Photograph researched and submitted by Dick LaBrosse 1926 with Christine Pemberton R.N. - Supervising Nurse

The original Oconto Falls Hospital came into existence in 1921 when the board was formed and money collecting was begun. The old Issac Dupuis residence at 125 Main Street, a place called "Nob Hill," was converted in 1924. It was two doors down from the Shellman Building where the Oconto County Times Herald was located and the original house stands into the 21st century used most recently as apartments. 

The house was one of the larger family homes, having two floors in and "L" shape and dormer wings. Originally it had a full front porch with Victorian wood gingerbread trim. With screening, this made a comfortable place in spring and autumn afternoons and summer evenings. The porch was eventually enclosed to make more room for surgery and laboratory on the first floor.

Oconto Falls Times-Herald Newspaper- 1933

Oconto Falls- Miss Clara Adamski, R.N. has again resumed her duties as superintendent of the Oconto Falls hospital.  Miss Adamski is a graduate of the nurses training course of St. Mary's hospital, Green Bay, with the class of 1919.  She entered the hospital at Antigo as surgical nurse and later came to open up the hospital here (Oconto Falls Community Hospital) when it was organized in 1921.  She had charge here until 1926, and then took charge of the Oconto hospital for three years.  Miss Adamski came here from Hickory Grove, West DePere.  She succeeds Miss Christine Pemberton, R.N., who was in charge for the last seven years.

The following newspaper excerpt gives some first hand details of the this hospital:

submitted by Joan Levin

With (son) David about to graduate from high school, and (daughter) Jeanne already graduated and in college, Dorothea was requested by the Hospital Board and Administration to initiate a Medical Records Department at Community Memorial Hospital. As she had been a Trustee on the Hospital Board and its secretary since her appointment in 1939 by the then Mayor of Oconto Falls, E. J. Shellman, she was already familiar with many aspects of hospital functions. Following a short training period at Marinette General Hospital and a series of workshops and seminars in Atlanta, Colorado Springs, Ann Arbor, and Chicago, the department was put into operation in September of 1965. Dorothea has been director of the department until her retirement in May of this year. At that time she also retired from the Board of Directors, a 43-year tenure.

Caption The Oconto Falls Hospital now is housed in this building. A campaign is now under way to raise funds for a larger, modern establishment. (above) Oconto Falls Hospital in 1948. The original house remained in 2010 and is a private apartment building at 125 WI-22 (Main Street) along with the original houses on either side and the Shellman building at the corner. In this photo it has undergone changes since 1924, such as the widening and enclosure of the front porch with a  new entry way.  Published that year in the Times- Herald

(above) Detail from aerial view shows Oconto Falls Hospital 1949 Photo by John Larsen

Dorothea Rudolph has seen many changes in the hospital since 1939 when it was housed in the Old Debridge (Dupuis) residence on "Nob Hill" - Main Street. Some of the board members in 1939 were W. J. Munsert, Harry Bauman, Emil Behling, and Antone Metzler. There was no "Administrator's Office" in which to convene, and thus any available space was used, be it the kitchen after the dishes were done, the "operating room" (formerly the Debridge (Dupuis) den, complete with fireplace), or the basement laundry room (amid tubs of soaking, soiled linen or lines of wet laundry).

Grandma Best and Grandma Coppens provided delicious "home cooked" meals back then, and Dorothea recalls that the cook's salary for a month was $30,00.

The first hospital laboratory was started in an upstairs clothes closet. Drugs were kept in a locked cupboard in the pantry. The ward was divided with curtains and the lines holding them also provided a place to hang patient's clothing.

Dorothea recalls the apprehension she felt as her father was carried from surgery up the narrow stairway in a blanket to his room.

The move in 1954 to the "new" hospital, the former Woodman Hall and later American Legion Hall (now Parkside Manor) was a big step and great improvement. The board was organized to include various villages and townships which brought board membership to 16. The board was reorganized once more after a number of years.

Present Main Street Hospital in Oconto Falls

The present hospital on south Main Street, built to provide more rooms and update services to the community, has been an interesting learning experience to Dorothea, and she feels that she was privileged to be a part of it through the years. In the process she has used her shorthand and typing skills to provide many reams of minutes, and spent many hours attending meetings. 

(above) Oconto Falls Hospital in 1954 after a year of renovations were made in the 1902 building that had most recently been Oconto Falls City Hall at Franklin Street at E. Central. The property was cleared  when this building was no longer used as a hospital and then private retirement home. Now apartment buildings fill this space.  post cards

(below) Detail from aerial view shows Oconto Falls Community Hospital in 1970 with the two story addition to the rear. Photo by John Larsen New two story, addition with enlarged floor wings, to the back of the original second hospital, are seen in this 1960s  post card (below).

 

2nd Old Hospital on Franklin Street at E. Central
1953 newspaper article...

The Modern Woodmen Lodge #2160 received it's Charter in 1892 with 20 members. It was a small building located where St. Anthony's school is today. In 1902 they out grew this building and then built their new building which is part of the Memorial Hospital. In 1930 the accessments that were per member were not larger enough to support the building and talk was to double the accessments, which discouraged members. The Modern Woodmen turned the building over to the American Legion in 1930 and by 1933 the American Legion turned it over to the city for a city hall. In December 1952 it was then turned over to Community Memorial Hospital.

1964 Oconto Falls Times-Herald Newspaper

Oconto Falls — Featuring the variety show to be presented by the faculty at Oconto Falls High School at 8 o’clock this evening will be a play, “Her Husband’s First Wife.”  Cast members appearing in one scene are, Russ Shannon, Frank Kremer Jr., Ruth Peterson and Joyce Kilmer.  Money raised by the teachers will go into the Memorial hospital fund and "First Wife's" cast members appearing in one scene are, Russ Shannon, Frank Kremer Jr., Ruth Peterson and Joyce Kilmer.  Money raised by the teachers will go into the Memorial hospital fund.

NEW HOSPITAL BEING BUILT AT OCONTO FALLS IS AN INDICATION OF THE CITY'S PROGRESSION. Photo - Oconto Falls Times-Herald

Oconto Falls Times-Herald
May 1970

 
Oconto Falls began the building of a new hospital which, hopefully, will be ready for occupancy December 15 of this year.  The cost - $2,040.000.

According to retired staff, the actual date that the new hospital opened was St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1972.