The History of St. Francis Hospital

NOTICIAS Quarterly Magazine Of The Santa Barbara Historical Society

Vol. XLIV, No. 4

Winter 1998

I

History of St. Francis Hospital

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I This is a landmarkyearfor St. Francis Medical Center. Ninety years ago,a sanitarium nestled in the Santa Barbarafoothills was transformed 7 into the Tri-Counties’first Catholicmedicalfacility, St. Francis Hospital, I administered by the Franciscan Sisters ofthe Sacred Heart. In the ensuing years the hospital has overcomefinancial hardship and natural disaster to develop into one ofthefinest establishments ojmedicine in the county.In a salute to its ninetieth anniversary, Sister Christine Bouman,O.S.F., chronicles the trials, tribulations, and triumphs ofSt. Francis Medical Center. All photographs arefrom the archives of St. Francis Medical Centerunless otherwise noted.

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THE AUTHOR: Sister Christine Bauman, O.S.F., is a Franciscan Sister ofthe Sacred Heart and has served in the healthcare ministryfor over thirty-fouryears. She is Vice Presi dent, Community Development, at St. Francis Medical Center and Executive Director, St. Francis Hospital Foundation. She is a RNfrom St.Joseph Hospital School of Nursing and completed her BSN at Lewis University, Lockport, Illinois. She holds a Masters in Nursing from University of Illinois at Chicago and a MBAfrom Lake Forest Qraduate School of Management,Illinois.

Author's Acknowledgements: I wish to acknowledge those whose help in research made this project possible; Michael Redmon. Santa Barbara Historica Society; Brother Tim Arthur and Father Virgilio Biasiol. Santa Barbara Mission; Los Angeles Arch diocese archives; Sister Kathleen Moseley, Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart ar chives; Sue De Lapa, Librarian, Santa Barbara News Press; Mrs. Walker A.(Barbara) Tompkins; James Ruiz: Lloyd Monk; Scy Kinsell, M.D, Photo on back,cover:Standing amidst the earthquake rubble unscathed was the statue ofthe Sacred Heart ofJesus,a sign which convinced Mother Aloysia that the hospital had to be re built. The earthquake occurred June 29,1925.

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS: NOTICIAS is a quarterly journal de voted to the study of the history of Santa Barbara County. Contributions of articles are welcome. Those authors whose articles arc accepted for publication will receive ten gratis copies of the issue in which their article appears. Further copies arc available to the contributor at cost. The authority in matters of style is the University ofChica go Manual of Style, iqth edition. The Publications Committee reserves the right to re turn submitted manuscripts for required changes. Statements and opinions expressed in articles are the sole responsibility of the author.

Michael Redmon, Editor Judy Sutcliffe, Designer

© 1998 The Santa Barbara Historical Society 136 E, De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara. California 93101 ● Telephone: 805/966-1601 Single copies $5.00 ISSN 0581-5916

THE HISTORY OF ST FRANCIS HOSPITAF The Healing Ministry Sister Chnstine Bowman, O.S.F. The following narrative recounts the beginnings of St. Francis Hospital and its development over ninety years of service to the Santa Barbara com munity. The story includes the sisters’ handwrit ten accounts of their arrival in Santa Barbara in 1908 and the heartaches and joys of establishing the Tri-Counties’ first Catholic hospital. Of par ticular note arc the reflections of Sister M. Rosina Merkel, O.S.F., Superior and Administrator of St. Francis Hospital, appointed in 1920. It was God’s providential care that guided the building of the ministry in bricks and mortar and in the sacrifice in the sisters’ labor of love chat led to the heart of the healing ministry. On a pillar outside of St. Francis Medical Center is written, "First a dream reflections from Sister M. . . . then a reality” Sylvianne Mattcrn, administrator from 19651989. So it is.

An Earth Shattering Experience Early Morning of 1925

7\ crowd in January of 1924 edicates the neu‘ St.

Francis Flospital building, destinedfor destruction in the earthquake. Santa Barbara Historical Society.

Suddenly there ivas afearful earthquake, accompanied by a terrible din. Terror seized everyone. Some of the yoioig Sisters, in their arixiety, clung to me. I believed the hour of our death had come and said: "Sisters, be calm. We are really by our Blessed Savior’there in chapel]. At the same moment there was a fearful thnist, the earth and the house rose and sank, and it seemed as though everything turned around.

Ourbeautifid Stations[of the Cross], candles, monstrance, 'v'lgil Light Stand—everything fell with a crash to the floor. Simultaneously a terrible crash sounded outside and [followed by] cries for help. It ivas so horribly shocking that 1 tndy believed the end ofthe world had come.^ So rctlccccd Sister Rosina as she experienced the Hrst upheaval of the 1925 earthquake.

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During the course of her research, the author discovered that this photograph, often identified as the Quisisana Sa^iitarium, has been 7niS'labeled. Unfortunately, the true identity ofthe building remains a mystery. Santa Barbara Historical Society.

A Time of Dreams: Germany — 1866 If Sisccr Rosina had carried the rcflcccion a seep further, she might have asked, "Wliac was it chat brought us in the first place CO the beautiful city of Sc. Barbara by the sea?” Let us journey back a few years to the founding of our congregation in the small village of Seelbach. in the Black For est of Germany in 1866. Our historical documents describe us as "Sisters of Mer cy. . . joyous & poor,’’—a description of our ideal. Father Wilhelm Berger, a young parish priest, was inspired by the ideals of Sc.Vincent de Paul and St. Francis of Assi si. Thi.'^ inspiration led Father Berger to found a group of women dedicated to the pursuit of holiness through the works of neighborly love. From the earliest years of the congregation, the sisters spent long, ar duous hours serving the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the poor. They cared for the sick in their homes, nursed victims of the plagues of smallpox and ty phoid fever. They caught the young and

opened their convent doors to the orphans and to the elderly. During the FrancoPrussian War (1870-71) the sisters earned the Iron Cross, awarded from a graceful government for nursing the soldiers on the battlefield. The gratitude of the govern ment was short-lived chough, for in 1876. under a general edict of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the sisters were ordered to disband their group or find a home in a new land.

The upheaval our sisters were to know from the earthquake reminded Sister Rosi na of the upheaval from their homeland.

Then, as now. with silent prayer, faith and confidence in God’s providential care of them, our pilgrim band of sisters jour neyed to the United States, then celebrat ing its centennial. The sisters settled in In diana where they were invited to minister by a German priest visiting the area.

They then extended their works of neigh borly love CO Illinois and California and, nearly a century later, established houses in Brazil. The courage of our sisters on the

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ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL founded QiiisisaThe diree physu na Sam'canum, to ris,ht:TIarold Sidebotham, Phillip Chancdlor, and Baijamin Bakeivell. Qift ofLoirainc Perry.

battlefield, and in leaving their home- R land and traveling to a new land were I' translated into the rigors of new m foundings in San Francisco, and later 9 Los Angeles, responding to the health- f care needs of the people wherever ■ they were invited.

9 A Glimpse of Santa Barbara

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Prior to their arrival. Santa Barba- 9 ra had just been "discovered" by East- 9 ern millionaires and Western specula- P tors who were busy turning this fair city into a boomtown. There were nu merous developments, not the least of which was the opening of the city to the Southern Pacific railroad. Special railroad spurs accommodated the visitors to the largest hotel in Santa Barbara, the 600room Potter Hotel, graciously located along the beautiful waterfront. Prospects looked promising and expanded healthcare services were certainly a need in the blos soming city.

