Old St. John's Hospital
HELENA, MT, 59601 US / MT
Location Description
ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL -- 1884-1973 • Two Structures In 1869, six Sisters of Charity from Leavenworth, Kansas arrived in Helena, and set about their mission to educate youth, nurse the sick, and care for orphans. The 1884 St. John's Hospital • The hospital was expanded in 1901-02. Demolished 1950 was located nearby at : 46°35'6.47"N 112° 2'16.54"W The first St. John's Hospital was a wooden frame structure built in 1870. The brick building shown in the tinted period postcard above was built in 1884 and enlarged in 1901-02. It was weakened by earthquakes in 1935, fell into disuse, and was finally demolished in the spring of 1950. This edifice stood atop "Catholic Hill", across South Ewing St. from where the "new" St. John's was built in 1939. Badly Damaged by 1935 Earthquakes : Photo Taken Nov. 11 1935 "St. John's was forced to evacuate its patients, some of them going home, others to St. Peter's [which was relatively undamaged by the quakes] and some to Butte and Deer Lodge, Montana. Authorities of the institution immediately began to make plans for the removal of the hospital plant to the nearly-completed hospital of the Montana Children's Home [Shodair], where they expected to remain for at least a year." -- Helena Earthquakes, by C. R. Anderson and M. P. Martinson, 1936 Earthquake-damaged Stack Shot Down, 1935 National Guardsmen with high-powered rifles brought down the damaged stack of the St. John's Hospital heating plant on October 18, 1935. The 1939 St. John's Hospital, is still standing and located at : 46°35'4.71"N 112° 2'13.51"W -- the hospital closed in 1973. It now serves as offices and a nursing home facility. Dedication of the cornerstone, St. John's Hospital, June 24 1939 The cornerstone from the 1884 building was relaid in the 1939 building. The stone was opened after being removed from the 1884 building, and was found to contain a dedicatory review of the hospital's history, a prayer for the instution's success, business and professional cards from Helena's leading citizens, and a sprig of pine -- an evergreen symbol of life. These relics were replaced in the stone, along with items from 1939. Dedication of the cornerstone St. John's Hospital, June 24 1939 (detail). At the center is Bishop J. M. Gilmore. An informal photo taken on the day of the cornerstone dedication. Standing at center is George Jacoby, the building contractor. Seated to the right is Msgr. Victor Day. The man on the left may be architect J. G. Link. THANKS TO SISTER DOLORES BRINKEL, ARCHIVIST OF THE DIOCESE OF HELENA, FOR HER HELP WITH THIS INFORMATION.
Location Category
- TRIBAL / NATIVE AMERICAN - [general]
- TRIBAL / NATIVE AMERICAN - [general]
- TRIBAL / NATIVE AMERICAN - [general]
- TRIBAL / NATIVE AMERICAN - [general]
- TRIBAL / NATIVE AMERICAN - [general]
Architecture Style
- 1920s - 1930s
- 1940s / WWII
- 1950s
