USA > Illinois > Will County > History of Will County, Illinois, Volume One > Part 33
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The Humble Beginning and the Development of the Congre- gation .- Upon their arrival in Joliet, Mother M. Alfred and her companions took up their temporary abode in the second story of a stone house near the church, an outside stairway leading to their apartments. The first permanent residence in Joliet was a small stone house on Broadway and Division Street,
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which, with the two adjoining lots, they purchased March 23, 1864, for the su mof $600. In 1868 and 1870 further lots were secured, and, as applications for higher learning became more urgent, a spacious stone building was erected in 1871, contain- ing modern improvements-gas and hot-air furnaces. The cost of the lots, of the new building, and of a stone wall enclosing two sides of the property, amounted to $28,000.
In November, 1879, the site for a new building was selected and fourteen acres of land secured at the western limits of the city of Joliet, for $3,425. The foundation was begun October 4, 1880, and the cornerstone laid in 1881, by the Most Rev. P. A. Feehan, archbishop of Chicago. The basement and two stories was ready for occupancy August 12, 1882. The front of the building facing east extends 182 feet north and south, while two wings extend each forty-five feet westward. The total cost of the structure was $52,000.
In 1892 the third story was completed, the middle west wing, the so-called chapel wing, of 110 feet built, and laundry ma- chinery and steam heating installed, for $48,000. For improve- ment on the premises, street paving, sewerage, water-main, walls, cemetery lots, insurance, $40,766 were expended till
In order to forestall later handicaps in regard to classrooms and living quarters, an addition of 151 feet frontage, facing south, was erected in the years 1912 and 1913, at a cost of $121,- 553. Playgrounds and other accommodations on the south side of Taylor street demanded another $8,000; and still the crowd- ing continued. It soon became evident that only new and more spacious quarters could relieve the situation; hence a new academy was decided upon by the superior general and the board of directors of the congregation.
Having been made acquainted with conditions, Cardinal Mundelein strongly urged the erection of an up-to-date acad- emy, to be built at the southwest corner of the fourteen acres
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of convent property. His eminence secured from Rome the permission to make the necessary large loans; for according to contracts signed, the cost would approximate $500,000, not in- cluding equipments.
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis A. Rempe, V. G., who had shown an active interest in the realization of the project, broke the ground for the new academy on May 17, 1922, and laid the cor- nerstone the following August. The wings of the building extend 186 feet east and north. Classes were opened in Sep- tember of 1923.
Simultaneous with the erection of the new academy various difficulties were encountered because of the dependence on the convent for certain commodities. So the old heating system was inadequate for the heating of both buildings, nor did it function properly. Consequently three new high-pressure boilers had to be installed which required the sum of $10,000. Joliet water containing 42 degrees hardness had to be softened to make it usable for cleansing purposes; the necessary apparatus could not be had under $3,000. The installment of two cooling units, one in each building, cost to upwards of $6,000. At the same time more street-paving added to our already heavy debt. A great alleviation for us in this situation was the furnishing of rooms in the new academy by the friends of the Sisters here and in more distant places.
The band of four Sisters forming the congregation in 1863 has increased to 495 professed Sisters, 28 novices, and 31 postu- lants. One hundred and fifty-eight of the members of the Joliet House have died in the course of years.
There are every year from twenty-five to thirty applications for admittance into the Order; yet the actual working force is not perceptibly increased, because of the fact that some mem- bers die, others become incapacitated by sickness or age. For this reason, and because of the increase of pupils in schools
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already established, the frequent and urgent demands for teachers made upon the congregation by the reverend clergy cannot be answered.
The main source of income is the salary of the teachers, while music is the more lucrative factor for returns. A part of this income serves to defray the expenses of livelihood of the Sisters on the particular missions; the remainder, about forty per cent, is sent to the motherhouse for living, building and education. A teacher's monthly salary was formerly twenty dollars, but in these years of general social and economic dis- turbance, when prices have become exorbitant even in wealthy America, it became a question either to demand an increase of salary or to retrograde financially. Thirty to thirty-five dollars is the present monthly salary.
Young girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-eight are admitted into the congregation under most favorable con- ditions. A stipulated sum is asked from the applicants; yet, if the person is poor or has small means, the lack of cash is no obstacle to being received. An inclination to the religious life and a good will are the important requisites.
