May 13, 1922

MAYOR PRAISES WORK OF SACRED HEART HOSPITAL

The National Hospital Day exercises and open house at the Sacred Heart hospital yesterday were attended by a large number of Medford people and a number of people from rural districts who took advantage of yesterday’s opportunity to inspect the building; one of the finest hospitals in the state.

An address by mayor C. E. Gates, speaker of the day, was one of the features of the program and in it he impressed upon the persons present the deep appreciation which they should feel for the great public asset represented by the hospital. He spoke of his own appreciation for the hospital and stated that practically every member of his family excepting himself, had at one time or another been a patient there. He lauded the institution for its excellent and satisfactory service and the sisters for their kindness and patience.

The crisis which tested the worth of the institution came three years ago when the flu was at its height here and when the city authorities were granted the use of the top floor of the hospital for the care of flu patients. Some of the patients had to be forced to go to the hospital and thanked the authorities for taking them there after they reached a recovery. At one time, according to the speaker, 84 flu patients were taken care of on the top floor of the hospital, and not a single death occurred among the city patients.

Mr. Gates urged the people to support the institution with such a record and visualized the circumstances should another epidemic occur and should Medford be without the hospital.

Other parts of the program were vocal selection by Mrs. J. C. Hayes and Mrs. V. Meldo Hillis, a harp solo by Miss Patricia Miksche and vocal and instrumental selections by girls from St. Mary’s academy and the orchestra from the local high school.

Following the program, visitors were taken through the hospital and were shown the operating rooms, the chemical laboratory and the excellent radiograph apparatus as well as any other part of building in which they were interested in.

— Alissa Corman; acorman@rosebudmedia.com