History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 69

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 69

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358

359

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Josiah Henninger, 1873 to 1886; Moses Kern, 1909 S. D. Woodring, D. M. Landis.

1886 to 1895; S. A. J. Kern, 1895 to 1910;

William H. Kuhns, 1910 -.

1912 Frank C. Guth.

1913 E. S. Rabenold.

1844 Jesse Grim, Michael Eberhard, Allentown; John Blank, Upper Saucon.

1845 Jesse Grim, Allentown.

1846 Michael D. Eberhard, Allentown.

1847 John Blank, Upper Saucon.

1848 Henry Schantz, South Whitehall.

1849 Jonas Brobst, Upper Macungie.

1850 Daniel Miller, Upper Macungie.

1851 Henry Diefenderfer, L. Macungie.

1852

Hiram J. Schwartz, U. Macungie

1853

Peter Romig, L. Macungie.

1854 1855

Solomon Klein, Salisbury. Solomon Bernhard, U. Macungie.

1856 1857

John Madden, Millerstown.

1858

Jesse Grim, Allentown.

1859 1860 1861

Benjamin Jarret, L. Macungie.

Leonard Moyer, Upper Macungie.

Jacob Andreas, Allentown.

1862 Perry Weaver, Upper Milford.

I863 Charles Wenner, South Whitehall.

1864 I865

Jacob Schaeffer, Upper Macungie.

1866

Solomon Griesemer, S. Whitehall.

1867

Daniel B. Mohr, Allentown.

1868

Henry Ritter, Salisbury.

1869 1870

Reuben Henninger, S. Whitehall.

John Erdman, N. Whitehall.

1871 1872 1873 1874

John Erdman, N. Whitehall.

Jonas Hartzell, Allentown.

1875 1876 David Wisser, Whitehall.

1877 1878

Jesse Marks, Allentown. John Sieger, S. Whitehall. David Wisser, Whitehall. Jesse Marks, Allentown.

1880

1881

Henry L. Schantz, S. Whitehall.

1882

Reuben Danner, L. Macungie.

1883 Edwin C. Kramhar, Allentown.

Owen Schadt, Whitehall.

W. S. Guth.

1884 1886 1887 1888 1889

John W. Schwartz.

A. P. Troxell.

W. S. Guth.

1890 S. R. Engelman.

I891

Owen Schaat.

1892

Reuben M. Rolder, William Deibert.

S. R. Engelman.

Reuben M. Rolder.

Thomas F. Guth.

1896

Elias Bittner.

1897

Silas G. Croll.

1898

Elias Bittner.

S. G. Croll.

1899 1900 I90I E. F. Kern.

1902 S. G. Croll, Henry Guth.

E. E. Ritter.

1903 1904 E. F. Kern. 1905 R. J. Lichtenwalner.

1906 E. E. Ritter.

1907 E. S. Rabenold.

1908 R. J. Lichtenwalner.

This institution was for many years known as the Lehigh County Poor House and House of Employment. Afterwards it was known as the Almshouse, but several years ago a more appro- priate name was adopted by the grand jury, namely : County Home.

The home is located about four miles west of Allentown, about I mile southeast of Schantz Spring and I mile east of Wescoesville. The Al- lentown and Reading trolley line passes in front of the home. The improvements consist of large spacious buildings with dining-room on the lower floor and sleeping apartments on the second and third floors, hospital buildings, laundry, bakery, slaughter-house, steward's residence, a large Swiss barn, with outbuildings, tramp house, electric power house and sewerage disposal plant. The two latter were recently erected at an ex- penditure upwards of $50,000.

In former years quarters were provided tor insane patients but the accommodations for this class of patients was deemed unsatisfactory and the county now pays for the maintenance of 175 insane in the Rittersville State Asylum.

It was the custom also in former years to rear and educate homeless children at this institution, but the project failed to give satisfactory results. Children are now placed out either for adoption or in board, in good homes at the county's ex- pense. In former years the dead were interred on the cemetery near the home, but at present all unclaimed bodies are forwarded to the State Anatomical Board at Philadelphia.

Officers of the Lehigh County Home for the year 1913: Steward, Wm. H. F. Kuhns; Matron, Mrs. Emma C. Kuhns; Assistant Ma- tron, Mrs. Catharine Hartzell; Hospital Stew- ard, R. E. Peters ; Hospital Matron, Mrs. Jennie Peters; Cook, Mrs. Mary Kratzer; Baker, Samuel Weidner; Engineers, Andrew Erbor, Charles Berger; Farmer, Harvey Kratzer ; Teamster, Alfred Weaver; Solicitor, Richard W. Iobst; Treasurer, F. H. Lichtenwalner ; House Physicians, A. N. Miller, M.D., Wm. B. Trexler, M.D .; Chaplains, Rev. E. O. Leopold, Rev. Frank A. Guth; Organist, Wm. Frank- enfield.

ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, SOUTH BETHLEHEM.

The need of a hospital in the Lehigh Valley had often been felt and spoken of; but nothing was done previous to the close of the year 1871. In that year it was called to the attention of sev-

1879

Jonas Hartzell, Allentown.

Reuben Henninger, S. Whitehall.

John Sieger, S. Whitehall.

1893 1894 1895

William Deibert.

IQIO E. S. Rabenold.

I9II D. M. Landis.

The following is the list of Poor Directors from 1844 to 1913:

John Bortz, Upper Macungie.

Jacob Andreas, Allentown.

360

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

eral gentlemen of South Bethlehem by the Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, rector of the Church of the Nativity, who urged it as a work which members of his and other sister churches of the Lehigh Valley and vicinity should undertake. About the same time, the Rev. Mr. Gries, rector of Grace Church, Allentown, hearing that an effort was about to be made, had a collection taken up in his church for that object on Thanks- giving Day, 1871, and transmitted it to the Rev. Mr. Whitehead. This was the first offering made for the hospital.

On March 29, 1872, a charter of incorpora- tion was obtained from the Legislature, and an organization was effected. Some changes in the charter were, however, deemed essential, and these alterations were made in an amendment to the charter, subsequently granted by the Court of Northampton county in 1873 and again by the Court of Lehigh County in 1880.

At the meeting held January 27, 1873, a com- mittee of three was appointed to solicit subscrip- tions for the building fund. This committee en- tered at once upon its work and met with such success that at the meeting held on the 27th day of February, the Board of Trustees appoint- ed another committee to examine and report upon a suitable site or building for the hospital. This body, at the next monthly meeting, recom- mended the purchase of a double building then approaching completion, on Carpenter street, now Broad street, South Bethlehem, and the amount of subscriptions to the building fund being suf- ficient to justify it, the buildings referred to were purchased for the sum of eight thousand dol- lars. They were afterwards somewhat altered to meet the requirements of such an institution.

One of the objects of the amendment to the hospital charter had been to commend the work to members of all denominations of Christians. This was fully accomplished.

After the building had been purchased and it became necessary to furnish it, the members ot several churches provided for the different rooms. In the same spirit, the ladies of Bethlehem, South Bethlehem, and vicinity, without regard to church connection, undertook to raise funds by a fair and festival. This was held at the hospital building during the month of June, 1873, and realized a very handsome amount. The building and furniture being thus provided, the hospital was opened and the first patient received Oct. 17th, 1873.

The Ladies' Aid Society of St. Luke's Hos- pital was organized Aug. 6, 1874, and by their first excursion to Glen Onoko, on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, realized $840. During the fol- lowing year the Ladies' Aid Society continued its

valuable assistance and obtained the sum of $2,- 272.33, while the Lehigh Valley, North Penn- sylvania and Pennsylvania Railroads furnished free excursions to the Centennial Buildings at Fairmount Park. The fund for the support of the Training School for Nurses was established by this society in 1886, and has since been fos- tered by it. In 1879 it organized the Fruit and Flower Mission under the charge of a number of young ladies who carry ice cream and flowers to the ward patients every Wednesday.

At a special meeting held Nov. 30th. 1875, the Board of Trustes accepted from Mr. Isaiah V. Williamson, a benevolent citizen of Philadel- phia, a deed of trust, dated Nov. 16th, 1875, conveying to the hospital nine ground rents in Philadelphia aggregating $589.50 annual income, "in trust, nevertheless, to appropriate the net income, interest and arrears of said yearly ground rents to the establishment and support of free beds in said hospital, and for no other purpose whatsoever, and the principal thereof to keep for- ever, whole and intact."

During the year 1875, the number of beds was increased by the addition of six new ones, so that the hospital contained fifteen beds for adult pa- tients and two beds for children.

On Dec. 8th, 1875, negotiations culminated in an agreement between Mr. Tinsley Jeter, the owner of what is known as the water cure prop- erty, for the sum of $25,000. This agreement and its subsequent fulfilment was effected with the co-operation and approval of Messrs. Robert H. Sayre and W. H. Chandler. The property thus purchased for hospital purposes consisted of 20 acres and 85 rods of land, upon which, in ad- dition to the main building, was a small dwelling and three barns. A considerable portion of the land was laid out as an orchard and there were also other fruit trees. The property was pur- chased Dec. 8th, 1875, for $25,000, towards which the Hon. Asa Packer contributed in be- half of his two sons, the late Harry E. and R. Asa Packer, and himself, the sum of $10,000; the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company contributed $5,000; leaving a balance of $10,000 for which a bond and mortgage was given. (This balance, amounting with interest to $11,170, was can- celled in 1877 and 1878, from moneys received through the energetic labors of the Ladies' Aid Society.) The building was occupied May 24, 1876.

