History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 32

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 32

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The Woman's Christian Association is an

incorporation formed by a number of the ladies of Omaha for benevolent purposes. An organization was effected December 4, 1883, and three small rooms were rented in the old City Hall building, which were occupied for more than a year. No. 1606 Farnam Street, a small frame building, was then secured, and during the year practical assistance was rendered to more than two hundred women and children, and from that date the work of the association has steadily increased. A building on Burt Street, No. 2718, was purchased in 1887 for 85,000, the money being raised by subscriptions to make the first payment of $1,500. Here a perma- nent home for aged women and a transient abode for destitute women and children has been successfully conducted since October, 1887. E. A. Benson gave the association two lots on Dodge and Forty-first Streets, in 1887, and there it is proposed to erect a spacious and handsome building in the near future. In November, 1887, arrangements were made for establishing a home for young women who were endeavoring to sup- port themselves, the object being to afford to this class comforts and conveniences which would otherwise be beyond their reach, and at the same time throw about them protection and care. A three-story building on Dodge Street, near Nineteenth, was secured and soon filled with young women employed in offices and stores. This home is now at 109 South Seventeenth Street, Mrs. E. J. Evans, superintendent. In April, 1888, a Woman's Exchange was established at No. 1617 Farnam Street, where various articles of home manufacture are sold. All of the enterprises of the asso- ciation are supported by donations and sub- scriptions, which fact renders their success much more creditable to the association. Following named are the officers: Mrs. P. L. Perine, president; Mrs. II. M. McCagne, Mrs. J. B. Jardine, Mrs. M. A. Elliott, Mrs. II. Ludington, vice presidents; Mrs. Ida C. Tilden, treasurer; Miss Hattie Collier, cor-

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

responding secretary; Mrs. L. L. Boltz, recording secretary. Mrs. H. M. McCague is at the head of the executive committee for the management of the Burt Street Home, and Mrs. Ida C. Tilden for that of the Young Women's Home.

St. Joseph's Hospital, formerly Mercy Hospital, Twelfth and Marcy Streets, was first opened for the reception of patients September 1, 1870, a two-story frame build- ing, containing two wards and ten rooms, having been erected by the Order of the Sisters of Mercy, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, the money being obtained by per- sonal solicitation by the Sisters. Two years later the capacity of the building was doubled, at an outlay of fourteen thousand dollars, the money being secured in the same way as before. April 10, 1880, the management passed into the hands of the Order of Sisters of St. Francis. In 1882 these Sisters rendered the city efficient ser- vice by taking charge of a temporary small- pox hospital provided by the Council to treat several cases which made their appear- ance here. For two months this service continued, at the close of which, James E. Boyd, then Mayor, sent the Sisters his per- sonal check for a handsome sum, in recogni- tion of their self-denying work. It was sug- gested that the Council appropriate a rea- sonable sum to the hospital in this connec- tion, but the suggestion was not adopted. The growth of the city having rendered the late location of the hospital undesirable for that purpose, a building to accommodate four hundred patients has been erected on a beautiful site, consisting of four lots, at Tenth and Castellar, donated 'by John A. Creighton, whose wife, recently deceased, bequeathed fifty thousand dollars to aid in the erection of the new edifice. It has a frontage of two hundred feet on Tenth, with two wings extending eastward one hundred and fifty feet. It is built of brick, three stories high, and basement, and cost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The institution is known as " The Creighton Memorial." The corner stone was laid on November 23, 1890, with impressive cere- monies, conducted by Bishop Scannel, of Concordia, Kansas, and the building com- pleted and occupied June, 1892.

It is proposed that the building lately vacated shall be occupied by the J. A. Creighton Medical College, an institution that has been lately projected.