The Quisisana^ Santa Barbara physicians. Benjamin Bakcwcll. Harold Sidebotham and Philip Chancellor, established a sanitarium in 1905—an important development in the hospital work of the city. The Quisisana operations were under the capable mini strations of Katharine J. McGregor. In documents from the period, a portrait of the sanitarium is graphically painted: Any visitor to Santa Barbara going to wards the Old T^lission on the cars' or in a rig cannotJail to notice an imposing xvhite build ing on the rising to the east. It is easily one oj the most beautifid sites in all the city, com manding as it does a splendid vietv of the en tire city and the hills oji all sides and of the great ocean beyond. It is, moreover, above the frost belt and thefog belt. "An ideal spot,"you say, "for a Sanitarium."The hospital received

the very appropriate name of "Qiii si sana Sanitarium" which being rendered into our less musical English ivnidd be: "Here you get well Sanitarium”or "Ihis is the Sanitarium in which one should get ivell.”3 "The building, at an elevation of 400 feet, faced southwest, [with] all of the rooms being on the Iront of the house, so that the sunshine may reach them at all times of day."'^ 01 the twenty-two in the Quisisana. there were eighteen that were private and had connecting baths. There were even a few large rooms that had pri vate baths. The sanitarium could accom modate up to thirty-live patients.-'^ There were two six-foot-wide staircases, along with complete fire-fighting equipment, all with the mind of salety for the patients.

"They were well ventilated, and heated by open fireplaces. "The operating hall and sterilizing room on the cast wing ol the second floor was well removed from the main hallway. The diet kitchen on the second floor renders serving easy and nothing is spared to secure the best in the 7 market for the patients of the Hospital.

It was known that for some time the doctors were anxious to secure a communi ty of sisters to take over responsibility of the sanitarium and by August of 1908 they

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were successful in securing the Franciscan Siscers to assume this role. It is not known specifically if the doctors were ready to re tire. or return to private practice, rather than continue to cope with the detail and labor involved in providing hospital carc.^ Some early histories cite the possibility that the doctors may not have been able to keep the hospital afloat financially.^ Franciscan Friars It was through the Friars Minor at the Old Mission that the Franciscan Sisters first became aware of Quisisana. A visiting priest from Joliet, Illinois, reported to the Reverend Mother that he had found a per fect building in which to start a hospital.

The very Rev. Father Commissory ProvinciaUO of California, Father Theo dore Arentz, had petitioned the Rev. ExMinister Michael Reichardt of Joliet to come to Santa Barbara to conduct retreats at the Old Mission. Father Michael had been asked by the Mother Superior, Mar cella Rastetter. of the sisters at Joliet to kindly be aware of the sisters' desire to start a hospital in addition to the one they had in San Francisco. It was learned that the Sanitarium Quisisana, owned by some physicians, was for sale. At the same time. Bishop Thomas Conaty was in town to confer Holy Orders at the Old Mission. The Bishop was given an auto mobile ride, accompanied by Father Thcophilus Richardt and Raphael Fuhr, of St. Joseph's in Los Angeles. The conversation came around to the topic of a sisters’ hos pital in Santa Barbara. "The Right Rev. Bishop expressed himself to the effect, though informally, that it would please him very much chat the Franciscan Sisters would establish a hospital here or take care of the sanitarium.”11 It was this sequence of events chat led the Franciscan siscers to coming to Santa Barbara, paying $23,000 for the sanitari um. The trio of doctors at the Quisisana did everything they could to aid the siscers in establishing their work here.

Who were these Franciscan Siscers of the Sacred Heart? The work of the siscers was known to the Franciscan Friars

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through the sisters' work at Sc. Joseph Hospital in Joliet. A parish directory at the time described them chusly. "Every one knows the reputation which St. Jo seph’s Hospital on Park Hill enjoys and the tidings chat these good Siscers were coming to form part of our Community.”

It went on further to reveal chat it was "the subject of universal gratification, not only CO the members of the household of the Faith, but to members of every creed, and no creed who rejoiced to have [at] their command the ministrations of these gentle and devoted Angels of Mercy.”12 The St. Cecilia Club Located on California Street on Santa Barbara’s lower Riviera, was the St. Cecil ia Cottage, a small four-room bungalow owned by the St. Cecilia Club. The organ ization had been founded about fifteen years earlier as a small musical society.

The young women sought some outlet for their talents besides the musical recitals which members presented, At the sugges tion of Dr. Richard Hall, the St, Cecilia Club began to provide care for indigent patients. Thus, the Society became one of the first nursing organizations established in Santa Barbara.13 The bungalow was purchased for the amount of $3,500 and an additional $1500 was spent in convert ing it to use as a convent and adding a chapel.14 The Morning Press reported that the Quisisana[sic]sanitarium will be no more after August 20. On that date, St. Francis Hospitaiwill rise in its stead and the mission started by Quisisana [sic] will be continued and enlarged by gentle members ofthe Franciscan Sisters ofme Sacred Heart...The name of Quisisana [sic] will descend into revered history and the name ofSt. Francis will be raised in its place. The taking overofthe hospi tal^the Sisters,... opens a largerand broad erfield Jor the work.. The Catholic church has long considered the opening ofa third hospital here. But it was deemed inadvisable to do this [or the reason that, while there was sufficient room] for two institutions, there was not enough to support three.15

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ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL The Daily News further explained, "If their efforts in their present splendid work in this city prove successful, it is the in tention of the Sisters to erect a new hospi tal edifice within the ensuing six or seven 16 years.

A grateful patient wrote of the sisters coming, and in particular ot the first su perior/administrator. Sister Innocentia Rastetter.

Possessed ofan unlimited jund of experi ence in hospital tvorl{ these sisters have been chosen from among many others to come to Santa Barbara and quietly they began their labors here. Since then their efforts have spok en for themselves . . . their courtesy and con sideration ... won the confidence and esteem of the leading physicians of the town and of the community at large. . . . When the call camefor someone to start a Sisters'hospital in Santa Barbara, this sister [Sister Innocen tia], although prevailed upon to remain at the head of the great San Francisco hospital which she had superintendedfrom its infancy, bade good-bye to the great institution. [It was] the monument to her more than successful labors in the city by the Qolden Qate, to begin another labor here in the shadow of the mountains of Santa Ynez,and ivhat may not be accomplished here in this quaint old Nlis-

.Sion town loith its beauty, its pe^cct climate, and innumerable possibilities?17 Naming of the Hospital Walker Tompkins, one of Santa Bar bara’s premier historians, shared with his radio listeners twenty-two years ago about the early beginnings of "one of San ta Barbara’s proudest institutions.”!^ He had been told the hospital was to be named Salsipuedcs for a nearby street (which means "get out if you can”) but our correspondence of nine decades ago in dicates that the only names considered were St. Barbara and St. Francis.

"Though the institution was supposed to bear the name of St. Francis, a message was received yesterday in which Right Rev. Bishop Conaty suggested that the Santa Barbara Sanitarium would be a more fitting title, as the hospital is to be run on strictly general and non-sectarian lines.”19 It was decided to avoid the name Saint Barbara because there was a Santa Barba ra Sanitarium at 118 West Figueroa Street20 and locals did not want to con fuse the new hospital and this sanitarium.

So in honor ol their patron saint. St. Fran cis of Assisi. Quisisana, under the auspices

‘Ihe Quisisana Sanitarium,shortly after it became St. Francis Hospital.

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of the Franciscan Siscers of the Sacred Heart, was named Sc. Francis Hospital, which was blessed by Bishop Conaty from Los Angeles on October 27, 1908.