Girls of the age of from twelve to sixteen years are received as aspirants. While they pursue studies in their respective classes, they have a chance and time to test their inclination to the religious life. A small monthly fee is expected from them if they can pay it; they are also received free of charge if they have no means and yet would like to enter the convent. All such cases are decided by the superior general of the congrega- tion, residing at 220 Plainfield Avenue, Joliet, Illinois.
CHAPTER XVII.
HOSPITALS.
SILVER CROSS HOSPITAL, INCORPORATED IN 1891, "WATCHER'S CIRCLE," COR- NER STONE LAID IN 1893, TRUSTEES, FIRST OFFICERS, FIRST PATIENT- ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, FOUNDED IN 1881, TYPHOID AND SMALLPOX EPI- DEMICS, THE FIRST BUILDING USED FOR HOSPITAL, FIRST ACCIDENT CASE, NEW BUILDINGS
Silver Cross Hospital .- The word hospital and the word hotel have the same derivation. A hotel is a place where strangers are received as guests; a hospital is a place where sick strangers are received. The city hospital in the French cities is called "Hotel de Dieu"-God's hotel. What could be more beautiful? As if the place where the suffering are cared for was especially under God's providence.
The Will County Union of the King's Daughters and King's Sons was organized in July, 1890.
The original idea of the Circles of the King's Daughters was to use the funds accumulated by their work to furnish and maintain a room in some hospital. At one of their enthusiastic discussions of the matter, William Grinton, who happened to be present, suggested that they and the King's Sons unite their efforts and build a hospital, stating that if they would do so he would donate the necessary land in either one of his subdi- visions known as Hickory Hills and Sunnyside respectively. The subject was taken up by the respective circles and after duly discussing and considering it, they decided to undertake the herculean task of building the hospital. In the work of
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accomplishing the undertaking Mr. Grinton's daughter, Lorene, was one of the prime factors and a most effective and inde- fatigable worker. When the question of a name for the hos- pital came up it was her happy idea of permanently associating the workers with their work that found expression in the selection of the name, Silver Cross Hospital. The emblem of the organization the King's Daughters and the King's Sons was a Maltese cross and this suggested to her quick perception the name chosen.
The hospital was incorporated in April, 1891.
On Monday, September 12, 1892, "Shovel Day," ground was broken for the building and this marked an important and notable stage in the progress of the work begun in so humble a manner two years before in the direction of a realization of the hopes and aspirations of those great and small who had devoted themselves to the cause in season and out of season, under discouraging conditions. The "Watcher's Circle" have the credit of having done the first work for the hospital. The names of those comprising it are as follows:
Gertrude Akin
Lydia Mather
Minnie Allen
Annie Matteson
Kittie Beiber
Edna Mueller
Lottie Beiber
Frances McClelland
Agnes Cameron
Bessie Palmer
Agnes Clark
Edna Palmer
Lulu Erb
Hattie Sprague
Grace Grinton
Winifred Stevens
Jessie Grinton
Rue Winterbotham
Mary Hyde
Louise Wolf
Janie Kerr
Martha Wolf
Ella Mather
The corner stone was laid by the Masonic fraternity on May 17, 1893. A sealed box was placed in the stone containing the following articles:
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Copy of Silver Cross Hospital incorporation.
Engrossed copy of land transfer by William Grinton.
Brief account of connection of the King's Daughters and King's Sons with the work.
First badge of the order worn in the country (contributed by Miss Keith).
Souvenir coin from Union Workers' Circle, Wilmington.
A piece of ribbon brought over in the Mayflower in 1620.
One set souvenir postage stamps.
Ribbon that decorated the shovel when ground was broken. Joliet Daily News of September 13, 1892.
Chicago Tribune of April 30, 1893.
Chicago Tribune of May 2, 1893.
A copy each of Joliet Daily News, Times and Republican of May 13, 1893.
Scroll giving the roster of the occasional Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Illinois, organized for the purpose of laying the corner stone and by whom laid.
A copy of the by-laws of Mt. Joliet Lodge No. 42 and Matte- son Lodge No. 175, participants in ceremonies.
A copy of the last issue of the Fraternal Reporter.
A souvenir spoon presented by Mrs. Potter Palmer with some verses.
"Trolley Day," the day on which fares on the trolley lines of the city were collected by members of the "fair sex" and a fair and liberal portion of which fares were devoted by the officials of the lines to the benefit of the hospital was inau- gurated July 15, 1897, and the Daily Republican of that date, contained an extensive and interesting article relating to the hospital, from which the following extract, which refers to the dedication is taken:
"The Board of Trustees at that time were:
Chas. Pettigrew, George H. Munroe, John Keyes, Howard
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T. Keltie, Egbert Phelps, C. H. Talcott, A. C. Clement, Wm. Harwood, Charles Noble, G. M. Campbell, J. D. Paige.
