Clinton News-Record, 1985-3-27, Page 8WBPPIPSDAY, MARCil.27,1900
Bill Murney, of the Clinton Kinsmen Club, presented Clinton Minor Hockey President
Bob Gibbings with a cheque worth $2,000 on March 6. Mr. Murney said that the money
was raised through various fund raising activities. ( Anne Narejko photo)
Clznto>r Public Hospital o the early years
From modern lights to elevator service
By Patti Winnings •
CLINTON - It's hard t� imagine too many
rural hospitals having a more colorful
history than that of Clinton Public Hospital!
There was Dr. William Gunn ... Dr. Joseph
C. Gandier to mention a few and the un-
forgettable Miss Annette Sinclair , who
graduated in 1922 from the hospital's first
nursing course. She later became night
supervisor, and retired in 1957 as the
hospital superintendent. Miss Sinclair, now
a resident of Huronview, recalls clearly
those early days at the old hospital where
she trained -
"1 was terribly nervous about my inter-
view with Miss Grainger and was surprised
when she quickly accepted me."
Nurses at that time worked on 12 hour
shifts, and the night supervisor's duty was
to oversee the .entire hospital staff, as well
as regular floor duty. Wages at that time
were certainly unattractive by today's stan-
dards. A special duty nurse received just $3
for her day's work.
The nurses' first priority was always to
check on the nursery. Included in their
duties were rinsing out the diapers before
delivering them to the hospital's laundress.
There were no fancy automatic washers or
dryers in those days, and it was a common
sight to see lines of diapers blowing in the
wind behind the hospital! The hospital had
just five beds in the nursery in the early
1930s and in the event of those beds being
filled at one time, baskets were brought into
use. Forty-three babies were born between
March 1, 1931 and Feb. 29, 1932, and births
took place in the patients' rooms as there
were no delivery rooms at this time.
Hospital bed shortages were not uncom-
mon 50 years ago in Clinton, and frequently
Dr. Shaw had to turn away patients.
Miss Sinclair recalls the excitement
among the staff when a new modern light
was, installed in the operating room on the
second floor of the hospital, however the
number of large windows in the room still
provided a great deal of light for operating
surgeons. A dining room for the staff was
located on the main floor and was a part of
the kitchen.
When you read about the cost of X-rays to-
day, one realizes how dramatically charges
have risen in the past 50 years. It was
recorded that a total of $580.80 was charged
for X-rays from March 1, 1931 to Feb. 29;
1932 and of this amount $224.50 was
outstanding at the end of the year! In the an-
nual financial report for this same period
fees to patients were $8,534.74. Some of the
disbursements noted were: butter and eggs
$262.42, flour and bread $192,12, milk and
cream $371.09, fruit and vegetables $33.15,
groceries and provisions $776.13, drugs and
surgical supplies $1,263.86, fuel $926.47, in-
surance $39.00, salaries and wages $3,289,
meat $423.95.
At a board meeting held early in 1932 the
following officers were chosen for the pre-
sent year: hon. president, Miss O'Neil,
president: Mrs. S.L. Lucas, 1st vice presi-
dent: Mrs. J.L. Heard, 2nd vice president:
Mrs. Radford, treasurer: R.E. Manning,
recording secretary: Miss R. Pickett, cor-
responding secretary; Mrs. R.H. Johnson.
On the property committee were Mrs. C.
Cook, Mrs. E. Ward, Mrs. R.A. Robertson.
On the program committee were Miss F.
Cuninghame, Mrs. E. Wendorf, Miss Grant
and Miss Sutter. On the finance committee
were Mrs. Heard, Mrs. Radford, and Mrs.
T. Venner. Finally on the house committee
were Mrs. W.T. Herman, Mrs. W.J. Elliott
and Mrs. W. Seeley.
