General Hospital to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.
Over the next few days, we will publish stories - as they appeared - from The Packet & Times about the opening. This article was published Thursday, April 27, 1922.
---
At the nurses’ graduation exercises on Friday evening, Miss Nellie Johnston gave the following short sketch of the work done in the old Orillia General Hospital, which is now being merged in the Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and of which she has been Superintendent for the whole 14 years of its existence.
When one is busy, time flows rapidly and it seems almost impossible that 14 years have passed since I took charge of the new General Hospital of Orillia, on the 28th day of May 1908. Dr. Bruce Smith, Inspector of Hospitals in Ontario, formally opened the hospital and the first day saw the admission of our first patient, a Mr. Alex Gillespie, who had his arm badly mangled in an accident.
The original building had accommodation for 18 patients. Since the day of opening the number receiving daily treatment has never dropped below three and has risen as high as 50. The first year saw 339 patients pass through the hospital and of this number, three were births and 14 deaths. Last year, nearly 900 patients received treatment, and we had 106 births and 32 deaths. Please dwell on the difference. Altogether, we had a total of 7,333 patients, 663 births and 315 deaths in the 14 years.
On October 20th, 1909, the Nurses’ Home on Mississaga Street was purchased. Then, increased demand for accommodation during the typhoid epidemic made it necessary to close in the veranda of the hospital, and on January 20th, 1917, the property adjoining the nurses’ home was opened as a Queen Mary Maternity Hospital.
The first patient to be admitted was Mrs. Elsham of Orillia. The Queen Mary made it possible to admit more patients than formerly, many coming from the surrounding country, in fact, as far away as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Port Arthur, Chicago and other places.
It has not been all sunshine for we have come through serious epidemics of typhoid and two of the flu, where the nurses were smitten and we had to battle short-handed with disease in a way that tested our capacity and resourcefulness.
Altogether, 57 nurses have graduated from this hospital. Of this number, seven are married and three are dead.
Miss Glenny, Miss C.M. Robinson, Miss E. Wood, Miss L.L. Hartt have successfully held the position of Assistant Superintendent for three years. Miss Wood and Miss M.E. Harvie have had charge of the Queen Mary, and Miss K. Sanderson is in charge at the present time. Miss Glenny and Miss Bradley have successfully held the position of Night Supervisor.
I have to thank the Board for the pleasant relations that have always existed between us, also the medical staff, the clergy, and all who have visited the sick and from whom we have received kindness and consideration, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Hospital Board and through them the women of the Town who have responded so splendidly in sewing for the new Hospital.
This is the last report from the old Hospital and while we are glad to move into more modern quarters, we have had many good times here that make us think tenderly, and lovingly of the old. As for myself, it has been my home, it has been my life. Can I say more?