Some historical sources refer to our re ligious institute incorrectly, such as Siscers 01 the Sacred Heart of Mary2i and ocher combinations, but to set chose records straight, it is the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

In some quarters there still exists the misperception that the hospital served only Catholic patients ministered by Catholic staff. This has never been the case. Perhaps this notion started because the Franciscan Siscers founded the hospital.

School of Nursing The nurses’ training school was re tained and operated under the capable management of Miss Grace OBricn, who came to Santa Barbara six months earlier from Mercy Hospital. Chicago. From the pen of a one-time patient, the school was described as a three-year program with all the course work of a large city hospital, but with the advantage of more individual instruction due to smaller enrollment. The writer was. Much impressed with the cheerfulness and goodwill displayed by the girls towards their patients, their hospital, and one another . . . and went away feel ing a deep conviction that these young women just starting upon their life’s work, whose motto seemed to be 'Do unto others as you would be done by,’ could not but make a success of life, a credit to their profession one of God’s noblest, and an honor to the hospital whose pin they will wear.”22 Sr. Rosina Merkel, who was to lead the sisters through the earthquake, was in the first class of nurses that graduated in 1909. A reference in 1911 described the training school; "A training school for nurses, which is accredited to the State of California Nurses’ Association and having a three year course, has been in existence from the beginning and is doing excellent work."23

Thc Woman’s Advisory Board, through its Nursing School Committee, acquainted itself with the special prob lems of the hospital training school for nurses. Over the years the school would grow from only a few students to over forty-five by 1929.24 Tlie Sc. Francis Alumnae was created in 1921 and boasted a membership of sixty-six by 1930. The purpose was to promote fel lowship among the different classes of graduates and members and to strive for the highest standards of the nursing profession. The group continued to meet after the school closed in 1935 until only recently.

The importance of the school to the sisters and the ministry of the hospital was significant. "The work of developing the school has been done in accordance with a definite plan amplified and adapt ed each year to new conditions. Tlic prin ciple behind the work has been chat the School of Nursing should be a vital force in the Hospital’s growth and progress, and that the advantages offered by the school should be commensurate with the dignity and responsibilities of the work itself."25 The Hospital Campus The sanitarium, cottage, and grounds cost about twenty-eight thousand dollars.

There was a diet kitchen on the second floor that "renders serving easy and noth ing is spared to secure the best in the mar ket for the patients of the hospital. There arc fine roof gardens and large wide porch es looking to the sea on which the conva lescing sick may take the air and the sun for the greater part of the day.’’26 The rates of the hospital were very reasonable at ten dollars per week in the wards and the private rooms commanded a rate be tween fifteen to twenty-five dollars per week.27 "Of special merit was the roof garden commanding an extensive view and reached by a broad easy stairway. Pa tients could enjoy recuperating there eight or ten hours a day, within easy call of the

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and chcir patients the new building will furnish the first adequate facilities EVER available in Santa Barbara and will do away with the necessity of sending pa tients to hospitals in larger cities for major ’30 operations.

Vie building will be ofa type of construc tion never before used in Santa Barbara. It will consist ofa reinforced concrete skeleton with a frame ofconcrete posts 15 feet apart, connected by concrete girders. The space be tween will befilled in with two thicl{nesses of hollow tile, thefloors with concrete above and tile below. Advantages to this type of con struction is that It makes the building warm er, lighter and soundproof, a very impoHant 31 aspectfor surgery.

The building also included accommoda tions for nurses. The annex was connected to the original building by fireproof doors, adjoined the hospital building at the rear, and occupied a portion of the court formed by the three wings. Exterior plaster was finished plainly in the Mission style.

1912-1924 Sister M. hinocentia R^astetter,first Adininistrator and Suixrior ofSt. Francis Hospital.

nursing staff.”2^ "The hospital is in great favor with the Doctors of our city, and all who have gone there for treatment are elo quent in chcir praise of the institution and the care bestowed on them by the Sisters and nurses."29 In 1910. a new fireproof addition was added to the hospital which accommodat ed a space for a modern surgical depart ment—operating rooms, sterilization, an esthesia, supply rooms—costing a total of $13,000. The lirsc quarters used by the nurses were also located in this new addi tion. Since chat time. Sc. Francis has been expanding and modernizing to meet the health care needs of the people of Santa Barbara.

It was reported chat there was. "$10,000 of reinforced concrete and tile addition to the Sc. Francis Hospital that will give Santa Barbara a fire-proof and soundproof operating room, equipped with the latest surgical appliances. For Surgeons

On December 4, 1912, a beautiful and befitting event marked the 131st anniver sary of the tounding of Santa Barbara. A statue of Saint Barbara was unveiled at St. Francis Hospital, a gift from the fathers and brothers of Sc. Joseph’s Institute, Tcchny, Illinois. The life-size statue of the saint is made of scone and was placed on the lawn in front of the hospital.

With a sacred vessel in her left hand,sym bolic ofherassistance to the dying in the recep tion of the "Holy Viaticum,’’andwithherright hand resting on a sword,the instrument ofher deathfor thefaith,she stands on a snow ivhite base,looking slightly uprwards as ifpraying to Qodfor her charming city at herfeet.

St. Barbara is the virgin martyr who died for thefaith at Melipolis in Egypt about 306.

The statue of St. Barbara is an inspiring me morialfor the city of Santa Barbai'a. It was in this vicinity 309 years ago when Sebastian Viscaino, on the fourth day of December :e ves1603, with his exi seb ran into this channel. He called the chan nel Santa Barbara channel in honor of the

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saint whosefeast was celebrated on that day.

Such was the custom ofthat age offaith.^^ Anna McCaughey One woman whose assiscance was un tiring in fund development was Anna McCaughey, superintendent of the local detention home and assistant probation of ficer. Ms. McCaughey helped to found the Woman’s Advisory Board. This board provided immeasurable support to the work of the sisters. Not only did it tend to the funding of the building projects, but to many other challenges as well. The board gave its energies to the growth and devel opment of the School of Nursing and took steps to secure a fully accredited rating from the California State Department of Nursing. Miss Helen M. Lord. R.N.. was selected as superintendent of the school, and Mrs. Patrick J. Maher, chair of the Nursing School Committee on the Adviso ry Board, lent her rigorous support to the school. The enrichment of the school also led to training affiliations in pediatrics and orthopedics at Children's Hospitals in Hol lywood and San Francisco.

The Woman’s Advisory Board was one of the two key committees at St. Fran cis(the other was the Finance Committee).

The Advisory Board was patterned after the success of a similar board at St. Vin cent's Orphanage where the Sisters of St. Vincent’s and the lay women of their aux iliary had a very fine spirit of cooperation.

The existence of such a board was in many ways a new departure in Catholic hospital work, but Sister Rosina, seeing the value of an organization, urged its establish ment. Assistance was lent by Father Rob ert E. Lucey, Director of Catholic Hospi tals for the Diocese of Los Angeles in the 1920’s. The guidance from Fr. Lucey led to an affiliation of the hospital with the Santa Barbara Social Service Conference. espe cially with Grace Ruth Southwick, presi dent at the time. She was head of Santa Barbara public schools adult education and arranged for special courses for St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing.

McCaughey was called upon to lend her

For almost forty years, Ayina E. McCaughey was instrumental in local efforts to help those in need. She zvas a k.eyfigure in the early history of St. Francis due to her broad support of the hospital and herivorkon the Woman s AdvisoO’Board.