Board of Lady Managers:
Mrs. Adelia F. Mack, chairman; Miss Louise Rowell, treas- urer; Mrs. Andrew Wagner, secretary; Mrs. Chas. Pettigrew, Mrs. E. Williams, Mrs. William Harwood, Mrs. Charles Rich- ards, Mrs. W. W. Stevens, Mrs. J. B. Mount, Mrs. Charles Tal- cott, Mrs. Charles Carpenter, Mrs. S. D. Chaney, Miss Jennie Thompson, Mrs. C. M. Sherwood, Mrs. Gurney, of Wilmington."
The Board of Lady Managers has since been dispensed with, and they are now known as the "Ladies' Advisory Board."
The first officers of the Board of Directors were as follows:
President-Charles A. Noble.
Vice President-J. D. Paige.
Secretary-C. H. Talcott.
Treasurer-Charles Pettigrew.
The hospital was informally opened early that fall because of an unfortunate man who came to the hospital to be treated. The first patient received was W. Frenier.
The first superintendent of the hospital was Miss M. J. Kober. Miss M. A. Porter was head surgical and Miss M. Main was head medical nurse.
St. Joseph's Hospital, Joliet, Illinois .- Progress has been the watchword of the ages. The history of the universe is a history of progress; a history of slow, steady advance of con- tinuous journeying onward. But perhaps never has there been such marked progress as in the present generation. All about us we see it in every field of endeavor.
Nor is the hospital field an exception. Here as elsewhere, we find abundant evidence of rapid advance; of advance in construction, in equipment and in technique. We note from the earliest ages a progress of slow, steady betterment.
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It is a far cry from the hospital of the sixteenth century whose sole requisites were "freedom from debt and four doors for ventilation," to the hospital of 1928 with its modern equip- ment, which challenges the admiration of an enlightened pub- lic. St. Joseph's Hospital is another evidence of the progress that has taken place in the hospital field.
In December, 1880, Rev. Gerard Becher, at the time rector of St. John's Church, Joliet, Illinois, who had become acquainted with the Franciscan Sisters of Avilla, Indiana, asked for three Sisters to come to Joliet to care for sick in private families.
In 1881 when the city of Joliet was visited by typhoid fever and in 1882 by an epidemic of smallpox, there was a demand for more Sisters and several responded, among them Sister Frances and Sister Ida; both are living.
During the smallpox epidemic Sister Georgia made the prop- osition to Doctor Hosmer to take all the sick out of the city to an empty farm house, some two miles in the country. He was pleased with the suggestion and at once the afflicted were loaded into the Black Maria and hauled to the first hospital which was given the dignified name of "the pest house."
When the epidemic was over the grateful citizens of Joliet donated $6,000.00 to the Sisters as a remuneration and token of their gratitude. This sum with some subscriptions taken up by Dr. H. E. Stephen's father enabled them to buy the stone building situated on the corner of North Broadway and Divi- sion Street. It was a modest two-story structure built in 1865 of stone which was quarried in the back yard. The old quarry has been filled in with good soil and a beautiful garden now adorns the once barren spot. The building was remodeled and on August the 12th, 1882, the Sisters moved in and being very tired all went to bed as they had no patients.
At midnight the Sisters were aroused by pounding at the door and rattling of a bell. The first accident case was brought
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in. He was a young man, named McCarthy, severely injured by falling from a freight car. One leg had to be amputated. The Sisters had no operating table, so put the patient on a common wooden table, and as the gaslight was very poor, a Sister stood by holding two old-fashioned lamps. The patient recovered without having an infection.
In the course of time many improvements and additions to the hospital were made. In 1895 a new chapel was built and the middle part of the present hospital, and in 1905 another addition, in 1914 a large addition was made on the north side -in 1924 the Nurses' Home was built, in 1927, two stories were added to the central part of the Hospital, 5,000 patients were cared for in 1927. In 1920 St. Joseph's Hospital opened a Training School for Nurses.
May St. Joseph's Hospital continue as in the past, to grow and to flourish !
May it continue to the praise and pride of its able staff of physicians and surgeons, to the exceeding joy of its kind Sisters, to the honor of the city of Joliet and to the welfare of its suffering inhabitants !
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PRESS.
