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Times-Advocate, 1979-06-13, Page 36Gift built nurses7 home Soon after the South Huron Hospital opening in 1953, it became apparent accommodation for the nursing staff was inadequate. A week after the hospital board an­ nounced the urgency of this need in the spring of 1957, a generous gift was received from Dr. James Bell. When he presented the hospital with a donation of $35,000 the board lost little time paving the way for the construction of a nurses residence on the property directly across the street from the hospital, formerly owned by Dr. Steiner. Donations from district organizations and families, along with provincial and federal grants met the remainder of the cost of $60,000.00. The building included two apart­ ments for the superintendent and her assistant and 12 individual rooms for nurses. It contained a small kitchen, laundry room, common living room and quarters for maintainance supplies and a furnace room. When South Huron Hospital started its R.N.A. training program in 1963, the residence housed the trainees. However, when the department of health phased out this course, there was no longer a need to house student nurses in training. In keeping with the gift for the building provided by Dr. Bell, himself a dentist, it was converted to a dental clinic and provides income toward the operation of the hospital. Wing alleviated overcrowding A few short years after South Huron hospital had been built overcrowded conditions prevailed. The board decided a new addition was imperative and planned a new wing to the east of the existing facilities . This 16-bed addition, costing $165.00 opened June 25, 1961. Guest speaker was the Hon Matthew Dymond, M.D., Ontario minister of health. Other officials taking part were board chairman, Ray Morlock, Rev. A. E. Holley, minister of Grand Bend United Church, Mayor R. E. Pooley, Huron warden Ivan Forsyth and Huron MLA C. S. MacNaughton. Highlighting the new wing was its circular walk and lattice front piece. The addition provide four, four-bed wards, bringing total capacity of the hospital to 52 adults. The addition also provided a solarium, medicine room, conference room, treatment quarters and storage facilities. A third nurses’ station was provided where the corridors of the original and the new buildings meet. In the full Basement, the board provided for a record library, a large board room, laboratory, men’s and- ladies’ locker rooms, laundry and a small kitchen. At the same time, part of the kitchen was renovated and a dining room was added. A crowd of an estimated 500 toured the new facilities under the guidance of board and staff members. The women’s auxiliary served refresh­ ments. Anyone can be a heart specialist. The only requirement is loving somebody. A Papadakis Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Page 6 DIGNITARIES ATTEND RESIDENCE OPENING: The nurses7 residence, built across from the hospital, opened June 8, 1958. Taking part in the ceremonies were: Ulric Snell, Alice Claypole, administrator; Jimmy Sharrow, first baby born at S.H.H.; architect Charles Gillen; contractor C.A. McDowell, Mayor R.E. Pooley, Huron MPP C.S. MacNaughton; health minister Mackinnon Phillips; board chairman V.W. Tuckey; Huron MP Elston Cardiff; North Middlesex MPP William Stewart; the Rev. Samuel Kerr; Huron warden Jack Morrisey; RCAF Centralia Commanding Officer A.G. Kenyon. REGISTERED NURSING ASSISTANTS — In 1963 the hospital commenced a Registered Nurses Assistants' course, and at that time was the smallest hospital in Ontario to be granted permission to do so. The course is given under the College of Nursing, Toronto, and the instructress is Mrs. Jack Delbridge, Exeter. Forty-one students have com­ pleted the course successfully and 12 are now in training. The first class is shown here at their graduation. Back row, left to right: Marlene MacGregor, Marion Snider, Joyce McFalls, Mrs. Delbridge, Margaret Porter, Sheila Armstrong, Donna Thiel and Ruth Campbell. Seated: Shirley Armstrong, Cheryl Long, Marilyn Moody, June Lynn and Lynda Button. Miss Snider is still employed at S.H.H. Area residents head board South Huron Hospital board has had 22 chairmen over the years. The position has been held by different area residents. Mrs. J.G. Dunlop, whose husband was on the original board, is the only woman to have held the position. She served in 1966. A complete list of chairmen in the past 26 years is as follows: 1953 ...............................Elmer Bell 1954 ..........................Luther Penhale 1955 ..................................Ulric Snell 1956 .......................Elgin Rowcliffe 1957 ...................J. Albert Traquair 1958 ...........................B.W. Tuckey 1959 _ . . . . William Etherington 1960 .......................W. G. Cochrane 1961 ..............................Ray Morlock 1962 ...........................R.E. Russell 1963 ...........................W. C. Spencer 1964 ...........................Douglas Cook 1965 .......................Ivan Kalbfleisch 1966 ...................Mrs. J. G. Dunlop 1967 ...........................E. R. Hopper 1968 ...................................J- Pryde 1969 ...............................W. McBride 1970 ...............................W. McBride 1971 .....................................S. Frayne 1972 .....................................J. Kneale 1973 .....................................J. Kneale 1974 ....................................H. Hayter 1975 ....................................H. Hayter 1976 ......................................C. Cann 1977 ......................................C. Cann 1978 ..............................Dr. G. Leitch THE EAST WING — containing 16 additional beds, was added to South Huron Hospital in 196'1 to alleviate overcrowded conditions. The Hon. Matthew Dymond, M.D., Ontario minister of health, was guest speaker when the wing, shown above, was opened.