J. Lewis Crozer Hospital opens



You have to be pretty old to remember when today's Crozer Hospital was known as the J. Lewis Crozer Hospital. Same location as today.

CHESTER TIMES – July 17, 1903

            FOUNDER’S DAY EXERCISES AT THE J. LEWIS CROZER HOSPITAL

 Formal Opening of the New Institution This Afternoon

 with Rev. Dr. Weston as Presiding Officer and Addresses by S.A. Crozer, Rev. F.C. Woods and Other Friends

            This is a great day for Chester.  It marks an epoch in her history.  One of her most public spirited citizens, J. Lewis Crozer, “being dead, yet speaketh” and “his works do follow him.”  Within the past year there has arisen a monument to his memory; today it is completed; the thought cherished during his life, and the pride of his declining years, is consummated and this afternoon the people will do honor to his memory by attending the dedication of the J. Lewis Crozer Hospital, one of the twin institutions which he projected and endowed.

            This afternoon there will arrive here by special invitation some of the best brain and progress of the medical fraternities, who will go on a tour of inspection of the new institution.  More than 300 of them have been asked to be present and many have accepted formally, to see one of the finest hospitals and homes in the state of Pennsylvania, if not in this country.  Both schools of medicine will be represented.  Prejudice will be laid aside in an effort to know what is to be done in the future by the great founding of a philanthropic man, carried to a happy issue by his partner of life to whom he trusted all.
            THE FINAL TOUCHES – Yesterday was a busy one for those concerned in the hospital.  Every preparation was made for the reception of the guests and none the less interested was Mrs. Crozer herself.  The staff of physicians was present, the nurses and resident physician and each by suggestion and application, completed plans so that this morning the hospital was practically ready for the reception of patients.  None will be admitted, however, until tomorrow and the days following, but everything has a business and professional air about it.
            It may be interesting to know that Mr. Crozer has built these two institutions out of money not in the original appropriation made in the will, but the half million dollars left as the endowment remains intact.  This was of her own volition, as was her decision to erect the buildings during her lifetime.  Her only unselfish interest has been the amelioration of humanity’s sufferings, and how greatly will she accomplish this, and the desires of her husband, is shown in the ideas that have been injected into the structure and of the splendid results that is presaged by them.
            THE STAFF – The TIMES has mentioned in a previous issue the medical and surgical staffs of the hospital and home, but for the benefit of the public does so once more.  Miss Ubil is the general superintendent, Miss Margaret Anderson, a graduate of the Hahnemann Hospital, Philadelphia, is chief nurse, and Dr. Franklin Massey is resident physician.  The staff is as follows:
            Medical director, Dr. Robert P. Mercer, Staff:  Dr. Isaac Crowther, Dr. Charles W. Perkins, Sr., Dr. Samuel Starr, Dr. Franklin Powel.
            Head surgeon, Dr. Samuel D. Maddux; associate, Dr. George C. Webster; Pathologist, Dr. Joseph R. Taylor Gray, Jr.; Ophthalmologist, Otologist and Laryngologist, Dr. Charles H. Hubbard.
            The original conception of the hospital was a two-story building, one main floor to be occupied by wards and the necessary toilet, bath, and diet rooms, the upper floor to be reserved exclusively for private patients.  However, it was found when the site was selected on the side of the east terrace for the Home for Incurables that the portion of the hospital, which was originally considered as basement, was on account of the sloping ground, several feet above grade, consequently a considerable portion of the so-called basement was found well-adapted for hospital purposes.
            On this, which may really be called the first floor, are located a large room well fitted for the reception of accident cases; two wards which at present are unassigned, the room for X-Ray apparatus, laboratory, staff room, eye room, and five rooms that are very available as private rooms.  A room is also provided on the south end, entered only from the outside, in which a contagious case may be isolated should such develop in the hospital.  This room has a private telephone connected with the hospital telephone system, so that ready communication can be made.
            The main floor of the hospital which is entered from the west end, is devoted to medical cases, and a northern end to surgical cases.  Each section has a bath and diet kitchen, and two toilet rooms, two large wards and a sun parlor.  The surgical section has a suite of five rooms, separated by heavy walls from the rest of the building, which are devoted exclusively to operations.  One is assigned as an anesthetic room, another as a recovery room, where a patient, whether paid or free, can have the benefit of the quiet and privacy in the hours following operation.
