Construction started on the new Council hospital in May of 1961. The official name of the facility would be “Council Community Hospital,” although there was serious consideration given to naming it the “Alvin S. Thurston Memorial Hospital.” The Leader said: “As a tribute to Doctor Thurston and his efforts in bringing adequate hospital services to the areas which for the past 30 years have been served by Community Hospital, Inc., it was unanimously decided by the board that the new hospital be dedicated to the memory of Doctor Thurston in appropriate ceremonies to be held in the spring of 1962.”
The building was completed enough to occupy in March 1962. The April 6, 1962 Statesman reported:
“The new Council Community Hospital was functioning Wednesday with quiet efficiency, following its inauguration in a reenactment of a saga of the old West, except that it was a ‘people’s rush’ instead of a gold rush. It was 6:00 p.m. on March 29 and a little Council Community Hospital was fairly shaking in its antiquated foundation.”
“15 patients and three babies were moved from the old hospital to the new, 20-bed facility. The three infants were Susan Brooke, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. John Brooke; Ricky Harrington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Harrington, and Kimberly Willmarth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Willmarth. The first adult patient was H. O. Williams of Midvale.
“The ambulance shuttled back and forth for those who could not be transported otherwise and the rest went in whatever conveyance was at hand. Dr. John A. Edwards was seen pedaling between the two hospitals on his trusty bicycle.”
In May the hospital orchestrated official opening ceremonies, which were attended by over 400 people. Governor Robert E. Smylie spoke, after being introduced by Council Mayor Ferd Muller. The Leader said: “Following Smylie’s remarks, Don Strickfaden, chairman of the old hospital board, presented the key to the new $385,000 structure, to new board chairman, Vic Durden of New Meadows, who in turn entrusted it to Harold Whitaker, present administrator of the hospital.”
Medicare was established in the U.S. on July 1, 1966. The Leader reported: “Ferd Muller, chairman of the Adams County Hospital board stated today that the Council Community Hospital has been approved for the care of Medicare patients, by Social Security Administration. The new Medicare program will go into effect July 1, 1966.”
In 1970 Nurse Ella Weed was having health issues and retired after serving the community since 1939.
Continued next week.
100 years ago
February 27, 1925
Married: Mrs. Bernice Gladhart and Mr. Milo Wilkerson.
A. Schmid is a Goodrich merchant.
Frank Townley, game warden for Washington County, has a ranch near Goodrich.
75 years ago
February 23, 1950
Died: Mrs. Carrie I. Over.
Died: Rosa Nellye Towell, 70. Her husband, Frank Towell, preceded her in death.
Fred M. Jewell is purchasing the Carpenter’s Marshall-Wells store. Mr. Jewell first entered business in Cambridge in 1906 when he and Bill Eckles purchased the Cambridge Mercantile store, which was located on the lots now occupied by D. O. Danielson & Son. In 1910 Mr. Jewell purchased the building that is now occupied by the Marshall-Wells store and operated a general merchandise store there until about 1932 when he moved to the Eckles building, now occupied by Danielson’s store, where he continued to operate a general merchandise store until ill health forced him to dispose of the business in 1942. Elmer Carpenter opened the Marshall-Wells hardware following the remodeling of the building in November 1947.
49 years ago
February 26, 1976
Twins sons, Tanner Charles and Taylor Lee, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mink on February 19.
Died: Matt D. Evans, 58, of Ontario, formerly of Midvale.
25 years ago
February 24, 2000
Construction will begin soon realign Highway 95 south from Cambridge 2 1/2 miles.