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assistance to lead the Woman's Advisory Board, because its first president. Mrs. Frank Clark, of San Francisco and Montecito, was called away to New York after only a few months in office. Herminia dc la Guerra Lee and members of the Santa Bar bara Relief Society sponsored the new board. Jane Carroll Byrd was also most helpful, particularly in the establishment of the nursing school to which she contribut ed her board educational knowledge.

McCaughey, from the time of the board’s establishment in April, 1920. had been extremely involved with the hospital.

It was only because of her high qualities of mind and heart that she had been able to so successfully meet the many problems with which she had been confronted in the organization and development of the St. Francis Woman's Advisory Board. This board in later years would develop into the

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL St. Francis Hospital Guild whose efforts have raised hundreds of thousands of dol lars for the hospital.

Continued Growth It was not long before it was abundant ly dear that the little St. Francis Hospital was much too small to care for the in creasing number of patients "attracted to the fine hospital."^3 With the emergent need to expand St. Francis, property was purchased of a little more than three acres in front of the sani tarium on East Micheltorena Street over looking the site of what was once a Cath olic cemetery. The cemetery had been moved years before to Modoc Road and then to Hope Avenue and became the nu cleus of the current Calvary Cemetery.

The proposed site was a point "fully 250 feet above sea level."34 The hospital was blessed with a wide

Qroundbreaking ceremoniesfor the 7ieiv hospital, igz2. Turning thefirst spadefid oj ea^th is hospi tal ad7ninistrator, Sister I{osina Merkel. Next to a7vara rnayor, otoan. her, at left, is Santa Barbara mayor, j.

J. c.

E. Sloan.

Charles A. Hojfinan, photographer. Sa7Xta Barbara Sociei bara Historical Historical Society.

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variety of assistance and very strong com munity support by people of all faiths.

There was also the Committee of Catho lic Ladies, a branch of the Santa Barbara Relief Society, which was very suppor tive of St. Francis, all of which led to plans for building of a new hospital. For this building campaign, several prominent people in the city lent their assistance in fund development and contributions.

Among some of the early donors were Mr. George Knapp (of the Knapp School of Nursing) and josefina (Josefa) de La Guerra, who was instrumental in several fund-raising endeavors.

With the help of T. Wilson Dibblec, president of Central Bank, a capital cam paign quickly raised the necessary $300,000 to build the new hospital. With Dibblee as Finance Committee Chair man, the group consisted of James B. Rickard, chairman; U, Dardi, secretary; and Neal Callahan. W.E. Erwin. J. I. Eisenberg, and P.J. Maher.

In an article that appeared in the Santa Barbara Daily Neivs, a general appeal was made to the Santa Barbara community.

110 The public is hereby respectfully requesed to assist, by financial donations, in the con struction of the proposed new St. Francis Hospital in this City, which hospital it is planned shall be erected in front ofthe present building on property belonging to the hospital. The great needfor additional hospital accommodations for this community has for some time been recognized andfelt. This need has been caused the

NOTICIAS wide andfaces Micheltorena Street. A power heating and laundry building is planned for erection to the west ofthe main building.^^ Selected for this project was the archi tectural firm of Pool. Kirkhuff & Schaaf of Santa Barbara and Mabry of Los An geles. J. Corbley Pool, prior to his death before the hospital was finished, "gave skilled and earnest attention to the various

steady growth ofpopulation here and also by the fact that hospitals are now more generally used by the public. It was formerly the theory that when a person became sick, he was better off in his own home than anywhere else. Very few . C F thought ofgoing to a hos- Ip F pital unlessfor an opera tion. Ideas have, however, The new St. Francis Hospital, autumn iqz^. Built at a cost of changed and it is nerw $^00,000, it wasfated to serve the communityfor less than two years. generally believed that to treat cases of sickness properly, the patients should be taken to a details of the building and it was to his hospital where there are facilities which may conscientious efforts and that of the men be lacking in the home.^^ associated with him. that the good sisters

him

The reporter went on to point out what the city would gain from a new hos

pital.

Ifthis hospital materializes, the citizens of this community and of this section will have an institution within easy reach that will not only equal but will in many respects excel the best hospitals on the Pacific Coast. This is be cause It is more modem than any ofthem and was planned only after an exhaustive study of the new institutions throughout the coun try. For instance, this hosfrtal will have no wards but each patient will have the benefit of a private room and there is only one other hos pital which is similarly arranged.

This idea tends to privacy and quiet and bet ter care for the patients. The proposed hospi tal is a class A structure of reinforced con crete and is absolutely fireproof The mam building is Jour stories high, with a roofgar den; in addition it is 22feet long and qofeet

who will conduct the hospital will have one of the most complete and convenient plants in the state.

"That St, Francis is an important asset to the city of Santa Barbara and the sur rounding country goes without saying, The sisters devote themselves to the care of the sick from wholly altruistic motives or rather from motives of genuine Christian charity, receiving nothing by way of per sonal remuneration and receiving only the minimum fees necessary for their support of the hospital. People of every race and every creed have learned to appreciate this presence of the sisters in Santa Barbara.”38 James T. Cornwall was the subcon tractor responsible for the grading job.

"Mr. Cornwall took 40,000 cubic yards of earth out of the hillside, making a cut of eight and a half feet deep on the moun tain-side of the lot. It is the largest grad ing job ever in Santa Barbara for one

Ill

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL building. An average of 75 men have worked on the job all winter. Sometimes there were as many as 100 men working on it; then it would fall to a smaller num ber. Over 2000 yards of reinforced con crete have already been poured into the walls of the building. From 12,000 to 15,000 sacks of cement have been used and 100 tons of reinforced steel are already "39 in the building.

The ground floor was entered from a driveway from Arrellaga Street to the am bulance. doctors’ and service entrance in the rear of the building. This floor con tained the main kitchen service and dining rooms, storage rooms, etc., and was given over entirely to house operation and main tenance. The second floor was reception room and offices, the third for medical cases and fourth floor was maternity.

Surgical suites were on the opposite end of the maternity unit and contagious cases were separated by a floor.

It was on January 7, 1922. that the contract was signed by Sister Rosina, Su perior, and Mr. Parker with the total cost estimated at $236,000 which included the new chapel. Bishop Cantwell wrote in an article.

A beautiful chapel in the prevailin Spanish style is built separately to the nort Patients relax on the sun deck of the hospital.

Fresh air was often considered an important part of a patient’s treatment. Photographer was Charles A. Hojfinan.

of the main hospital and reached by a cov ered causeway. This exquisite place ofwor ship has been erected by the Sisters them selves out offunds contributed byfiends and supporters outside ofSanta Barbara, so that none of the money raised here has gone into the construction ofthe religious edifice. There is one thing the good sisters in their selfsac rificing worli for the alleviation of human suffering have overlooked—their own com fort. They sleep in a small decrepit looking building apart from the present hospital and probably will continue to occupy this same Little home when the new hospital is finished as the old hospital will be converted into a home for the nurses. But likely enough this oversight is intentional. For the Sisters ofSt. Francis give their allfor others.'^^ Special ceremonies marked the ground breaking just after confirmation of the contract. In the presence of representa tives of the various civic, religious and so cial organizations of the city. Mr. Dardi presented Sr. Rosina with a small shovel decorated with colorful ribbons. She turned the first spadeful, the honorable Mayor. Mr. J. E. Sloan, the second, while Mr. J. Rickard turned the third spadeful.

The throngs of people were favored with addresses presented by Father Peter of St. Anthony’s College, as well as Mr. Dardi and the mayor. Father Julius Gliebe.