            A room in this suite is also devoted to the surgeons, where they may change their street clothing, scrub up and don appropriate robes, previous to entering the operating room.  This is provided with the Mott pedal valve, surgeon’s washstand and a shower bath.  The sterilizing room on the other side of the corridor, is fitted with the latest apparatus for the sterilizing of water, instruments and dressing.  It is also provided with a Mott pedal valve laboratory.
            The operating room is one of the most complete to be found in any hospital in the country.  The floor is of marble-Tarzana and the walls are covered with solid slabs of marble reaching to the ceiling.  Over the ceiling under the skylight is a diffusing sash, so that the light falls in pleasant rays.  It is equipped with powerful electric reflectors, so that if necessary, an operation can be performed day or night.  On the upper floor are eight delightful rooms, each having a pleasant outlook and each equipped with arrangement by which nurses can be signaled by electric annunciator.  The hospital is equipped with six private telephones by means of which different parts of the building may be readily communicated with.  There is also a special wire running to the stable to summon the ambulance which has already been purchased of Fulton & Walker of Philadelphia.
            The elevator is of the hydraulic pattern and runs from the first floor, near the accident room, to the third floor.
            The entire water supply of the Home and Hospital is filtered.
            On each floor is 100 feet of fire hose, running through a special two-inch main.
            It is contemplated that the nurses at the hospital shall occupy the third story of the Home adjoining, where pleasant and ample quarters are provided.
            All the cooking, at least the larger part of it, will be done in the large home kitchen, from thence carried through the tunnel and distributed in the hospital.  It is contemplated installing the most modern X-ray apparatus, both the coil and the static, but unfortunately those who are construing he same have not been able to complete them in time for the opening of the building.
            A special feature of the hospital is the well-equipped pathological and bacteriological laboratories, which will be in charge of Dr. J.R.T. Gray, Jr., who has been taking special course in the Polyclinic Hospital Philadelphia and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.  This will be equipped for the examination of bacteria, blood, sputa, etc. in a most complete manner.
            In the heating and ventilating of the building no expense has been spared.  Steam is conducted by the plant in the home to two immense coils in each end of the building.  The air from the outside is screened, passed over these coils and driven by two three-horsepower fans throughout the building.  In every room and ward in the hospital is another series of duets connected with large ducts, which have their out lets under the ventilators in the roof.  Here the air is sucked out and driven outside by three two-horsepower fans, so that the entire ventilation of the hospital can be conducted independently of the windows; in fact, the windows are only used for light, the actual ventilation being through the ducts in the walls.
            The extreme length of the building which is H-shaped form north to south is 161 feet.  There are two wings each 9112 feet.  All of the six wards have a south exposure, and all of the corridors are ten feet wide, the two lower stories being cement, with marble trimmings.  Rounded corners prevail through the entire structure.  All the doors are at least 3 feet 6 inches wide, so as to permit a bed to be taken in or out. The floors in the two upper stories are double, the surface highly polished, all the trimmings about the doors and windows being of oak.  The hardware is nickel plated of high grade throughout.
            The four main windows are each 24z338 feet, with a ceiling 14 feet high, giving nearly 13,000 cubic feet of air space to each.  It is calculated that the atmosphere of any one room or ward can be completely changed in twenty minutes, without opening the windows.  Chutes are placed at each end of the building, lined with galvanized iron, through which soiled linen can be dropped to the basement.  The hospital will open with forty-two beds, which, however, in no way represents the hospital’s full capacity.
            The wards of the hospital are absolutely free, medical or surgical care nursing, etc., being provided without cost to the patient.  In the private rooms the rate will be moderate and will include the desired attention of the nurse; but the fee for medical attendance, except that furnished by the Intern will be additional.
            An impression may have been created because this hospital makes no demand upon the public or state for contributions of money, that no contributions of any kind are desired, but this is quite untrue.  The hospital will gladly welcome donations of any suitable character which it friends choose to make.  Contributions of linen, muslin, fruit, books garments, or food suitable for sick will be welcomed and properly credited.
            This hospital, although operated in conjunction with the Home for Incurables, is not in any sense erected for the treatment of incurable causes; in fact, known incurable cases, will not be received in the hospital, it is intended for the treatment of acute cases, accidents, and cases of all character that are suitable for a hospital.