St. Joseph Hospital - Bellingham, Washington

Although I might prefer spending time in a hospital that looks like this instead of one of those massive institutions, I would like to make one request: don't carry my stretcher up those front steps. This 53-bed facility was built in 1901 for $21,000 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. They raised money to build it by selling hospital tickets far and wide, including to gold miners in Alaska.  Many children with polio were hospitalized here during the 1940s and 1950s.  The facility was expanded several times, but was finally replaced in 1966.

The back of the card has no message, only the address of Miss Phoebe Stinson of Boston.

More information and pictures of the hospital can be found here.

The Royal Infirmary - Manchester, England

Although it's small, you can see a double-deck tram on the left. One of the things I appreciate about this card is that it was sent from Manchester, England to Manchester, New Hampshire in the United States. The infirmary had recently been moved to its new location when this card was sent in 1908.

The message to P.N. Champion reads:

The King is coming to open this place next July. Sincerely Yours

JJ 2145

Good Bye

King Edward the VII did indeed open the building. It sustained quite a bit of damage during World War II, but there have been a number of additions since then too.

Greetings from the Mayo Clinic - #2

Here's the second postcard from Estace, a patient at the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in 1945.  He seems to have had a sense of humor and a perhaps a flair for drama.

The message reads:

Dear Norma -

I'm writing this on the bed pan. Was operated on last Fri and nearly didn't come out of it. Wanted to write you before but was to sick. Hope I'll be a new person now. I was x rayed from head to foot. I'm at St. Mary's Hospital. They treat me fine but I'll be glad to leave. I should of sent you a (?) in the letter I sent you a few days ago but intended to be back in Detroit and not here. So sorry about all your troubles. You sure have your share lately. Hope I can write more interesting letter soon.

ByBy Love Estace

Greetings from the Mayo Clinic - #1

This is the first of two cards that Estace sent to Norma McCarthy from his eventful visit to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

The card seems to have gotten wet. I didn't worry about that until I read the next card, which I will post tomorrow. The message on this one reads:

Dear Norma -

I'm still among the living altho they thought I was a goner for awhile! Was out from 1:45 AM or so until after midnight. The doctor sent my sister home but she knew I was bad and could not sleep. I came too with a Dr.  + 2 nurses over me. Had a special nurse for day but I snapped out of it soon.  You know I always had a good come back even if I did look like a living corpse. Well I hope as soon as I get better will be able to see you so I'm planning on coming out before I take off for sunshine. Dr. orders. I'll write you more later. By By and hope this finds you all well. Love Estace

will be at 5530 Horger St. Dearborn, Mich.

Fitzsimmons General Hospital

Oh, excuse me, I'm quite sure I requested a private room!

Here's an old postcard  from the Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. This is a place where you could come to get over your illness and, at the same time, any personal privacy issues (no extra charge.) At least you won't be lonely.

Typhoid Fever in Altoona

Besse sent this card of the Altoona Hospital and Nurses' Home in 1908.

On the front she writes:

Sept. 6. 08

Hello Cousin Kathryn and Jim. We got home O.K. and had a nice time. Would enjoy some more ice cream.

On the back, she continues:

We are having a very bad epidemic of typhoid fever, about 8 cases died since we are home, there are more than a hundred cases now. We are all much alarmed.

The outbreak of typhoid fever she described was written up in the Pennsylvania Medical Journal in 1917. It turns out that a local dairyman was a carrier and the disease was being spread to people who drank milk from his dairy. The dairyman eventually gave up the dairy business and went into railroad work.