The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .

The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.

Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.

Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 2, Page 11.

 

DR. D. J. LORING IS FATHER OF CITY HOSPITAL

The present Christian hospital was established in 1891 by Dr. David J. Loring, prominent physician and surgeon, to treat persons who could not be properly treated in their homes.

While Dr. Loring expected to receive some financial assistance from the establishment of the institution, he was actuated by the knowledge that there was need of such a hospital to relieve human suffering.

In 1905 the Indiana legislature passed an act which made liberal provisions for the erection and maintenance of a public hospital in each county of the state.

On July 7, 1905, a meeting was held in city hall for the purpose of forming a hospital association. William E. Pinney was elected president, and Dr. H. M. Evans, secretary. A committee was also appointed at the same time to report a plan of action. This committee consisted of O. P. Kinsey, Dr. R. D. Blount, George M. Dodge and Rev. L. W. Applegate.

About this time and before the association had taken any definite steps for the founding of a hospital, the Christian church of Valparaiso became interested in the subject. Dr. Simon J. Young went to St. Louis to secure, if possible, the cooperation of the National Benevolent Association of that denomination. The result was that an agent of the association, J. P. Davis, came to Valparaiso to look over the field. He made a favorable report and Dr. Young again went to St. Louis, this time with a proposition to purchase the private hospital of Dr. Loring, which was for sale.

F. R. Ayres and George L. Snively, two representatives of the association, came to Valparaiso in December, 1906, and reported in favor of the purchase. The property was valued at $13,000, of which the Valparaiso church assumed the payment of one-half and the central board the other half. In this way the Christian Hospital and Teaching School came into existence.

During the thirty years the Christian hospital has been serving the public it has filled a long-felt need. Several attempts have been made to secure county funds to build a county hospital, but attempts were voted down by the electorate of the county.

Officers of the hospital are C. A. Harmon, president; Mrs. James Malone, vice-president; Mrs. Don Lytle, secretary; Mrs. H. W. Bledsoe, treasurer; Owen Price, Mrs. William Fox, Mrs. Nathan Sheppard, E. W. Agar and A. W. McDaniel, director. Clara M. Gulbransen, registered nurse, is superintendent.

Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook

 

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