At the close of the first five years of the exist- ence of the institution, in October, 1878 the re- ports set forth that four hundred and fifty-five patients had been under treatment in the build- ing and four hundred and ninety-six had been

361

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

treated at the dispensary a total of nine hundred and fifty-one unfortunates for the five years.

At a meeting held July 4th, 1879, it was re- solved in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Trustees to procure plans for new hos- pital buildings, which should be prepared with reference to future extensions. These plans were subsequently supplied by Messrs. Jardine, architects of New York City, and the hospital committee gave them their approval, and the work was put under contract.

The designs contemplated four separate pa- vilions and an operating building, all connected by underground corridors. The building to be of brick and one-story high. Each pavilion, of the dimensions of 136 by 30 feet, to contain 24 beds, and to be thoroughly heated by steam, and prop- erly ventilated. The operating building to be 68 by 30 feet.

It was intended to build but one pavilion and the operating building at first, and to add the other pavilions as the increase in the number of patients might demand. The buildings under contemplation became more necessary in view of the conditions accompanying the bequest of the late Hon. Asa Packer to the institution, which required that provision be made for the sick and disabled employes of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. This munificent bequest was as fol- lows :

"I further will and direct that there shall be paid annually to the trustees of the hospital at Bethlehem, Pa., now known as the St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, and under the auspices of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, the income of three hundred thousand dollars, which shall be paid to the trustees of the said hospital for its maintenance and support.

"They shall pay annually from the time of my death the whole or such part of the said income for the above purpose as they in their discretion may deem proper and expedient, but any portion of the income not so paid over, shall be added annually to the principal sum of three hundred thousand dollars, and the income thereafter to be derived therefrom shall be held, appropriated and paid by the trustees in the same manner as is above provided for in reference to the income of the said principal sum of three hundred thousand dollars.

"This bequest is made with the understanding and on the condition that the employes of the Le- high Valley Railroad Company and of other rail- road companies of which the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company are owners or part owner, who may be injured, wounded, sick or disabled by age or other cause while in the service of the companies,

are to be furnished with board, lodging and medi- cal attention free of charge, under rules to be adopted by the trustees of the hospital, and which shall be subject to the approval of the trustees under this will. The funds to be derived from this income shall be applied-first, to the expenses of such employes, and if any balance is left out of the annual income, it may be applied to the general purposes of the hospital."

By further provisions of the will :

"Stock of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Com- pany at par is to be substituted for the amount named in the above bequest, and the legatees shall only be entitled to the actual income derived from such stock."

The first patient to avail himself of the pro- visions of the Asa Packer bequest was admitted into the institution in 1880. During that year the new hospital buildings were under course of construction at an estimated cost of $32,000. They were dedicated on Oct. 25th, 1880. The Bishop and clergy, together with the trustees, walked in procession to the building, and enter- ing, proceeded to the center of the new ward, repeating Psalms 41 and 91. Rev. E. E. Butler, of Easton, read the lesson, St. Matt. viii: 1-18. The Lord's Prayer and Apostles' Creed were said, and after prayer by the Bishop, the building was dedicated for its holy and charitable work. The Gloria in Excelsis was sung and an address was made by Rev. C. B. Schultz, of the Mo- ravian Church. The structure was occupied in November and proved satisfactory in every par- ticular.

Early in the year 1884, Mr. Robert Lock- hart, of South Bethlehem communicated to the Board of Trustees his desires to erect a pavilion for women. On motion the following preamble and resolution were adopted :

WHEREAS, Mr. Robert Lockhart has com- municated to the Board of Trustees of St. Luke's Hospital his desire to erect at his own expense a woman's pavilion :

Resolved, That the Board of Trustees thank- fully accept his generous offer, fully appreciating the philantropic and charitable motives that prompt him to supply this much needed depart- ment. Early in the Spring of 1884 the pavilion was put under contract and completed. The general style of the building was simliar to the men's pavilion already erected with some altera- tions dictated by experience. It contained one ward of twelve beds' capacity, and six private rooms. It was also provided with a large sola- rium, an operating room, clothes room and bath rooms. It was heated by steam, lighted by gas, and well ventilated.