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•Tragedy struck the hospit- in early 1933
with the death of Mr. Josepire. Gan,. ' er who
died at the age m' 51. Dr. Gandier was born
in Fort Colounge, Quebec. He was the son of
Rev. Joseph Gans "er, a Presbyterian
minister. He studied at Queen's in Kingston
and later finished at the University of
Toronto. uring his time practicing
medicine he became known as one of the
leading surgeons in Western Ontario. His
obituary in the newspaper stated that he
really loved his work because of his great
love for people, "just the ordinary everyday
sort of people we all are." Dr. Gandier once
said that he "came nearer to people than a
man ever could in a large centre." He loved also considered life more wholesome a.open country rather than crowded cities.
sweeter in quiet places"even though he did
enjoy social events and meeting with his
fellows. At a memorial service for Dr. Gan=
dier it was said "that the people could
always count on him and lean on him for •
strength." He would be long remembered
and truly missed.
"Life must go on" and within three weeks
of Dr. Gandier's death Clinton was blessed
with yet another great surgeon. Dr. W.A.
Oakes of Toronto, a graduate in medicine
and surgery purchased the practice and pro-
perty of the late Dr. Gandier. He had been
previously working with a Dr. Galley, a well
known Toronto surgeon, and came .to 'Clin-
ton with his highest recommendations. He
used Dr. Gandier's office to practice
medicine but allowed Dr. Gandier's family
to continue living in the house.
As of February 2, 1933 the hospital
reported they were free of debt paying back
the $5,000 with interest the town had given
them to remodel the McTaggart home!
In 1934 the hospital was remodelled and an
elevator installed. The staff must have bee
overjoyed as now they wouldn't have t�
climb the stairs!
For approximately the past 18 years the
Board of Management had consisted of
women. In 1936 the Board of Management
was taken over by men. The first president
was Dr. J..W. Shaw and the secretary -
treasurer was R.E. Manning.
A black cloud still hung over the Clinton
Public Hospital as they were still faeed with
a bed shortage problem. Dr. Shaw stressed
the need to build a new wing but they lacked
the funds to do such. '
One of the hospital's fund raising ideas
was to hold an annual bazaar in the town
hall. At these bazaars there were booths
' displaying various items such as home bak-
ed goods, crafts, candy, etc. They also held
a rummage sale to raise funds. Another an-
nual event at their bazaar was'a baby show
for hospital born babies only. Judges for the
event were out of town doctors and nurses.
The social committe also put on comedy
plays. One of their plays was titled the
"Blue Bag". Admission to this event was
adults 35 cents, and children 25 cents! •
Would these bazaars and plays such as the
"Blue Bag" raise enough money for their -
needs? To be continued if
Euchre results
CLINTON - A large crowd attended a
euchre party at 'Ontario Street - United
Church on March llth. It was sponsored by
the Evening Unit U.C.W.
The winners were: Lady's High - Mrs.
Frank Thompson; Men's High - Bert Gar-
rett; Lady's Low - Myrtle Taylor; Men's •
Low - Paul Shaddick; Lady's Lone Hands -
Mabel, McAdam; Men's Lone Hands - Ted "
Fothegill; Lucky Numbers - Grace Crich,
Rev. N. Pick.\
Correction
Mrs. Verna Glazier and her partner Vi
Howse were the first prize winners at the
Clinton Legion Euchre Tournament.
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1985 SPRING -
SUMMER BASEBALL -
SOCCER
SCHEDULE MEETING
The Clinton Recreation Committee is
staging an important Baseball -Soccer
Schedule Meeting
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
7:00 P.M.
CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL
Clinton, Ontario
Make certain your organization is
represented. For more information
contact the Recreation Director at 482-
3398.
Your interest is appreciated.
Clinton Recreation Committee '85
Arrtli
Invites...
any fastball team wishing to
join a league to call us.
Team members must be at. least
17 years old to be eligible.
PLEASE CONTACT US
BEFORE APRIL 2nd
IF INTERESTED
CALL 482-9079