The Jeffersonville Hospital

    In July, 1892, a meeting was called at the city hall, in Jeffersonville, to discuss the advisability of erecting a hospital in Jeffersonville. On July 26^th of this year a second meeting was held at the residence of Mrs. Sarah Caldwell and the following directors were elected: 

    Mrs. David McClure, president; Mrs. Lucy Armstrong, vice-president; Mrs. Sarah Caldwell, treasurer; Miss Clara J. Loomis, secretary; Miss Hannah Zulauf, assistant secretary; Mrs. Ed Morris, Mrs. Barney Coll, Mrs. Herman Preefer, Mrs. N.H. Myers, Mrs. John Rauchenberger, Mrs. Mary Gottwaller, Mrs. Martha Cook, Mrs. Charles Neeley, Miss Lizzie Herzsch, Mrs. George Pfau, Sr., Mrs. Anna Shafer and Mrs. Al. Thias. 

    This institution was incorporated December 3, 1892, as the Jeffersonville Infirmary. On August 27, 1892, the old Myers home, at 415 East Front street, was purchased for four thousand and fifty dollars. Since then improvements to the amount of five thousand dollars have been added until the property is now worth about ten thousand dollars. The ladies who served on the first board deserve all the credit for making this institution a possibility, as it was only by their hard and unceasing labors that it lived through its first few years. Arthur Loomis, the architect, furnished all the plans and supervision for the improvements free of charge. The following furnished rooms and donated them to the hospital. Clark Lodge of Masons, Daughters of Rebekah, Mrs. A.T. Hert, Mrs. William W. Borden, Epworth League, Knights of Pythias, the Aid Society, and the old board of directors. The equipment is modern and complete, and the location is ideal, facing the river as it does and offering a view of ever changing interest to the patients who are able to occupy the spacious sun parlor across the front of the building. 

    The hospital was under the management of the deaconess of the Methodist church for several years and was carefully and efficiently conducted. The men of the city have taken charge in the last few years, one representative from each church being on the board of managers. The president is J. Howard Fitch.

Source: Baird’s History of Clark County, Indiana by Capt. Lewis C. Baird, 1909.