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN JOLIET-THE JOLIET REPUBLICAN-TRUE DEMO- CRAT-RECORD-PHOENIX SUN-OTHER EARLY NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS- PAPER MEN-JOLIET HERALD-NEWS
The history of the press dates back almost to the beginning of Joliet. The first newspaper, a copy of which we have before us, was issued on the 20th day of April, 1839, and was called the "Juliet Courier." It presents a very attractive appearance, for a country village of forty years ago.
The paper was started by thirteen of the enterprising citi- zens of Joliet, or Juliet, of whom were the Allen brothers, Charles Clement, R. Doolittle, Judge Henderson and E. Wil- cox. The press had been shipped to Ottawa, but not being wanted there, was offered on favorable terms, and was bought by Joliet. After considerable search they found a man of the name of O. H. Balch who had edited a paper in Michigan, and was also a practical printer, and him they secured as editor and publisher. It was a true-blue Democratic paper, and in his salutatory the editor promulgated this sensible doctrine: "He will only state in general terms that he intends to publish a newspaper in which the principles of Democracy shall be enforced and vindicated, and in which the National Constitution shall be held up to view as the foundation of our Republican institutions and the bond of our Union and as the safeguard of our civil liberties." In its columns we find this
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item of news, which was probably quite an achievement in its day, but when compared to present improvements, is dwarfed into insignificance: "Rapid Traveling .- It is stated in the Wil- mington (N. C.) Journal, that the mail is now carried from New York to Charleston (by way of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad) in eighty-four hours." It experienced the usual struggle for a foot-hold in the newspaper field, and, after many changes, passed into the hands of D. L. Gregg, a brilliant young lawyer, and afterward a member of the Legislature, then sec- retary of state, and afterward United States consul to the Sandwich Islands. In 1843, it was purchased by Hon. Wm. E. Little, who changed its name to that of Joliet "Signal" which name it still retains. He, in a year or two, sold it to Hon. S. W. Randall, and he sold it to A. O. Stillman, who in May, 1846, sold it to C. & C. Zarley, sons of Reason Zarley, the first settler of Joliet Township. Calvin Zarley, before his death, disposed of his interest to P. Shuts, the other Zarley still retaining his interest. The firm is Zarley & Co., and their paper has ever remained Democratic, carrying out the principles heralded to the world on the day of its birth.
The Joliet "Republican" is the next oldest paper to the "Signal." It was originally established by A. McIntosh in 1847, as the "True Democrat." In 1848, he sold it to H. N. Marsh, who owned and edited it until 1852, when Mr. McIntosh bought it back, and, in 1857, sold it to Joseph L. Braden, at one time postmaster of Joliet, who, in 1864, changed its name to Joliet "Republican." In 1866, Braden died, and the paper being sold, was bought by James Goodspeed, Esq., the present owner, and the present postmaster of Joliet. The "Republican" is a semi- weekly paper and quite readable.
The Joliet "Record" was established in 1870, as a Democratic journal, and is a live, free, outspoken newspaper. It is an able defender of the "true faith," and death on political stealings and unprincipled doings generally. A large quarto paper, it
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is well filled with chaste reading matter, and a good fireside journal. D. C. Henderson, the proprietor, is a man of consid- erable journalistic experience, and understands making a read- able newspaper.
The "Phoenix" is a weekly paper. In January, 1877, a con- solidation was effected of the "Will County Courier," Lockport "Phoenix," Lamont "Eagle" and Plainfield "Echo," and two other publications were added, one at Wilmington and the other at Braidwood. An editor was stationed at each of these towns; the type set up by them and shipped to Joliet on publi- cation day. The matter was then assorted in such a manner that the reader obtained the local news of all these points. This plan gives more home news than is usually contained in ordi- nary country newspapers. Each editor has more time to de- vote to news-gathering, and therefore a better paper can be published at each point and sold cheaper than by the old plan. The issues at present, together with the editors and proprie- tors, are as follows: "Joliet Phoenix," J. S. McDonald, editor and proprietor; "Lockport Phoenix," J. S. McDonald, proprie- tor, and Leon McDonald, editor; "Wilmington Phoenix," J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and C. H. Duck and F. H. Hall, editors; "Lemont Phoenix," J. S. McDonald and W. P. Haughey, pro- prietors, and W. P. Haughey, editor.