362

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

It was formally opened on June 17th, 1885, although as early as May patients had been re- ceived into it. The Yoder property with an area of 16 acres adjoining the hospital grounds, was purchased in 1886 and "St. Luke's Place" in 1887; the latter is a roadway 50 feet in width connecting the hospital grounds with Delaware avenue. Since then there has been a small addi- tion to the land and a loss of 47/2 acres occupied . by the reservoirs of the Water Company leaving 33 acres. The need of an administration build- ing became apparent about this time, the super- intendent reporting that he had no office, no place to keep his books and papers, nor to re- ceive visitors. To remedy this large contribu- tions were made by employes of the railroads, mining and manufacturing companies of the Le- high Valley during the year 1887, and the build- ing was contracted for and constructed. The new administration building caused an expendi- ture of about $45,000. The work of the hos- pital at this time may be illustrated by the fact that during he single year of 1887, no less than 1,691 people were treated by the hospital with- out one cent being received in return. Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Wilbur, of South Bethlehem, on March 11th, 1889, indicated to the Board their desire to erect in memory to their son, Merit Abbott Wilbur, a pavilion for children. It was contracted for and completed in March of the following year. It contained a ward of twelve beds, five private rooms, operating room, dining room, clothes room, bath rooms, and toilet.

In the Autumn of 1888, a committee of the Board was appointed to solicit contributions, and a circular letter stating the needs of the hospital was transmitted to various congregations of the Diocese through their clergy, and to the super- intendent and officers of the various industries of the Lehigh region and to individuals.

In response to this circular letter contributions were received amounting to $12,112.33, more than two-thirds of which was contributions by employes.

In 1881 Dr. W. L. Estes was appointed su- perintendent and surgeon. At a meeting of the Board held in April, 1891, the office of Director was created and Dr. W. L. Estes was appointed to the office, in addition to his duties of physician and surgeon-in-chief. To the office of Superin- tendent, hitherto held by him, the Executive Committee, with the approval of the Board, ap- pointed Miss Victoria White, who also was prin- cipal of the Training School for Nurses.

The annual report for 1895 shows an indebted- ness of $7,400. This was due to the failure of

the largest source of income, the Asa Packer be- quest. This bequest, amounting to 6,000 shares of the capital stock of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company, together with 203 shares (the accretions upon said stock), was transferred to the hospital by the executors and trustees of the estate of Asa Packer. In April, 1895, Capt. James Wiley donated $5,000 to the hospital, to establish the Annie Lewis Wiley Memorial Fund for maintenance of the hospital, the in- come only to be expended. Mr. E. P. Wilbur also donated $1,000 to the training school fund. By the will of Edward B. Leisenring, deceased, of Philadelphia, a bequest of $10,000 for the en- dowment of free beds, was received.

By the will of Benjamin F. Barge, deceased, of Mauch Chunk, a bequest of $5,000 for the endowment of a free bed was received.

The Training School for Nurses was estab- lished Dec. 1, 1884. Miss Victoria, White filled the office of Superintendent and Principal for a number of years. She was succeeded by Miss Brown. In January, 1912, Miss Brown re- signed and Miss Cornelia H. Parker was ap- pointed her successor.

The annual report for the year 1912 shows that 2,643 cases were treated during the year. It also shows that all bills for the year have been paid and a balance of $1,668 on hand.

Of the buildings now in use, the Men's Pa- vilion, the Operating Pavilion, the Kitchen and Laundry Pavilion were completed in 1881; the Woman's Pavilion and the Boiler House were completed in 1885; the Administration Building was completed in 1888; the Children's Pavilion was completed in 1890; the Isolation Pavilion for contagious diseases was built in 1893; a com- modious stable was erected in 1892.

In 1901 a new operating room was erected by the late Samuel Thomas, as a memorial to his wife, Rebecca Mickley Thomas. Sayre Ward for Men was erected in 1903 by the late Robert H. Sayre. The Pathological Laboratory was erected in 1907 by the late Robert H. Sayre as a memorial to Dr. William H. Chandler, who was Secretary of the Board for thirty-three years. Lehigh University Students' Pavilion was erect- ed in 1908 by friends of the University on ground leased to the University by the hospital. Addi- tions to the dispensary and offices and an X-Ray Laboratory were erected in 1912. A new Ward for Women is being erected by Eckley B. Coxe, Jr., of Drifton, Luzerne county.

This institution has been doing very proficient work and is not only appreciated and recognized for its successful work in the Lehigh Valley, but under its skilled Director and Surgeon-in-Chief

363

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Dr. William L. Estes, it has become one of the strongest hospitals of the eastern part of Penn- sylvania.

The officers of the institution at present are as follows :

Board of Trustees.