The Immanuel Hospital and Deaconess' Institute is located in Monmouth Park, in the northwest portion of the city. The plan of the building is quite extensive, only the south wing being completed at this time. It occupies a very commanding position, the grounds comprising half a block-twelve lots-and cost eight thousand dollars. The purpose of the founder of this institution includes also the building up of a Deaconess' Institute, for the training of Protestant women to engage in services similar to those performed by the Sisters of Charity of the Catholic Church. In 1879, the founder of this hospital, Rev. E. A. Fogelstrom, came to Omaha and took charge of the Swedish Lutheran Church, of which he was pastor for ten years, during which time he erected the present handsome church building, at the corner of Nineteenth and Cass Streets, at a cost of 830,000. He has been actively engaged in enlisting the interests of the citizens of this place in this enterprise, and securing the necessary funds to carry it out. In both these respects he has been wonder- fully successful, as is attested by the mag- nificent building recently completed. In January, 1890, an incorporation was effected, in order to hold the property, under the name of " The Evangelical Immanuel Asso- ciation for Works of Mercy," with eleven incorporators, including Dr. George L. Mil- ler, Fred. Drexel, Alfred Millard, Wm. L. McCague, G. A. Lindquest, John Johnson, Guy C. Barton, Anthony Johnson and Jo- seph Barker. Rev. E. A. Fogelstrom is man- ager, and Wm. L. MeCague, treasurer. Up

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THE BISHOP CLARKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

to January 1, 1891, forty thousand dollars had been expended in improvements, withı only one-third of the building, contemplated in the plans, completed. On the date named the institution was opened for the reception of patients.

The Deaconess' Home was erected as a separate institution, in 1891, on the block east of the hospital, at a cost of $5,000. It is a two-story building, with room for thirty sisters.

The Creche, or day nursery, for the care of children of women who are compelled to go out from home to work, is the outgrowth of a suggestion made by the late Mrs. Orpha C. Dinsmoor to a society of ladies called the "Unity Club." September 20, 1887, an or- ganization was effected with Mrs. Dinsmoor as president; Mrs. II. C. Aiken, vice-presi- dent; Mrs. T. M. Orr, secretary; Mrs. G. A. Joslyn, treasurer; Mrs. T. L. Kimball, Mrs. H. C. Aiken, Mrs. E. D. Van Court, Mrs. W. E. Burlingim, Mrs. Ada T. Walker, Mrs. L. A. Groff, Mrs. Alma E. Keitlı, Mrs. G. A. Jos- lyn and Mrs. T. M. Orr, trustees. An incor- poration under the name of "The Omaha Charity Association" was perfected, and a lease for twenty-five years, at a nominal rental, was made with the city for a lot at the northeast corner of Harney and Nine- teenth Streets. For a year an old frame building, previously used for a tool house by the city, and which occupied the rear of the lot, was used; but on Washington's birthday anniversary, 1889, the ladies threw open to the public their new brick building, just com- pleted at a cost of about nine thousand dollars, two stories high, containing twelve rooms. The funds necessary were obtained from do- nations, and from two charity balls, held in the Exposition building. The enterprise has proven a success in every respect, and it is the purpose of the ladies to add to the building so as to provide room for a kin- dergarten and a training school for servants. The present officers are: Mrs. T. L. Kimball, president; Mrs. James Van Nostrand, vice-

president; Mrs. Ada T. Walker, treasurer; Miss S. J. Barrows, secretary.

The Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital, formerly the Child's Ilospital, located at number 1716 Dodge Street, was established in December, 1881, through the efforts of Bishop Robert Clarkson. Miss Sarah Mat- tice, of New York City, who had had con- siderable experience in similar institutions in the East, came to Omaha in the fall of 1881, and rendered most efficient service in the most trying period of the history of the hospital. She solicited funds, gave practical assistance in designing the building, and was manager of the hospital until March 10, 1884. The work was first carried on in a little, old frame building which occupied the ground now covered by the present brick structure, and the first money deposited in the bank, to the credit of the enterprise, was fifty dollars sent by Mrs. John Jacob Astor. Soon afterwards Mrs. Ogden, of New York, sent Mrs. Clarkson five thousand dollars. The further sum of three thousand dollars was raised, mainly in Omaha, by donations, and the substantial brick building now used was put up, at an original cost of eight thousand dollars, which has since been in- creased to twelve thousand, and opened for the receipt of patients just previous to the death of Bishop Clarkson, which occurred on the 10th of March, 1884. Miss Mattice was matron, as well as manager, until that date, and was succeeded as matron by Mrs. Maria Belt, who served in that capacity for three years, when the present matron, Mrs. F. A. Moore was installed. Mrs. Robert Clarkson was elected member for life upon the death of her husband. Mrs. A. J. Poppleton is secretary. The property is owned by the Trinity Cathedral Chapter.

