Published on 05/04/05 in the Fostoria Focus
From Doc Leonard to Foster Memorial to Fostoria
Community Hospital, it’s quite an operation
By LEONARD SKONECKI Focus Correspondent
- Click for picture -
How it looked in the ‘30s This
is how Fostoria City Hospital looked when it opened its doors May
3, 1930. The hospital later went through five expansion projects
(1939, 1960, 1976, 1996, 2002) and would later be renamed Fostoria
Community Hospital. It was operated by the city until 1962.
Happy Birthday, Fostoria Community Hospital. It’s
75 years old this week.
But the hospital’s history begins long before 1930.
For instance, it was a doctor who named Fostoria. In 1853, Charles
W. Foster donated land so the Methodist churches of Rome and Risdon
could merge.
The unification of the churches led to the political merger of the
villages. It was Dr. Abraham Metz who proposed that the new city
be named “Fostoria” to honor the man whose generosity
made the union possible.
In 1907, a Fostoria Hospital Association was formed. Fostoria was
53 years old and people realized a hospital was a must.
FHA proposed to build a hospital at the west end of College Avenue
on the former site of the Fostoria Academy which burned down in
1904. However, the necessary funding was never raised.
Dr. William Leonard, however, wasn’t taking no for an answer.
He built his own hospital.
Dr. Leonard was born in rural Seneca County in 1862. He died in
1946 at age 84. He and his wife Elizabeth were married 56 years.
Dr. Leonard’s practice was located at 314-316 S. Main St.
He added a small addition to his office. His hospital had six beds,
an operating room, purchased sterilization equipment, hired a nurse
and arranged with local undertakers to provide ambulance service.
In a pinch, Doc Leonard’s little hospital could house 10 patients.
In 1908, Dr. Leonard opened what he called “The Fostoria Hospital.”
Early report This 1913 annual report of The Fostoria
Hospital details the care provided by Dr. William Leonard. Leonard
built his own hospital at 314-316 S. Main St. in 1908, 22 years
before the city would construct its own hospital.
Nine years later, in 1917, Annie Foster, daughter
of Gov. Charles Foster and granddaughter of Charles W. Foster, the
city’s namesake, passed away unexpectedly.
In her handwritten will, Annie left the City of Fostoria $100,000,
as well as land, for two purposes. One was to build a library. The
other was to build the “Foster Memorial Hospital” in
memory of her father.
The land in question was essentially the current location of the
Municipal Building. There was an immediate controversy.
Right off, there were folks who argued that the parcel simply wasn’t
large enough to accommodate a hospital. On the other side were those
who believed that if the city accepted the bequest, it had to follow
the terms of Annie’s will.
Needless to say, no hospital was every built on Main Street between
South and Tiffin Streets. So Doc Leonard’s place continued
to serve as Fostoria’s hospital.
In 1919, the Chamber of Commerce took note of the fact that Fremont
had not only built a new hospital, but was raising $125,000 for
a maintenance fund. The Chamber investigated the possibility of
using Fostoria’s “War Chest Fund” as seed money
for a new hospital.
The War Chest Fund had been used to fund civic and charitable activities
during World War I. Once again, nothing came of these discussions.
It was “once more into the breach” for the hospital
in 1925. A hospital tax issued was placed on the November ballot.
The Exchange Club solicited 150 endorsements.
The issued failed even though a majority, 54.47 percent, voted for
it. Ohio law at the time said such issues needed a 55 percent percent
majority to pass.
In November 1927, Fostoria voters found another tax issue on the
ballot. This one was a no-doubter: 2,240 yea, 1,193 nay.
The $75,000 ballot issue established the new facility as a municipal
hospital. It was operated as a city department and the hospital
superintendent reported to the service director.
City Council chose Cemetery Hill as the hospital’s location.
That land was originally owned by the Methodist Church and was Fostoria’s
cemetery until Fountain Cemetery was purchased in 1856.
Fostoria City Hospital officially opened in May 1930. Mary Margerum
was appointed superintendent at an annual salary of $2,000.
The rest of the staff of 12 included six nurses, an assistant superintendent,
a bookkeeper, cook, maid and janitor. The hospital had 30 beds.
The Toledo News Bee called it “one of the finest small hospitals
in northwestern Ohio ....”
Fostoria City Hospital opened May 3, 1930. The first patient was
admitted that day. She was Guesta Ash. Dr. Nate Hatfield operated
on her for an unspecified illness.
The first baby delivered at FCH was Mary Patricia Farley, but the
baby was born with a heart lesion and died an hour later. The attending
physician was Richard Sheppard, father of the infamous Dr. Sam Sheppard
of Cleveland.
Current Fostorian Ann Jones might well have been FCH’s first
successful delivery. She was born Ann Harrold July 22, 1930.
She said her parents, Duane and Wanda, told her she was the first
baby born at the hospital. Twenty-nine babies were born at FCH in
its first year. From 1930 to 1996, FCH delivered over 21,000 babies.
The hospital was expanded in 1939, 1960, 1976, 1996 and 2002. The
hospital was operated by the city until 1962 when the newly incorporated
Fostoria Hospital Association took over its operation.
FHA guided the hospital until April 2000 when the FHA board voted
to approve the merger with ProMedica Health Systems.
The Focus wishes Fostoria Community Hospital a happy 75th birthday
— and many happy returns.