The Joliet "Sun" was established July 12, 1872, by C. B. Hayward, as a Republican newspaper. In October, 1874, the proprietor issued the first copy of the daily "Sun," and since then a daily and weekly paper has been issued, the daily being an evening paper, and the largest daily issued in the Seventh Congressional District. The "Sun" is a live newspaper, and a true exponent of Republican principles.
The Joliet "News" was established in April, 1877, as a morn- ing paper, three columns, by Charles F. Dutcher, as editor and proprietor, and was independent in politics. In October, of same year, it was bought by Nelson, Ferris & Co., and a weekly
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Greenback paper added. It is still owned by these parties, and published daily and weekly in the interests of the Greenback party. It is in a flourishing condition, and rapidly increasing in importance.
Joliet Herald-News .- (By Edward Corlett.)-The first issue of the Joliet Herald appeared November 18, 1904. It was a paper of 24 pages, produced by tremendous effort, and re- garded, at that time, a far greater achievement than this paper probably will be, although this issue is the biggest paper ever published in the city of Joliet.
The Herald was published by the Joliet Printing Company, which was organized for that purpose in 1904 by a group of business and professional men. The names of the organizers and original stockholders follow:
John Lambert, F. H. Hall, William M. Cochrane, T. A. Ma- son, C. E. Woodruff, Dr. J. C. Flowers, C. B. Hayward, A. C. Dillman, Dr. H. W. Woodruff, George A. Ducker, John O. Bar- ret, Fred Bennitt, A. E. Dinet, C. S. Witwer, Edward Corlett, E. E. Howard, Frank Kiep, Dr. P. G. Rulien, August Schoen- stedt, J. J. Hamil, A. W. Fiero, J. J. Gaskill, James Smith, L. F. Beach, W. O. Bates, James W. Martin, Harry N. Hall, F. S. Lambert, H. B. Smith, E. R. McClellan, Thomas McHugh, Dr. E. J. Abell, C. G. Jones, W. H. White, John Stukel, Henry Hallenstein.
The first board of directors was John Lambert, E. R. Mc- Clellan, C. B. Hayward, Dr. J. C. Flowers, Frank L. Kiep, George A. Ducker, Frank H. Hall, C. E. Woodruff and C. S. Witwer.
Colonel John Lambert was the first president and C. E. Woodruff the first secretary. Frank H. Hall was the first gen- eral manager and James Murphy the first editor.
The paper lost a lot of money from the start, which was a great shock to the stockholders, as they had expected that the
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enterprise would be prosperous from the beginning. Naturally the stockholders blamed the general manager for the losses, and he sold his holding to Colonel Lambert and resigned. He was succeeded by James Murphy, the then editor, but the losses continued as before. In 1906 Mr. Murphy resigned and was succeeded as editor and general manager by Archibald S. Leckie who continued in charge of the paper until 1920.
The paper continued to lose money from year to year for several years after Mr. Leckie took charge of it, but by that time the stockholders had been convinced that the paper could not pay its way until it was established. They realized at last that the deficit from year to year was just as much a part of the cost of establishing a newspaper as the cost of the printing press or any other equipment, and therefore Mr. Leckie had an opportunity to build up and establish the paper, in which he acquired a substantial interest. In other words, the stock- holders had come to realize that it required more than a print- ing press and a few rolls of newsprint paper to make a news- paper.
It is due to Mr. Leckie to say that he is entitled to a very large amount of credit for what the paper became and is.
As many of the stockholders grew tired of waiting from year to year for dividends, which, for a period of eight years it seemed would never come, they one by one sold their stock, and Edward Corlett, present general manager of the paper, is the only one of the original stockholders who is now a stockholder in the paper.
In 1911 the Herald and the News purchased from the Joliet Republican its newspaper publishing franchises, good will, and subscription list, which were equally divided between the Her- ald and the News.
Colonel Ira C. Copley, the present owner of a majority of the stock in the Joliet Printing Company, publisher of The Herald-News, acquired, in 1913, a majority of the stock in the
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News Company, and a majority of stock in the Joliet Printing Company. He continued the publication of each paper under separate managements, but with little success, until June, 1915, when he consolidated the News Company into the Joliet Print- ing Company, which has since published the Herald-News.
Local history records that the Joliet Republican was estab- lished in 1862, but it was really the True Democrat, founded in 1847, under a new name. The True Democrat was launched by A. McIntosh, who sold it to H. N. Marsh, who afterwards sold the paper to Joseph H. Braden in 1857. Mr. Braden pub- lished the paper under its original name, the True Democrat, until 1862, when he changed the name to the Joliet Republican.
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