Saint John's Health System: celebrates 108 years.

• Author: Beck, Bill
• Position: Centennial Business

Saint John's Health System has been providing medical care to residents of Anderson and central Indiana for 108 years. Founded in 1894, Saint John's Hospital was an amazing gift to the city of Anderson. It was made possible by the generosity of Anderson resident John Hickey, who donated 10 acres of his 80-acre estate as well as his home to the Sisters of the Holy Cross. A two-story brick building and kitchen were added on to the original Hickey home to accommodate early patients.

A three-story brick "Main Building" was dedicated in 1900. The new building had operating rooms as well as housing for the sisters, who could be on-call 24 hours a day to aid the patients.

The first baby was born at the hospital in 1907. This was quite an accomplishment, considering that 90-95 percent of all births took place in the home at that time. Saint John's was becoming popular in the region, and a need for nurses to help the sisters led to the development of the School of Nursing in 1909.

In 1915 the new Center Wing brought the hospital into the modern era with its new six-room X-ray suite and two-room laboratory. It also added a 13-room operating suite that elevated the bed count to 100 for the entire hospital.

In 1931 the hospital was renamed Saint John's Hickey Memorial Hospital to honor the philanthropy of John Hickey. In 1937 the Raphael Residence Hall was built, allowing nursing students to live on campus. When construction began on the North and Central-West wings in 1942, General Motors, one of the city's major employers, donated $150,000 and the public gave another $150,000 for the project, which increased hospital capacity to 250 beds. In 1952 the School of Medical Technology began, and in 1955 Madonna Hall was built as a nurse's residence hall that also included classrooms.

In 1957 the Northwest Wing was built, along with a recovery room. An orthopedic unit was dedicated in 1963 and intensive care unit was built the following year, allowing area residents to receive additional types of care without having to travel to nearby Indianapolis.

The present board of trustees structure was formed in 1968. It is made up of 18 members representing the Sisters of the Holy Cross and members of the local business community. Also in 1968, the new seven-floor South Building added 234 beds to the hospital, followed a year later by the coronary care unit.

In 1973 the hospital added its children's clinic and medical arts building, and the next year Saint John's...