O.F.M., Guardian at the Old Mission, of fered a word of thanks in the name of the sisters. His prayer became our own in the decades to come; Bless, O Lord, this difficult undertak' ing. With Thee, and in Thy Name we have begun. With Thy help we shall proceed, and ifit is The Holy Will of Qod,we shall bring it to completion.

Amen Fundraising was ever on the minds of the sisters as they worked to gather the funds necessary to carry out this ambi tious endeavor and everyone got into the act. Even the sisters themselves had pro jects from time to time. One that stands out as unique, but not the least insignifi-

112

NOTICIAS

St. Francis ojfered patients a variety ofaccoiwnodations, including suites, an example of which is shoum here.

Photograph tak.cn by Charle.s A. Hoffnan, February igi4.

cant, is that chc sisters 1750 little aprons with a hu morous poem in each pocket.

Tliis little project netted $1,000 when mailed to people with a request for a contribution. This was no small sum in the 1920s.

On September 7. 1923, an initial dream became a reality and the newly completed hospi tal was formally handed over to the sisters and the next day the move be gan. By September 11 all the patients were moved in with a Mrs, Clunc listed as the first patient. This imposing edifice was built at a cost of $300,000. It was in a spirit of gratitude, that a statue of Jesus of the Sacred Heart was placed on the lawn of the hospital near the main entrance. It was a symbol, a symbol of God’s provi dential care, that He continued to watch over us. During the year of 1923, 802 pa tients were cared for, and over $26,000 in donations were received.'^1 When the sisters witnessed the com pletion of this edifice, their gratitude was overflowing. It was God’s providential care, whic is His power to sustain and guide human destiny. It was this provi dence, it was felt, which saw the sisters through so many difficulties, through the founding of the hospital and the ongoing challenge of raising funds to continue the ministry.

Examples of this care abound. There was a fire one Pentecost night when the sis ters were in chapel, but a patient discovered it in time. Another instance is recounted in the story of a distraught husband of a pa tient who, upon visiting his wife, threat ened to shoot her and anyone else he may encounter. It was God's providing care that prompted Sister Salome, in cooperation with the police, to intervene.“^2

January 6. 1924. the Feast of the Epiphany, was a day of great rejoicing in the gift of Bishop John J. Cantwell, who dedicated the new hospital on the hill.

Looking out to the blue Pacilic from the hospital was a great sight. Among the many supporters at this time was the Community Chest that was established in 1924 and assisted the heavily burdened hospital with almost $10,000, The dream had become a reality.

Sister Rosina continues her reflections of 1925 The readings for Mass of June 29 were for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul when the Gospel reading from St. John re counts that an earthquake shook the chains from Paul’s irons as he lay in pris on. What the earthquake shook early that June day was more than chains. Sister Ro sina thought of all the work and sacrifice that brought the sisters to the fateful day of June 29, 1925.

The earthquake measured 6.2 approxi mately and killed thirteen people and in jured sixty-five. Some 6000 buildings were affected; 618 of them were business struc tures with the total damage approaching $15 million. The amount of insurance car ried totally on Santa Barbara buildings was $1,250,000(value of the city was $48 million).“^2

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ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

113

Now the work of seventeen years lay in ruins. Sister Rosina at first thought "We are no worse off than when we came in 1908.” There was, however, no insu

Lived nearby, and had just returned from a sick call. He saw what happened and helped the Sisters and the nurses. Both I{ev. Fr. WiF liam and Dr. Kent Wilson merited honorable

rance. The hospital, only eighteen months old. carried a debt of $147,000. The build

mention for the great service they rendered to the Sisters in this tragic hour.

With almost superhuman strength the Sisters carried the patients out of the crum bled house. The nurses, who were at break

ing was a total loss.

The Sisters who were kjieeling near the or gan were the first to hurry from the chapel.

This was lucky fon them, or rather Qod’s blessing,for scarcely had they left their place where they knelt when the wallfell in...a cer tain death for them. The dustfrom the plaster falling and thefallen stones was so thick that one was unable to see each other. With the heartache cry: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" I hurried from the chapel, over stones and rub ble. Never will 1 he able to describe the terror and griefofmy heart as 1 witnessed the totter ing, crashing house, and thought of the poor hdpless patients. My heart seemed to turn over in my body, as each second 1 waited for the house to cave in and everything be buried in the ruins. "0 Qod, our poor patients.

Quick, Sisters, go into the house and remove the patients!"

More Sisters hurried directly from the chapel through the connecting walk io the hospital, and came out with patients. In these terrible moments, no Sister thought of herself; theyforgot themselves and thou^t only ofres cuing the sickAs 1 came out ofthe side door ofthe chap el, myfirst sight was the house tottering, and crashing to one side, with a young nurse, Miss Bath Clark lying on the plaster. The fright had unsettled her mind, and shejumped out of a window. On the other sick, amid stones and rubble, lay the House Doctor, Dr. Henry Hanze. He was unable to get out of the door, and as everything about him was crashing, the window was his only escape.

Bothjumpedfrom the second story.

Feu. Father William Clark OFM, our chaplain, who had just come from the Old Mission because of a drop in the number of students, hastened to the sacristy, still vested in the Alb, helped both victims and then car ried the rest of the patients to the Rpse Place.

Dr. Kent Wilson, ourformer ITouse Doctor,

fast when the quake happened, helped along.

All the patients were rescued, due to the Sis ters’heroism; not one suffered the least injury.

For a long time we could not locate a Toother who was on thejourthfloor. A Sister went at once to the Rpofgarden to look fon her; it turned out that the Mother had fled from the building and was now sitting below in the garden.

AlS one Sister carried a patient down the steps, the steps tore away from the wall, and with stones and plaster a foot deep on it, the Sister with the patient fell the length of the stairs. She retained her hold on the patient, and after righting herself, she earned the pa tient safely out the door.

As many doors werejammed,unable to be opened, one had many times to go through a hole in the wall. Some of the patients’ beds were covered with hollow tile and plaster.

How everything turned out, how it was possiblefor the Sisters generally to bring the sick out ofthe house without injury to themselves. oftheir life, it is something no one can under stand or describe. We could only sayfrom the depth ofour hearts: "Lord, You have protect ed us. You accompanied us at each step. You saved its from certain death." Many Sisters came directly under the bricks, as the tall chimney tumbled and bricks fell lik^ rain drops. Exceptfor afew scratches, no one was injured. orAfter the shocking flight, the greatest der prevailed, and allbecame calm. O, What a relief when all the sick were out ofthe house on the lawn on beds under the palm trees.

When 1 recall the terrified faces of that morning, I almost sink Many who were run ning around in night clothes looked at us as though they had come out of a mine. One Sis ter troubled herself to get clothesfor a patient from a wardrobe; the door wasjammed, and

114

as she pulled it with all her strength, the entire wall caved in. Even in thisfall, the Sister suffered no injury.

During all these terrifying moments, when a person prayed constantly, it didn't occur to me to make acts ofcontrition and sorrow. My first thought was: "Lord, Thy Will be done.”and "Help US rescue the sick-"As some ofthe Sisters be gan to weep, 1 could find few consoling . _ words. I only said, "Sisters, do not cry.

The loving Lord has done this; we are not responsil^for it; let us give the lay people ' ' a good example.” As all the patients were safe, I now began to count my Sisters and the Nurses. 0 what ardent thanksgiving from my heart,for all were there. Never did 1 know how much 1 loved my Sisters as at that mo ment when Ifeared thery were lost. Nor had 1 treasured the virtues of my Sisters until that terrifying hour.