Rt. Rev. Ethelbert Talbot, LL.D., President, ex-officio; Rt. Rev. Charles L. Moench, First Vice-President; Warren A. Wilbur, Second Vice-President ; Albert N. Cleaver, Secretary ; Warren A. Wilbur, Treasurer ; James C. Hay- don, Rev. Marcus A. Tolman, Frank Firmstone, F. J. Meyers, N. M. Emery, Harry J. Seaman, John W. Eckert, Charles M. Dodson, Henry C. Trexler, H. H. Mitchell, Henry S. Drinker, LL.D., Leonard Peckitt, Edwin Thomas, Allan C. Dodson, Robert E. Wilbur, Charles M. Schwab, M. L. Connelly, Rev. Francis S. Hort, James W. Fuller, Jr., Henry S. Snyder, David J. Pearsall, G. Reginal Radford, Alexander C. Graham.

Medical Board.

Director, and Physician and Surgeon-in-Chief, William L. Estes, M.D .; Associate Physician and Surgeon-in-Chief, William P. Walker, M. D .; Chief of House Staff and Dispensary, Wil- liam L. Estes, Jr., M.D .; Pathologist, Adam L. Kotz, M.D., Easton ; Acting Roentgenologist, A. J. Bittner ; Resident House Physicians and Surgeons, 1912; Austen J. Canning, M.D., Edgar L. Sowden, M.D., Stanley A. Krebs, M. D., Thomas B. Kern, M.D .; 1913; Stanley A. Krebs, M.D .; Superintendent of the Hospital and Principal of the Training School for Nurses, Miss Cornelia Halsted Parker.

HOMEOPATHIC STATE HOSPITAL.

The first step looking forward to the establish- ing of a Homeopathic State Hospital in the State of Pennsylvania was taken by the Ger- mantown Homeopathic Medical Society of Phil- adelphia which appointed a committee of twelve of its members of which Isaac W. Heysinger, M.D., was chairman for the purpose of intro- ducing and furthering a bill before the State Legislature to provide for the selection of a site and construction of a State Insane Hospital to be under homeopathic management and control. After several unsuccessful attempts the following bill was finally passed by both houses of the Pennsylvania Legislature, June 25-26, 1901 :

(No. 437) AN ACT

To provide for the selection of a site and the erec- tion of a State Hospital for the treatment of the Insane under Homeopathic Management, to be

called the Homeopathic State Hospital for the Insane, and making an appropriation therefor.

SECTION I. Be it enacted, etc., That the Governor shall appoint three persons. The President pro tempore of the Senate, shall appoint one member of the present Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member of the present House, who, together with the present Presi- dent pro tempore of the Senate, and the present Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall con- stitute a Commission, who shall serve without com- pensation, to select a site and build a hospital, to be conducted under homeopathic management, for the care and treatment of the Insane of the follow- ing counties, to wit: Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming, and of such other insane patients as are hereinafter speci- fied.

SEC. 2. Said Commissioners shall as soon as pos- sible after their appointment, select a tract of land suitable for the purposes of said hospital, which shall be located as nearly as possible at the center of population of the district above named and at a place as readily accessible as practicable from all parts of said district.

SEC. 3. The tract of land so selected shall be good, arable land, well adapted to the preservation of the health, the occupation and maintenance of the in- mates of said hospital, with an adequate supply of good water, and large facilities for drainage from the hospital buildings and said tract of land, so se- lected, and the cost thereof shall be approved in writing by the Governor and the Board of Public Charities before the purchase money shall be paid, and the deed for the same shall be taken in the name of the Commonwealth: but nothing herein contained shall prevent said commissioners from re- ceiving a deed to the Commonwealth, in fee, for any land donated for the purpose aforesaid.

SEC. 4. The plans for the said Hospital shall be prepared by said Commissioners, and approved by the Board of Public Charities. The buildings shall be of the best design for the construction of such institution, and without expensive architectural adornments or unduly large or costly administrative accommodations, and no change shall be made in said plans of construction without the consent of the Board of Public Charities.

SEC. 5. To enable the Commissioners to purchase the land and to commence the erection of said build .. ings, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby spe- cially appropriated : to be drawn from the Treasury as the same may be required, on warrants drawn by the Auditor General in the usual manner, vouchers or statements to be furnished, approved by the Secretary of the Board of Public Charities, before any warrant is issued: provided that no part of the money herein appropriated shall become available until the Governor, Auditor General and State Treas- urer shall have filed in the office of the Auditor General and State Treasurer a certificate setting forth that there is in the Treasury a sufficient sum of money, not otherwise appropriated, to pay the said appropriation.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 69

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158