About Us
The first health care operations in Jackson were recorded in 1856. The first patients were two pioneers who had become lost in a blizzard. Their hands and feet were badly frozen. Their story tells of the terrific trials of those rigorous days and the astonishing courage, confidence and resourcefulness of our early settlers over a century ago. There were no regular physicians in the settlement, and it was out of the question to attempt to send for one. A man named Mr. Strong bore the title of “doctor,” although he had not practiced the profession. Mr. Strong cared for the men as best he could for nearly three weeks, when it became apparent that amputation was necessary to save the men’s lives. Mr. Strong had only rudimentary knowledge of surgery, but he did not hesitate to take this only course that offered a possibility of saving them. Mr. Strong, being a wagon maker by trade, took the back off of a carpenter’s bucksaw. Knives and nippers were made, and thread was prepared for tying arteries. The night before the surgery, he administered a large dose of laudanum to each patient. The amputation went as well as could be expected and both pioneers ultimately recovered.
Over the years, several doctors practiced out of their homes. In 1925, Dr. and Mrs. Walter H. Halloran purchased a residence on Brown Street and erected a hospital on the lot directly north of their home. The Halloran Hospital was the first “modern and well-equipped hospital with an up-to-date surgical center” in Jackson.
The Halloran Hospital was a 2-˝ story brick, fire-proof building complete with double and single patient rooms, operating room, nursery, kitchen, dining room, and laundry facilities. There were several doctors who worked with Dr. Halloran in serving Jackson County: Dr. Edwin and Dr. David Maitland, Dr. Walter Wells and Dr. H.A. Christiansen. “World War II was a great drain on the medical personnel, and Jackson needed to fill the gap.” A number of physicians came to Jackson to serve the community until servicemen returned.
While continuing to practice at the hospital, Dr. Halloran sold his property to the Sisters of Charity in 1947. The City of Jackson purchased the hospital from the Sisters of Charity in 1956. The 20-bed hospital was no longer large enough for the community by 1960. A bond issue to build a new hospital in Jackson passed on August 16, 1960, in a special election. The overwhelming vote was 932 to 130.
The new hospital cost of $565,000 came from the $275,000 bond issue, a federal grant of $250,000, $26,000 from the liquor store dispensary fund and $14,000 from the estate of Mrs. Emma Miller. Construction at our current location began in 1961, with a dedication ceremony and open house being held on September 22 and 23, 1962. An estimated 3,000 people attended the open house. “On one occasion, upwards of several hundred people were outside the building, biding their time in entering the new structure.” At the dedication ceremony, Dr. W.H. Halloran remarked that, “we get what we put into life, and what we contribute remains after we are gone.” The hospital boasted more than 50 rooms including a physical therapy room, “one of the few in this part of the state.” The public found many conveniences in the new hospital, “including two rest rooms, a large waiting room and the solarium.” There was “liberal parking space and stalls to make it easy for orderly parking of vehicles.” Ten patients were moved from the old hospital to the new hospital by the ambulances of Sathe and Son, and Leach-Krause. There were 43 employees on staff.
To learn more about our history feel free to call or stop by. Sanford Jackson Medical Center celebrates its past and looks toward the future!
Sources: Jackson County Pilot; Ed Carlson, Jackson County Historical Society; “A History of Jackson County” by Arthur P. Rose.
