The first Cook Hospital on Gaston Ave. in Fairmont, W.V. Notice the horse and buggy ambulance on the left.
{ Last week, I told you the story of how Cook Hospital in Fairmont, West Virginia, came to be. Dr. John R. Cook, a general practitioner, and surgeon, came to this town and prioritized good healthcare. No one was turned away because of not being able to pay, and patients needing surgery came here from other parts of the state because the doctors here were the best. I’m sorry to say that the hospital ran into financial trouble with giving out more charity healthcare than paying customers. This week I’m going to tell you how the people banned together to save their beloved hospital.}
Cook Hospital had the reputation of being one of the best hospitals in the state, but it was in serious trouble of closing its doors. When patients had procedures done at the hospital and could not afford to pay in cash, they usually gave what they could. That may have been in the form of fruit, vegetables, or canned goods. The hospital appreciated the items, and they were used to feed the patients, but that would not pay the electricity bill. The board of directors called a meeting and decided that maybe a new board of directors needed to be formed from businessmen, not doctors.
The citizens of Fairmont were in fear that Cook Hospital was at the point of closing its doors. They couldn’t let that happen, and it was too valuable an asset to the community.
In 1910 the hospital’s debt was 21,739.45. A new board of directors was elected, and J. M. Hartley, a well-known and respected businessman in Fairmont, was made Chairman.
The board came up with the idea of letting the citizens own a part of the hospital. Instead of the doctors owning the hospital, leading citizens in the community could sponsor a bed through an endowment. That meant that they would pledge to pay what a bed would cost when in use for charity cases. That still would not cover the medical care that was given to the patients, but it was a start.
When a patron created an endowment, they were given the option of making their payments four times a year so that the burden was not so hard. It was well-known that the state also helped other hospitals with emergency cases by giving state aid. Cook applied and received a nominal amount there.
Other notable organizations in the city were asked for help. The Knights of Pythias, The Masons, the Elks, The Owls, and the Odd Fellows. They all pledged to hold events to raise money.
The Women’s Society was called on also, and they formed a special committee called the Women’s Hospital Association. They would take charge of providing flowers and magazines, and, most of all, linens for the hospital. They would look after the betterment of the hospital.
Did these items in the larger picture of the hospital really matter? Yes, it was considered a big part of the healing process. Flowers in every room were thought to add a bright, cheerful component to the healing process. Magazines made the time pass faster instead of lying around with nothing to occupy the mind, and linens were a day-to-day need. The hospital would go through around a thousand linens in a year. Stains, and blood, and the constant washing of bed linen had a short life span. The hospital would go on to find that the Women’s Hospital Association played a much larger part in the stabilization of the institution.
A plan was hatched to hold a “Tag Day.” The board of directors would nominate captains of a team that would be spread out over the city to collect donations for the hospital. When donating, the patron would be given a tag stating they had given to the hospital. The first Tag Day yielded 923.42 in donations. The event was deemed a success and would be held every year until the hospital closed its doors.
The hospital was doing better, but with the city taking over the institution’s financials, a plan was formed to organize a company to take over and own the hospital. Let the city own the title to one of the most important places in the city.
The hospital was valued at 100,000. Cook Hospital Company was developed, and the plan was formed to raise money and purchase the establishment’s title.
They were successful and actually got a bargain. They had raised around 68,000 dollars, purchased the hospital, and the title was turned over to The Cook Hospital Company. Z.F. Davis was the Chief Financial Officer of the company. The year was 1914, and Cook Hospital was back on sure footing.
The city now owned one of the most progressive hospitals in the state. Along with the deed to the hospital, the company gets all personal property, furniture and furnishings, instruments, and operating room appliances. The property was valuable, so as the city grew, the value of the property grew. It was a win-win for everyone involved.
Cook Hospital was finally running smoothly, and the future was bright, but on December 24, 1916, a fire would almost take everything away.
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. on the night of the 24th, the fire started in the elevator shaft on the fourth floor. They believed due to a build-up of grease. The fire raced through the building until it was brought under control around 3:00 the next morning. When all was said and done, the building was gutted.
Thank goodness the building was insured, and repairs could start immediately. A new roof was put on, and new windows were installed. Each floor had new ceilings, and many fans were put in place to help dry the building.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Hospital Association hopped into action, freshly painted all the rooms, put up new curtains, and bought new beds.
A new operating room was added at the time, and one of the first Maternity Wards was formed. They purchased a new invention, a baby incubator, to help babies born too early survive. With the Maternity Ward in place, they could also do Ceserian births for the first time. In a way, the fire issued a new era for the establishment.
During this time, the opportunity was also taken to refresh the Nurse’s Home. New wallpaper, freshly laid carpet, and new furnishings were updated.
The hospital also got its first telephone just for emergency calls; the number to ring was #2000.
In 1919 the doctors working for the hospital pooled their money together to purchase an ambulance. The ambulance was made in Fairmont. I don’t have any evidence that it actually was, except to say that it was noted in the West Virginian Newspaper on August 20, 1919.
Later many more additions for better care of the patients were added. A laboratory fit with the most up-to-date equipment that other doctors from other hospitals could use if needed. They added a radiology dept. And a brand-new X-ray machine.
The hospital had almost everything it needed except space. Cook could only handle in house about 100 patients, and with the town and area growing, a new solution had to be made.
While medical care was still available, the town purchased a new tract of land on the west side of town, and plans were drawn up for what would become the new Hospital of Fairmont, West Virginia.
Fairmont General Hospital was born in 1939, and Cook Hospital was Closed. The Nurses School would continue until the middle Forties. A new era had begun, and as of today, the building housing that institution still stands. The name has changed because West Virginia University Healthcare is now its owner.
It still serves the community that Cook had for years but has advanced in its care. Fairmont has truly been blessed with great medical care. As an aging individual, I am so happy I have a place to go to with my best interests at heart.
Cook today is used for low-cost housing.
Thank you for coming on another journey with me into the history of Marion County, W.V. If you could leave a comment below and tell me what you like or what I could do to improve the blog, I would appreciate it. Your feedback really helps.
Bonus content: Other pictures of Cook Hospital and YouTube video. Click on yesterday’s News in the menu.
Remember: History is the spine of America. We will collapse and fail if we do not learn and lean on it.