The Sisters’ beds, which were on thefirst floor, were for the most part, covered with stones. If the Sisters had been in bed, mostly likely most of them would not have come to.

Our old hospital, whichfor the past two years was used as a Nurses’ Home, was also severely damaged, so we could not use it. We deliberated on what to do, and concluded to send the patients home. I explained to the padents that we were no longer in a position to care for them. Most of them had a home; we brought them there by auto the following hour. Four were sent to Cottage Hospital, and two to County Hospital. A few went to the Park z blocksJrom the hospital. Our nurs es went day and night to visit our patients in their home,and to carefor them. So 1 sat with my Sisters under the palm trees "without Shelter."Sadly,Ilooked at the ruins, ds in ret rospect I beheld seventeen long, troublesome, sacrificing years.

The oft insurmountable difficulties and privations ofthefirst years after the establish ment, ofwhich the Sisters who came later had no inkling. The many worries which came with the building of the new hospital; all the hardships ofbringing the hospital to itsfirstclass rating, ana now—in a half-minute, all destroyed.

There we sat like poor,patient Job,only he sat on a dunghill, we on grass; he was desert-

NOTICIAS

I

ii'

77 5

c

\I

I

i 'i

Detail of damage ivrought to the hospital by the earthguake ofJune 29, 1925. The hospital was razed in October.

ed, despised and derided—we were pitied. We also sooke with Job:"The Lord has given, the Lord nos tak^n, as it pleased the Lord,so has it happened. Blessed be the Name of the Lord." The haunting remembrance is terrible, but whatever Qod s designs, be it punishment or a trial, we bow our heads in humility and pray [to] the Almighty and Provident Qod, and it came to me how Adam and Eve were driven out ofParadise;for the new house was for us a piece ofParadise, The earth shook more or less the whole day. What a horriblefeeling it is to be so un certain, when every moment one fears the earth will open up and devour one.

For a long time Nature was in a dim light. In spite of all the bad lucl{, our loving Qod was so good, choosing the best possible moment. How much worse it would have been had it happened at night. It would have been well nigh impossible to rescue the sick bi darkness.

One man had the presence ofmind to turn ojj the electricity in the City’s poiverhouse.

The same with the water tower and gas. The City was also damaged,so no one had water, gas, or lightJor several days. Luckily we had some water in the tank, tvhich we used to wash ourfaces. Nineteen Sisters washed in a pail ofwater, My thoughts wandered to the Motherhouse, and the first who came to us. Dr. Ed Lamb took die telegramfor Teverend Mother to the city. It was easy to comprehend the grief and sorroiv of T^v. Mother Aloysia ana our

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IVlldSOH SONIV>H as

116

our hardships, we telegraphed her we would be overjoyed to see her. She started from the T^otherhouse a week. <^fter the quake.

On the fifth day after the earthquake, some Sisters went into the hospital to get laundry and other necessary articles. A policeman went with them.

Hardly had they entered the building when another violent quake occurred. Fear gripped me and all the Sisters, aware that some Sisters were in the hospital, and with ashen-white faces, we hurried to the hospital. Those inside the building believed they would never reach the outside, so violently did the house shake. They underwent, so to say, a death agony until they re gained the open outdoors.

On July 11, I^everend ^Mother [Aloysid] , came to Santa Barbara. She brought Sister A4. Qermana [sic] as her companion. Wc were happy to have R^ev. Mother with us, even under such sad circumstances. As we did,so she also slept in the tent.

Many thought the sisters would leave.

Should they rebuild? They sought a sign.

Imagine Mother Aloysia’s surprise when the new statue of the Sacred Heart stood there unscathed amid the rubble. She looked at this as an indication of God’s Will that we should rebuild. Undaunted by the devastation of the earthquake, the faith and courage of the sisters in facing so many obstacles aroused strong public sentiment. The support of the Franciscan Fa thers here at the Old Mission and the sis ters in San Francisco provided additional encouragement.

We exerted ourselves to bring a more or derly arrangement out of the circumstances.

At the arrival ofPyv. Mother, we arranged a chapel in the little house which formerly served as the Sisters' bedrooms. We also moved into theformer refectory[dining room].

Three days after the qual^g, the workmen began repairing the hospital. Mr.P Sidlivan

NOTICIAS

-

By August 1927, the neiv St. Francis Hospital had arisen on the ruins of the old. The third St. Francis had a capacity of one hundred beds.

was in charge. They hurried as much as pos sible with the work, so that we could again take in patients.

On July 12, in the evening, a dreadful storm arose and overthrew the Sisters' tent.

Pillows and the like wefound in the neighbor hood the following days. Throughout this stormy night, we tried to rest somewhat by ly ing on thefloor ofthe little house. About io.'30 0'clock ^he Police called and reported that a terriblefire had started near the hospital.

The storm raged so violently that it seemed the entire city would be burned. Wc looked in the courtyard. 1 had a small box un der my arm which contained the insurance papers. All the citizens ofthe residential sec tion were on theirfeet. Mr.Neal Callahan,a goodfriend ofthe house, telephoned us and in vited us to come to his house. We stayed, however, where we were.

Five hundred soldiers came to help extin guish the fire. Suddenly, the wind changed and the firemen were able to control the fire until it died out. Everyone felt the sudden change of wind was miraculous occurrence, which helped to control thefieryfurnace, and therefore, zve could with whole heart, thank Qod for protecting us so mercifully. After

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL Benediction that day, we sang the "Te Deum ” [thanksgiving]; we ivere so thankful that we were still alive.

The old Quisisana hospital building, which had been used as a nurses’ home, was converted into a temporary hospital.

Repairs and alterations to chc old Quisisa na cost $14,000, which was funded by the Santa Barbara Relief Committee. Bed clothes and furniture in the old hospital were taken to a warehouse for storage by chc Lathin Company. The little cottage was changed into a nurses’ home and the old stable and chc place under chc veranda were converted into bedrooms for the sis ters. By August, the patients could be ad mitted once again.

Undaunted by chc devastation of the earthquake the Sisters possessed chc abili ty for the hard work needed to rebuild.

Their faith and courage in facing so many obstacles aroused strong public sentiment, not only of chc people of Santa Barbara but in other parts of chc state.

1926-27 Outstanding community support was again chc impetus for continuing in the ef fort CO build up chat which had been de stroyed. In October 1925, demolition of chc ruined hospital began, but chc chapel was deemed safe to retain and repairs were made. The California Dcvclopincnt Asso ciation raised $220,000, $30,000 of which was used for repairs on chc old buildings.

It was less chan a year later on Febru ary 18, 1926, chat another earthquake struck Santa Barbara at 10;15 a.m. The quake did not last long but was chc strongest felt since June of 1925. Damage sustained to the hospital buildings included cracked walls and tumbling plaster. On the first anniversary {June 29), another earthquake occurred at 3;15 p.m.. causing considerable damage to the city. All cracks were corn open again in the old hospital.

The Third St. Francis—'//le New St. Brands Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif., has been acclaimed by eminent engineers and architects as the last tvord in hospital prac-

117

tice and one of the finest institutions west of the T^ississippi. Arthur Hutchason, was the architect, J.P.Sullivan, contractor. Eising from the ruins of the building which crumbled and fell in the earthqual^e ofJune zg, ig2$, it stands today in the opinion oj structural authonties as the best that engi neering l{noivledge has thus far developed and will probably be more earthquake resist ant than any other type of bialding now known. It is four stories in height, 265 feet long and approximately 80feet in width over the wings. The columns and beams of the building are ofstructural steel. The exterior is a laceivork offour layers of reinforced bars and heavy welded mesh. 1 he exterior walls are all granite.

