Butte County
Biographies
THE SISTERS’ HOSPITAL, CHICO.
THE SISTERS’ HOSPITAL, CHICO.--How much
of the fame of Butte County for its institutions of mercy and its superior
educational advantages is due to the Sisters’ Hospital and to their recently
established School for young children it maybe difficult to determine, but
those familiar with the splendid equipments of both, the untiring and
scientific service of the one, and the discipline and excellent results of the
other, will accord to these Church agencies a high place and their full share
of the credit that is due them. The Hospital was established in 1904 by the
Sisters of Charity, and was originally founded in the parsonage of the Church
property of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Father
Gualco gave up the parsonage for the hospital, and built a small addition to it
so that the entire structure was used for hospital purposes. The reputation of
the Sisters and the medical staff for skill and
fidelity spread rapidly, and the hospital soon was transferred to a large
residence purchased on Chapman Street
in the suburbs of Chico. That
building burned to the ground, however in January, 1909, a complete loss to the
management; but the patients were all saved and removed to different homes. The
Sisters then purchased the only suitable and available place, on Second and
Hazel Streets, and remodeled it to suit their needs. They also built an annex
to the hospital, which can accommodate thirty–five patients, besides providing
living quarters for the Sisters of the Order.
The
hospital is well-equipped, with modern rooms, each of which is heated and
lighted in the best manner. There is also a fine operating-room finished in
white, and modern in every way, and there is an X-Ray room. The Sisters of
Charity established this as the mother house in California
in 1904. Mother Agnes was the first Superior, and came
from Cincinnati, Ohio;
she served with devotion and ability until her demise, which took place while
the Sisters resided on Chapman Street.
She was succeeded by the present Sister Superior Augustine.
The
hospital is a general hospital, available to everyone. And such is its record,
and such are its ideals and aims, that Chico
looks upon it with pride. The new hospital is being erected of concrete and steel,
and towers six stories in height. It will be absolutely fire-proof, sanitary
and modern in every respect. The furnishings and appointments will be of the
latest and most modern, and there will be several operating and surgical
dressing rooms. An automatic elevator will convey the patients to a beautiful
roof-garden. The hospital is built to accommodate one hundred patients, and
apart from that will be a wing for the nurses’ residence. Another
for the Sisters, and still another for a Chapel.
In
connection with the hospital, the Sisters of Charity have established at Mount
Saint Agnes, Sterling City, a school for young
children. This was commenced in 1909. When they built a boarding
school there. And this they conduct the year around. The
school, which is named from Mother Agnes, who founded it. Occupies a
beautiful site on one of the two hills in Sterling
City, and enjoys a large patronage.
Ten acres of grounds are reserved for the school; there is abundance of
mountain water, and all the conditions are favorable for raising the necessary
produce for the institutions. The children have a large pleasant playground,
which contributes to their happy memories of delightful months and years there.
Transcribed
by Kim Buck.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 1117, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Kim
Buck.
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