The Open Door is an establishment con- ducted under the auspices of Buckingham Union of the Women's Christian Temper- ance Union, for the reception and reforma- tion of young girls who have gone astray. A comfortable building, number 2630 Cap-

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

itol Avenue, was secured and opened for boarders in the summer of 1888, and from that date the capacities of the institution have been taxed to the utmost. Later better quarters were secured on North Twentieth Street, opposite the Coliseum, and January 1, 1892, the establishment was moved to 1607-9, Lathrop Street. Mrs. G. W. Clark, an active member of the State Board of Charities, has had the manage- ment of the institution from the first, and has devoted to the service all hier time and energies. In fact, the Open Door was established at her suggestion, and she has been the chief factor in the collection of means for its support. In the collection of money she has been greatly assisted by Mrs. Watson B. Smith. The following named constitute the board of managers: Mrs. G. W. Clark, Mrs. Watson B. Smith, Mrs. M. J. Richardson, Mrs. L. C. Blaekman, Mrs. A. S. Potter. The physicians of the city have rendered their services gratuitously to the inmates of this institution,

The County Hospital, first occupied De- cember 22, 1890, will afford accommodations for one hundred and sixty-five patients. In addition, provision is made for fifty-six in- sane patients in pavilion number two, and eighty-five in pavilion number four, a total of three hundred and six. Arrangements are made for classifying the patients accord- ing to their needs and condition. There are also administration buildings, work shops, and buildings for the domestic department, all arranged for adding increased facilities for the care of patients, as the needs arise. The estimated total cost is as follows: ad- ministration buildings, $35,000; domestic buildings, $27,000; boiler house, $15,000; isolated pavilion, $23,000; medical pavilion, $37,000; insane pavilion, $40,000; isolated insane, $23,000; corridor, $3,000; total $213,800. The contract price was $120,033, but several changes in the plans were made, and during the progress of the work compli- cations with the contractors, Edward Walsh

and Jerry Ryan, and the architect, E E. Myers, of Detroit, arose, causing long delays and great additional expense. The building has a frontage of three hundred feet, and extends back a distance of four hundred and ten feet, exclusive of engine and boiler rooms. Its general appearance is not so attractive as might have been ex- peeted from so large an outlay, and during the erection of the building the local press had much to say in condemnation, not only on account of the delays, but also of the character of the work. The interior ar- rangements, however, are convenient and well planned, so that the inmates will be made as comfortable as can well be, provided it can ever be made substantial enough to be safe. The building is located on the west side of the county farm, surrounded by a tract of several acres of land set aside for the purpose, and the development of the grounds will add much to the appearance of the institution.

As the Douglas County hospital and poor farm have ever been a source of great ex- pense to the county, and have probably caused more trouble to the people of the city and county than any other one thing, the following history from its inception to the present time is given:

During the early days of 1859 the county commissioners, James H. McArdle, Sylvanus Dodge and Harrison Johnston, conceived the idea that it would be a capital plan for Douglas County to have a poor farm. They spent several weeks in looking for a site and in getting priees, but were unable to find anything that just suited. At the meeting held on March 1st of that year, H. Z. Chap- man, long since deceased, appeared before the board and made a proposition to sell the county 170 acres of ground, it being the northeast quarter of section 29, township 15, range 13, the tract being what is now known as the county poor farm. He wanted $6,000, $1,000 in cash, with the balance to be paid as follows: $1,100 in one year,

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THE PURCHASE OF THE POOR FARM.

$1,200 in two years, $1,300 in three years, $1,400 in four years, which amounts were to include principal and interest at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum.

Action upon this proposition was deferred until March 4th, when the county commis- sioners again met, and, after some discus- sion, made the purchase, giving Mr. Chap- man 82,000 in county warrants, put in at fifty cents on the dollar, and their own per- sonal notes for $4,000, due in one, two, three and four years, drawing interest at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum. To secure the payment of these notes, they, as county officials, mortgaged the land, giving Chap- man the first lien.