Thefeature ofthe hospital ivhich has ap pealed most to the architect and building committee is that it is constructed in terraces and fits in ideally with the hillside. 1 he new hospital has a capacity of 100 beds.^^ 'The x-ray department was a gift to the hospital which includes a complete Wappler system, with combination table for radiographic, horizontal and fluoroscopic work, combined with a flat buchy diaphragm, and four operating rooms. There is a pediatric de partment and 15 baby cribs in the nursery.

Bach room has a connecting bathroom and the floors are of tile, inlaid with portions ofmarble.

1 heAiedical Society has acclaimed the hospi tal one of thefinest anywhere. Complementing the nett’ hospital is the neze convent, which has 28rooms,oneforeach Sister.^^

By May 6. 1927, chc cornerstone was laid tor chc new hospital, and by August 1 the hospital was again ready tor occupan cy. The transfer of patients to the new fa cility was a day of great rejoicing. It was a 20-ycar dream to sec a proper hospital to meet the city's needs, at a cost of $320,000. The building committee includ ed John William Heaney, chairman; Wal ter E. Erwin. Bernhard Hoffmann. Anna E. McCaughey. W.J. McCattcry, Dwight Murphy, and H. F. Nicklin.

On August 21, 1927, a new convent was dedicated for chc sisters, who tor chc first time were able to live in adequate facilitics.‘^7 "The Sisters have been living in

118 makeshift shacks and in the attic of the old hospital for the past two years, giving up their sleeping quarters for use of the hospital. Sister Winifred, who has been sleeping in the attic, has been using two large umbrellas to keep the rain off her bed during the two winters.

It was a won derful day when the sisters could take up quarters in their new convent.

Termed "House of Peace," the convent made a fitting retreat for the twenty-one nuns in service at St. Francis. The cost was $38,000. In a little over two years, the Woman’s Advisory Board was able to clear the encumbrance and on January 26, 1929, announced that the last of the in debtedness was lifted and the Advisory Board was able to deliver the building to the sisters free from all debt. So in Octo ber another hospital was blessed. Reverend Bishop Cantwell dedicated the new build ing on October 30, 1927.

A Time of Change 1928-1953 It is interesting to note that no one is refused care at St. Francis Hospital due to an inability to pay. This is in concert with generous physicians and surgeons who volunteer services for the most needy.

A clinic for the poor was established on February 14, 1928, in large part due to the generosity of Mrs. Charles Perkins. The clinic consisted of four departments, pedi atrics, neuro-psychiatric, pre-natal, and ear, nose, and throat. Services later expand¬

NOTICIAS

ed to include other specialties. In 1933, the clinic was closed by the hospital’s board of directors citing not only financial reasons (it being the depths of the Great Depres sion), but an impending move to form a city/county clinical dispensary.

In 1935, the School of Nursing closed due to a recommendation by the National League of Nursing that education pro grams in hospitals under one hundred beds be shut down. The increasingly special ized training necessary would be centered in larger hospitals.

In the years following the end of World War II, there was a growing need for additional facilities; expansion of space and new equipment became vital necessi ties. To stimulate the fund-raising cam paign, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Joliet, Illinois, gave a grant of $375,000 with a challenge to the people of Santa Barbara to match it. This indeed provided the impetus to raise the monies tor the hospital's expansion.

1954-1965: A Time of Growth A Lay Executive Council was formed and assisted the Sisters in hospital man agement and finances. The establishment of the St. Francis Hospital Foundation, composed of civic-minded citizens, had as its sole purpose the support of charitable and philanthropic work for the benefit of the hospital. Plans for the new addition were initiated. Construction began in 1954 and completed in 1956 at a cost of one million dollars. Funds for this addition were raised by private donations as well as by contributions from the Fleischmann and Santa Barbara foundations.

In igi8, the ho^.[)Ual opened a dime to meet the medical needs of the p<H>r. Ihe clinic operated until 1933, when financial constraints contnb' iiled to its c/o.si?ig. Photograph taken by Charles A. Hoffinan.

James Francis Cardinal McIntyre, Archbishop of Los Angeles, dedicated the new wing in 1956. It contained three mod ern major operating suites, three minor operating rooms, a fully equipped recov ery room, two labor and two delivery rooms. An additional feature in this wing was an updated physical therapy and re habilitation department with hydrothera py pool. One lundred eighty members of

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

119 mencal hcalch services and relocation of obstetrics and nursery to the new wing was also proposed.51 On October 15, 1965, Sister M. Sylvianne Mattern arrived and took the helm at St, Francis from Sister M. Melitta. Her extraordinary efforts brought St. Francis many outstanding additions, including a $5.5 million expansion and modernization project. This encompassed new Emergen cy Services, two-way communications system linked to paramedic emergency vehicles, advanced cardiac care, trauma treatment, patient recovery and x-ray de partments. The kitchen, cafeteria, opera tion and maintenance areas, laundry and other facilities were also modernized. The master plan resulted from the study ini tiated in 1966. Modifications to the first plan eliminated the addition of beds and of mental health services. Financial resources

SisLcr 7A. Sylvianne JMattem began her twenty'four-year tenure at St. Francis in igb^. Her considerable fund-raising skills played a major role in the hospital's growth, the continuing modernization of equipment, and the upgrade offacilities.

the Santa Barbara County Medical Socie ty staffed the hospital.

By 1960, St. Francis Hospital ran an average occupancy of about seventy-five to eighty-five percent compared to seven ty-three percent at Cottage Hospital and just short of fifty-nine percent at County General Hospital.50 The total capacity of the St. Francis Hospital was one hundred seventeen beds and twenty-four bassinets.

Altogether there were eighteen sisters who staffed the hospital and accepted no remu neration for their services.

were in such short supply that the arrival of Sister Sylvianne's skills were a godsend.

The project was divided into phases which included Phase I. rehabilitation of the original 1926 building to meet current codes; Phase II, which called for provision of cardiac care and eye wing facilities, and Phase III, plans to bring the bed count to one hundred sixty-nine, replacing twentynine beds and adding fifty-five new beds, all to be private rooms.

Other components of this phase includ ed updating, expanding and centralizing ancillary services and outpatient depart ments. The Physical Therapy Department was also enlarged, modernized and refur bished. The Fleischmann Foundation was among the major donors and the prime contractor was D’Alfonso & Son.

Under the leadership of Administrator Sister M. Melitta Bach and Bartley T. Murray, president of the St, Francis Hos pital Foundation, the architectural firm of Albert C. Martin and Associates of Los

An eye lab, in cooperation with Santa Barbara-arca Lions Clubs, was established in 1964. Part of the lab was an eye bank.

Ac that time there were only three such banks in the state—San Francisco, Los An

Angeles was selected to design a $4-5 mil lion expansion. Initially, it was expected the hospital would double its occupancy from one hundred twenty-three beds and provide new departmental facilities and modernize existing ones. An addition for

geles, and here at St. Francis. The highly specialized equipment cost $ 28,000.52 An Argon Laser Photocoagulator, the first of its kind in the Santa Barbara area, was lat er added at a cost of $35,000. It is primari ly for treatment of retinal tears and, within

120

the first couple of years, 300 patients had benefited from the equipment.

During her leadership of St. Francis.

