HISTORY
Fort Hamilton Hospital: A History of Care, From 1929 to Today By Corinne Minard
I
t was because of the people of Hamilton that Fort Hamilton Hospital opened in 1929 and has continued to serve the community since. In 1925, a group of residents called the Butler County Welfare Group banded together to raise funds to build an additional hospital in Butler County. The group was able to raise $500,000 for the endeavor, which equates to more than $7 million in today’s money. Four years later, the hospital opened its doors on May 1, 1929. To introduce the community to the new health care location, the hospital hosted an open house where more than 14,000 toured the new facility. Even when the stock market crashed five months later, the hospital was able to stay afloat by working with the community and even accepting fresh produce as payment. In spite of this tumultuous period,
1925
1929
the hospital was able to open a nursing school in 1930. Fast forward to 1971, when the hospital continued to expand and offer new services, merging with Hughes Hospital. Hughes Hospital opened in 1951 with the sole purpose of treating infectious dis-
1930
1951
Fort Hamilton Hospital opens its doors on May 1. An open house is held for the public where 14,000 people tour the new facility. Hamilton citizens raise $500,000 to build a new hospital in Butler County. 8
F O RT H A M I LTO N 2 0 1 9
The recently opened Fort Hamilton Hospital as it stood in the winter of 1929. eases. After the merge, the new hospital was called the Fort Hamilton Hughes Memorial Hospital after Eugene Hughes, the founder of Hughes Hospital.
1957
Hughes Hospital opens for the specific purpose of treating infectious diseases. Groundbreaking of the new Lois A. Roscoe Wing. The hospital starts a nursing school.
1971
1974
Hughes Hospital merges with Fort Hamilton. The hospital is named Fort Hamilton Hughes Memorial Hospital in honor of Eugene Hughes, founder of Hughes Hospital. Fort Hamilton opens the Gebhart Radiation Center, offering cancer treatment for patients.