For just one year everything was serene, but at the end of that time Mr. Chapman wanted his money which was due upon the first note. When he made the demand the three commissioners told him to whistle- that his claim was not worth the revenue stamps that were upon the mortgage. They told him in addition to this that there was a territorial law forbidding county commis- sioners from mortgaging county property. Mr. Chapman hoped that the three gentle- men would do a little considering, but he hoped in vain, for they proposed nothing of the kind, and when the last note was due he went into our courts and was knocked out, the judge deciding that the commissioners had exceeded their authority in executing the mortgage, and that the county was not lia- ble. General Experience Estabrook de- fended and there won his spurs.

Chapman was not discouraged, but at once appealed to the supreme court of the State. In due course of time a trial was reached and the decision of the lower court was sus- tained. Then he gave up the fight and left the State. The disappointment was too much, and in a few years he died.

The old debt remained until about 1878, when Attorney Bonney from Chicago, rep- resenting the Chapman heirs, appeared upon the scene to demand the payment of the

notes, together with the accrued interest, or the return of the land, which in the mean- time had become valuable.

Elated by former victories, the commis- sioners told Mr. Bonney to try his hand at collecting, and advised him to sue for the money.

Bonney said that he would do that very thing, and immediately brought suit in the United States circuit court.

As upon former occasions, the county won, the court holding that the commis- sioners had no authority to mortgage county property, and that in doing so the creditor should have to look to them and not to the county for payment.

Bonney was not to be bluffed. and at once he appealed to the United States Supreme Court. J. M. Woolworth was employed and paid thirteen hundred dollars to assist J. C. Cowin, who was then county attorney. In November, 1885, a final decision was reached, and the judgment of the court was that the County of Douglas was liable for the whole debt, both principal and interest, amounting to $14,732.07. At that time the county was short of funds, but on July 3, 1886, the Chapman heirs were paid $9,500, and fifteen days later the balance.

About this time the commissioners, R. O'Keefe, F. W. Corliss and George W. Timme, were convinced that there was an urgent demand for a county hospital and a poor farm, as the old IIascall building, which had been occupied as a poor house, was al- together too small.

How to raise the money to erect a new building was the question. But a real es- tate boom was at its height that year, and the commissioners thought that by platting fifty acres of the poor farm and selling the lots, a fund could be created. The longer they thought the more determined they be- came, and at last they decided to lay out and sell 235 lots.

Commissioner Corliss, of Waterloo pre- cinct, fathered the resolution and it went

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAILA.

through. The land was platted by the county surveyor, and on November 3, 1886, the proposition to sell was submitted to the voters of the county, but unfortunately it was not carried by a two-thirds majority, and, as a result, parties who purchased lots at the subsequent sale have brought suits against the county aggregating something over $100,000, asking for the return of their money, on the ground that the election was void and that the sales were illegal.

On February 26, 1887, J. H. McCulloch, who was then county judge, appointed John Rush, Chris. Hartman and John L. McCague to appraise the lots which were to be sold. On March 3rd they took the oath of office and the proceedings were reported to the county commissioners. Mr. McCague was absent from the State, and on April 8th William Gibson was appointed to fill the vacancy.

These appraisers visited the premises, and on April 13th reported under oath that the lots were worth $206,450, or an average of 8878.51 per lot. These lots were in that portion of the farm known as the east fifty acres.

About that time the commissioners adopted a resolution that the proceeds of the sale should be appropriated to the erec- tion of a suitable building for the care and protection of the county poor and insane.

In April, of 1887, after duly advertising the event, a publie sale was held. Thousands of persons followed a brass band and jour- neyed to the poor farm. The auctioneer, Thos. Riley, mounted a dry goods box, and offered lot one, block one, for sale. After some spirited bidding it was knocked off to W. I. Kierstead at $2,650, and after the dis- posal of the 235 lots the commissioners found that they had a hospital fund of $330,480 on hand, $191,035.16 of which was cash and the balance was notes secured by mortgages on lots sold.

Shortly after this the commissioners took steps looking to the construction of a build-

ing. Architect E. E. Myers, of Detroit, was employed to prepare the plans and the de- tailed drawings, and upon these a number of parties bid. Ryan & Walsh were the lowest bidders, and were awarded the general con- tract at $106,937.34, while J. S. Pope & Co. were awarded the steam heating contract at $25,519.

