There are probably people living in our area who don’t know that Council had a hospital for many years. In addition to being treated for illnesses or injuries, hundreds of people began or ended their lives there.
There were no doctors within a day’s ride in the early days of settlement along the Weiser River. The few doctors who were eventually available often had to travel to the patients’ to treat them.
As early as 1906, the large, two-story home of Minnie Zink, on the NE corner of Railroad Street and Central Avenue, served as a hospital of sorts, and was even called the “Zink hospital” in local newspapers. Mrs. Zink attended the indigent and ill there for the first several decades of the 20th Century.
Dr. Frank Brown was one of the founding fathers of Council, arriving about 1900 when the town started to boom. He was said to be Council’s first resident doctor, although I don’t think that is totally accurate. He was the first to establish a long-term practice here, and was the main doctor in the whole area for years.
Dr. William Brown came to Council from Landore in 1916, which was when Dr. Frank Brown moved away.
A mention in a July 1925 Adams County Leader said, “The old Heigho residence at New Meadows has been renovated and turned into a hospital in the charge of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hopkins.” I have no more information on this facility.
After Mrs. Zink died in 1932, Council had nothing resembling a hospital, although there were several doctors in the area by then who treated patients in their offices or traveled to the patient’s home. People traveled to Dr. Conant Weiser for treatment of more serious conditions.
In 1931 the legendary Dr. Alvin Thurston arrived in Council and set up practice. In 1933 he brought an X-ray machine to his office, which was at the south end of the second story of the drug store building, which still stands today (NW corner of Galena and Illinois). The nearest X-ray machine was in Weiser until then.
The July 28, 1939 Leader reported that Dr. Thurston was opening a small “nursing home.” It would be managed by newly-trained nurse Ella Camp. The small hospital was converted from a farm house owned by people named Branson. It was located more or less on the SE corner of 1st Avenue and Berkley Street, where today there is a vacant lot south of the present clinic and west of the former clinic (which was a hospital – more on that later).
Ella Camp later married Carlos Weed, and she is better remembered as Ella Weed. For the first six months or so, Ella acted as nursing staff, business manager, cook and laundress.
The following comes from an article by Janet Thurston McMahan (Dr. Thurston’s daughter). “A volunteer advisory council of ten members from area communities had been formed to oversee the necessary arrangements for establishing this institution. The original building and grounds were donated, a $2,500 loan was arranged to cover the remodeling costs, and the people of the community were asked to contribute the funds needed to buy equipment and furnishings. In August a road-building bee was held, to which some fifty volunteers enthusiastically responded, with the result that the street leading to the hospital was rendered serviceable in one day.”
The hospital opened in September, under the name “Council Nursing Home.” It contained two private rooms, to ward rooms (a total of 6 beds), a room for surgery and deliveries, and minimal kitchen and laundry facilities.
Janet Thurston McMahan: “On September 10, 1939 the first open house was held and attended by about fifty interested persons. At that time four patients had already been admitted, and the first surgery was performed on September 26th. Mrs. Fern Sterling, R.N. Of Cambridge was called upon for part time assistance to Miss Camp, and within a few weeks Miss Marie Brewer of Council was employed as the first practical nurse.”
Soon after the hospital opened, Lloyd “Bud” Grimes signed on. Grimes served as a jack of all trades for the hospital and Dr. Thurston for the next 26 years.
McMahan: “In January 1940 articles of incorporation were filed by fourteen citizens representing all the communities in the area, and this institution officially became the Community Hospital, Inc. The original incorporators were: Alvin S. Thurston, James F. Dinsmore, Helen Gould, A. L. Hagar, Carl H. Swanstrom, Eugene Perkins, George Winkler, Mae Engram, J. R. Field, Clyde I. Rush, Sylvester Farrell, Lee Highly, Blake Hancock and Bessie Lindsay.”
Numerous organizations and individuals donated cash and furnishings. By may 1940, when the first annual meeting of the Board of Trustees was held, a $225 profit shown for the first seven months of operation.
Continued next week.
100 years ago
February 6, 1925
The Mesa Orchard Company will soon begin work on the construction of a new drier. The old drier was destroyed by fire some two months ago, causing the loss of all the fruit in the building at the time. The company report shows 266 cars of fruit shipped this past season, 205 of apples, 50 of peaches and 10 cars of pears. The company employed 300 men, women and children during the season, the payroll being nearly $100 per day. Plans for improvements during the coming year are being made, including the planting of 30 acres more apple trees.
The Weiser Loan and Trust Company, which failed last July, has paid 10% dividend to their creditors.
“George Benson, Dolph Martin and George Westfall were in Cambridge the latter part of last week. They were clearing the highway of snow and making it also a trip of inspection.”
75 years ago
February 2, 1950
Died: James Warren of Cambridge. Born in 1870, and came to the Salubria Valley in 1908. He married Lora Lois Hall in 1910 and they had four children.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Tony Cada, Jr. of Midvale at the Weiser hospital on January 28.
49 years ago
February 5, 1976
Married January 31: Debbie Vogel and John Ford.
Engaged to marry February 14: Candace Lee Nida and Timothy Harrison.
Married at Winnemucca January 31: Lyle Qualls and Norma Seid.
25 years ago
February 3, 2000
Engaged to marry: Christy Drury and Victor Ward. Reception February 5.
Died: Wilda Hattie Williams, 87, of Gooding, formerly of Midvale and Riggins. She married Jack Williams in 1934 at Midvale.
Pete Johnston, Council Community Hospital Board Chairman, said, “We have about enough money to run until February 15.” The hospital has applied to become a Critical Care Access Hospital. This would enable it to operate with a mid level medical provider (nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant) who would be supervised by an off site doctor.
