Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/700

 614 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY undenominational, open to all physicians, and to every one in need of help along its lines. It -does a large charity work, is free from debt and virtually self supporting. The object is to provide a home, proper medical aid and nursing for the sick and suffering of all classes. In 1906 J. C. Pierce made a bequest of $10,000 to the hospital, and it was used to erect the memorial wing which bears his name. Its perfectly appointed and equipped surgical operating room makes the Red Wing City Hospital a model of beauty and utility, occupying the finest location in this city. Several rooms in this large and fire-proof building were furnished by friends, mostly as memorials, and are known as the Lorana Park Foot, the Agnes Pratt, the A. AY. Putnam, the Pauline Hall, the Har- riet Sheldon, the A. AY. Swanson and the Langton rooms. Other rooms furnished by the hospital make a capacity of thirty-five beds. In 1905 the hospital was deeded in the city and thus be- eame municipal, the controlling management remaining the same as before, in charge of the trustees of the association. By the will of the kite E. H. Blodgett, the hospital received a bequesl valued at $12,000. Mr. Blodgett was the first president of tlh' association, and held thai office at the time of his death in 1909. He was deeply interested in the hospital and always so- licitous i<> increase its success and helpfulness. A part of this legacy will be ^srA for this purpose, and the future of this insti- tution should be an object of gratification and pride to the citi- zens of Red Wing. St. John's Hospital and Training School is described in the German chapter which appears in this work. Charities. Many instances have occurred in the history of this town, when the abundant hospitality and kindness of its citizens towards the unfortunate strangers who have been from time to time thrown upon them, has been remarkably shown. A large number of persons were landed from a steamer in the sum- mer of 1854, at the levee, who were afflicted with the cholera, and they were as tenderly cared for by the citizens as if they had been near relatives. Dr. AY. AY. Sweney, always ready to lend his skill and time to relieve the afflicted, rendered good service on that occasion to the sick ones and told the healthful how to avoid the. epidemic. Out of seventeen cases, ten recovered and went to their destination in the country. The last occasion when the cholera patients "were left at this port was in 1868. Dr. C. N. Hewitt, at that time secretary of the State Board of Health, had become a resident of Red AVing. lie immediately visited them at the levee and rendered them the proper medical aid. At the expense of the city and under the direction of the city marshal, a house was provided on the island