Dan. L. Shane was employed as superin- tendent at one hundred dollars per month. Work upon the building commenced and proceeded until the structure was up as high as the water tables. Then it was ordered stopped by Mr. Shane, he declaring that poor material, such as would not pass in- spection, was being used by the contractors.

A short time thereafter Mr. Shane was re- tired and a Mr. Ross appointed to fill the vacant place. As time rolled along, the fact of poor material having been used be- came apparent, and not only that, but evi- dence of poor workmanship was visible. A section of the south wing, being unable to sustain its own weight, tumbled out and fell to the ground. Shortly after the roof had been raised the corridor arches of the north wing gave way and fell, nearly wrecking that portion of the building.

Other evidences of poor work were visi- ble on every hand, and it was not until after two coats of mineral paint had covered the exterior of the hospital that it had any- thing like a presentable appearance.

During the progress of the work, the newspapers were very severe in their de- nunciation of the character of the work done by the contractors, and also of the action of the architect. That they had sufficient grounds for their condemnation has since become apparent. Early in the morning of the 12th of May, 1892, Superintendent of the Poor Mahoney arrived at the court house and reported that the building was settling rapidly. The trouble was in the north wing, which was 160 feet long and three stories high. Mr. Mahoney reported that just after midnight his family were

209

THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL.

awakened by a loud sound, like unto the report of a cannon. He hastily dressed him- self and went on a tour of inspection, but discovered nothing wrong. In the morning, however, feeling that there must be some- thing wrong, Mr. Mahoney arose early and began a more thorough investigation, and was not long in discovering that the unoc- cupied north wing of the structure had set- tled during the night, and that the interior and exterior walls were badly cracked from the roof to foundation. Superintendent of Buildings Tilly at once made an inspection and immediately ordered all the inmates out of that part of the building, and directed that the doors be locked. It was estimated that the amount that would have to be ex- pended to save the building would be at least 825,000. The county commissioners found themselves in a dilemma. The hos- pital fund was exhausted, and would not possibly have any money available until July, 1892. The general fund was in a de- pleted condition, as were all the other funds except the bridge fund. Notwithstanding this condition of affairs, the board at once took measures to prevent any further dam- age. They employed Mr. Richard Smith, a contractor, to go out with Inspector Tilly to ascertain what was necessary to save the building. An account of the visit which these gentlemen made was published in the Omaha Bee, of May 13, 1892, and is, with slight correction, as follows:

" The commissioners instructed Inspector Tilly to employ an expert to ascertain what was needed to save the building. Act- ing under these instructions, Contractor Dick Smith's services were secured, and together the two men journeyed to the hospital. They had inspected the exterior walls and gone through the basement, first and second story corridors. Then they were about to go into the garret, under the roof, along the center to the north end, but, on account of the lack of light, an attendant was sent after a lantern, when, a moment later, and without

any warning, the corridors fell with a loud crash, filling the place they occupied with dust and debris. A second later there was another crash, as the floor below was too weak to stand the strain.

"The whole mass fell to the main floor, and for a moment it sustained its load, but finally broke, and the whole mass of brick, mortar, wood and iron went into the base- ment. The corridor walls swayed back and forth, but at last they straightened up, and are now standing, although bulged and twisted out of shape.

" The men hurriedly left the building, ex- pecting that the outer walls and the roof would go next, but they stood the strain, though they look as if a cyclone had passed over that section of the country.

"The slate roof has cracked and in some places sunk down a foot, while the walls, from the water tables to the eaves, have sprung out in places at least eight inches.

" Inspector Tilly states that the entire wing will have to be torn down. To do this, it will be necessary to prop all of the partition walls to hold them from falling. Then the outer walls will have to be braced, in order to prevent the roof from dropping in. After this is done, the roof will have to be taken apart and the entire wall pulled down, brick by brick.

" This is not the worst thing that is liable to happen. The walls of the south wing have commenced to crack, and to-day a crack in the ceiling of the floor of the corridor of the south wing extends from the main build- ing to the south end. While this work is not such as to cause any alarm, it is as large as the crack's in the north wing were when the building was visited by a Bee reporter yesterday.

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 32

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020