Times-Advocate, 1983-11-09, Page 311
Lions resolution starts campaign
September 8, 1949, the Lion's Club
passed a resolution to start an all out
campaign for funds to build the
hospital. At that time, the estimated
cost of the hospital was $210,000.00.
It was thought that government
grants would furnish around
$91,000.00, leaving a balance to be
subscribed, locally, through personal
contributions. In that era, it was a lot
of rroney.
R.N. Creech, chairman of the
finance committee, laid out the
plans. He suggested a system
whereby 30 persons would be ap-
proached for $1,000 each. When the
$1,000 donor group was exhausted,
similar groups would be approached
for lesser amounts.
The first such donation came from
Eric Mcllroy, Grand Bend; several
others soon followed, and the Lion's
Club put up $5,500 for campaign'
expenses.
By the time a meeting was called,
a month later, to lay out plans for a
district canvass with representatives
from Exeter, Stephen, Hay an,':
Usborne townships, contributions
had already reached $38,000, and by
December 1, the campaign had sped
past the half way mark.
Subscribers were asked to make a
cash donation immediately, sign a
note for April 1, 1950, and another
one to finish off their pledge for April,
1951.
Everyone, including all the service
organizations got into the act. Even
the personnel at Centralia Training
Base contributed. The Airmen's
Wives Auxiliary was among the first
to present a cheque to the
assocation.
The fund grew quickly; every week
the Times -Advocate published the
names of subscribers and the
amounts pledged. By March 16,
1950, just six months after the cam-
paign was launched, 80 percent of
the fund had been promised.
HAPPY CANVASSERS hold the first donations to the hospital's drive for funds,
a $5,500 gift from the Exeter Lions club and a $1,000 personal donation from
the late Eric Mcllroy of Grand Bend. Left to right are Charles MacNaughton,
the Izte James Bowey, Lions secretary, R.E. Russell, then president of the
l ions, R.N. Creech, W.G. Cochrane, E.D. Bell and A.J. Traquir.Photo by
Doerr
Your Achievement
is one of which we all can be proud
Best Wishes
HWY 83 - 31/2 MILES EAST OF EXETER
0 ABATTOIR end
MEAT MARKET
PHONE 235-1123
Page 10
Setbacks, frustration and then, a light
June 1950, nine months after the
canvass started, funds approached
the $100,000 mark. Spirits were high,
the prospects for the hospital look-
ed bright and secure...but setbacks
and gloom were in the offing.
The Hospital Association called a
general meeting of subscribers to
discuss the site of the new facility. It
was unanimously agreed to build the
hospital at Riverview Park, the site
having been offered by the Exeter
council. Shortly after, the members'
spirits were further bolstered when
news was received that the Ontario
provincial grant of $35,000 was ap-
proved. Not much wonder optimism
was at an all time high. It was not to
last, however.
Dissention was brewing in the
wings, and early in 1951, a group of
concerned citizens collected a peti-
tion of 550 vetoing Riverview Park as
the site. At a public meeting, E.E.
Buswell, pleaded on behalf of the
petitioners, not to build the hospital
on the park site and deprive citizens
of much used and needed recrea-
tional grounds. Town council was
urged to reverse their decision to sign
over the deed. In the face of the col-
lective oppostion, the Association
dropped its plans for the park site.
Helge Jensen — local builder
Now, not only did it not have a
place to put its building, but when
tenders were issued for construction
the price had soared to over
5300,000, 50 percent more than the
first estimated cost The hospital
could not possibly be built without
further financing.
Other building sites were sought,
but all negotiations failed. The pro-
ject which, a short time before, had
been striding ahead, slowed down
considerably. The four year old
dream was in danger of
disintergrating.
A light at the end of
the tunnel
In the fall of 1951, the Carling
Estate on Huron Street came on the
market and although it seemed a
possible location for the hospital,
rapidly rising costs were beginning to
cause some members to wonder if
Please turn to page 12
Conjra1u/aIionJ
to
South Huron
Hospital
on your
30th
Anniversary
We're pleased to have served
South Huron Hospital for the past four
years and appreciate the excellent
co-operation we have received
London Hospital Linen
Service Inc.
11 Maitland, London
438-2925
Page 11
We're pleased to
extend our warmest
Conp'a1u/a1ions
to
South Huron
Hospital
fine markets... of fine foods
zehrs
Hwy. 4 8 83, Exeter
J