Sister Sylvianne was blessed with several businessmen who lent their expertise tor the benefit of St. Francis Hospital. Among them was Daniel D’Alfonso, who was the first layman on the sisters' Board of Direc tors. Others who made significant contri butions to the benefit of St. Francis Hospi tal include George Castagnola, Miles Sharkey, and Pierre Gherini. St. Francis Hospital remains a testament to the time and treasury of those who have given of themselves to the continu ance of its mission.

NOTICIAS

King that the Sisters were able to move into their new home in 1972.

On September 9, 1973, groundbreak ing for yet another new wing was held which began the first phase ol the multi million dollar project. The outstanding gift for this addition was made possible through the contribution of the Dan Mur phy Foundation, in memory of Countess Bernadine Donahue.

The first Annual Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament, founded by Robert Vaillancourt, was held in 1974. It was the first event of its kind in Santa Barbara and

By 1966. the hospital had 4.629 patients that were admitted, totaling 30,438 patient days with the hospital operating at capacity. It was evident that the hospital needed to be expanded.54 "In less than 10 years a community project of the area's eight I Lions Clubs has mush- ^ roomed into one of Calilor- S nia’s leading eye care cen- E ters, one acclaimed to be on " par with the best in the na- C, tion.”55 Instead of giving birth to a remodeled obstetrics department, the eye care center was opened, which complemented the eye lab. Among the outstanding supporters of the St. Francis eye and car programs over the years have been Lucilc and Mary Evelyn, Angela Fox, and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Doolan.

Among the notable events in the 1970s was the addition of a new mobile image intensifier and x-ray unit in 1971, another first in Santa Barbara County, provided through the generosity ol the Mathers Foundation and St. Francis Hospital Guild.

As has been demonstrated, there have been many grateful patients over the years who have assisted St. Francis Hospital.

One such person was Cyrus King. After years of wear, the 1927 convent was in need ol replacement. It was through Mr.

This aenal viciv oj the hospital zvas tahoi after ccnnpUlion oj the nert,' zving in 1056. The Quisisana biiilding is at left backgjvund.

continues today as Santa Barbara’s long est-running golf tournament. Now known as the Central Coast Classic, it has been transformed from a pro-am tour nament to a premier corporate entertain ment event.

The expansion project continued with Phase III. The renovations, launched in September 1973. focused on refurbishing the first-floor patient areas, the cafeteria, a new nursing station on the third floor, a new boiler plant, and an emergency power generator. The project also included a onestory north wing and elevator tower.

1976 saw the addition of an outpatient

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL diagnostic and treatment center. Extensive remodeling was accomplished that includ ed the hospital’s 15-bed eye care unit opened in 1968, which included the Lions’sponsored Sight Conservation Center, with eye bank and laboratory. The eye care unit provides treatment to area resi dents equal to that available in large met ropolitan medical centers.

"St. Francis Hospital now has one of the most complete and well-staffed ear, nose and throat surgical units in the area."56 In 1974 when sight testing was mandated for school children. St. Francis

121

greatly expanded and relocated near the surgical wing, compliments of the Willmetta K. Day Foundation. Also included in this construction was a new chapel, funded by Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Claeyssens.

Hospital became involved, arranging free or reduced-cost lenses to those who could not afford them. Phacoemulsification (KPE), a new cataract treatment, was fur ther evidence of Sc. Francis being a leader in providing technology since 1972.

A special carbon dioxide laser for re moval of throat and related tumors be came part ol Sc. Francis’s services. Ac the time of its installation, in May 1977. the $22,000 laser (with microscope) was only the second one available in a California hospital and there were fewer chan twelve in use throughout the whole country.57 On May 9. 1984. Sc. Francis Fiospital broke ground for a new surgical wing with three hundred fifty friends and supporters in attendance. The three-story building, with its 26.554 square foot facility, is its centerpiece. A bequest from the Harold G, & Lelia Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation was instrumental in funding the addition.

A year later came another Hrst for Santa Barbara medicine when a mineral analyzer was added to radiology services to aid in the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Laser surgery was a great feature in the new surgical wing. When it was inaugu rated in 1986, St. Francis was one ol the first hospitals on the West Coast to per form laser surgery. This construction created new operating rooms equipped to handle various types of orthopedic sur gery, cystoscopy, eye surgery unit, gener al surgery rooms with state of the arc laser equipment, closed circuit television. Ac the same time the Intensive Care Unit was

Participatioii ofedebritks made the St. Francis Pro-Am QolfTournament a very popidar event.

Shoxvn enjoying the lestivities are cennedian Bob Hope and toumameiit founder, Ppbe^t Vaillancoun.

The Obstetrics Department had closed in 1976 CO make way for the eye unit. It re-opened as the Birching Center in 1987 through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Ansclmo L. Pozzo. The LDRP ( Labor.

Delivery, Recovery. Postpartum) provides single room maternity care chat focuses on the family in one comfortable suite.

When the expectant mother is ready to deliver her baby, the necessary equipment, technology and expertise is close at hand.

After delivery, the new parents may then enjoy the cozy home-like setting to expe rience chose precious moments of bonding with their new child. Japanese nurses visit ing the unit were surprised ol the size of a single room, which would house lour new mothers in Japan.

122

NOTICIAS

Two major cvcncs in 1989 were, Hrsc, the inscallacion of the first full-body CAT scanner in the Tri-Counties, turther en hancing imaging services. The lead gift for this addition was made possible by Robert Vaillancourt's donation of $25,000. Sec ondly. the sisters moved into a new con vent built with funds donated by Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Clacyssens. The old convent was remodeled to serve the elderly. The new convent was designed with nine bed rooms with private baths, common living space, and chapel.

A New Era: 1991 —Present In the spring ol 1991. there dawned an other new era for St. Francis Hospital with the advent of the Magnetic Reso nance Imager and the Cardiac Catheteriza tion Laboratory, which culminated five years of planning. This was made possible through the generosity of grateful pa tients. Mr. And Mrs. Hastings Harcourt.

Located in the west wing of the ground floor, the lab was equipped with the latest high tech, digital cardiac angiographic Xray unit. St. Francis, in an advocacy mode, was able to affect state regulations to allow angioplasties to be done on an emergency basis. With the help of our lo cal state legislators. St. Francis was suc¬

Jlic iranascan Suskrs of th<: Sacred Heart ex tend to the C(mmunity of Sayitd Barbara, our heartfelt thanks for supponing this ministty nter the past nnie decades.

We \eep you in our prayers. Left to nght, Back-- Sister Qlona Iherese Cabrera, Sister I. Elizabeth W’lezien, Sis ter Patneia Dailey.

Front: Sister Cjerald Lopez, Sister Christine Bolivian, Sister Sandra Duma.

cessful in opening the way for perfor mance of emergency angioplasties in hos pitals that meet standards set by the De partment of Health Services.

That same year an expanded Emer gency Department was opened which marked a new era for emergency medicine in our community. The ER physicians arc all Board Certified in Emergency Medi cine and most are professors in emergency medicine at USC, rarely found in hospital ER departments. Complementing the physician staff arc the highly trained ACLS. PAL (Advanced Cardiac and Pedi atric Life Support) certified. Once again the advanced technology along with the compassionate caring arc combined to provide chat specialized couch, all chat has been St. Francis’ hallmark.

On September 1, 1991. St. Francis Hospital was ollicially renamed Sc. Fran cis Medical Center. Since the beginning of this decade. Sc. Francis had seen some of the most signiticanc changes in its history.

The name change reflected chat growth The logo was designed to communicate the new image ot the hospital as a multilacetcd supplier ol healthcare services for inpatients and outpatients, depicting the uniquely idcncitiable hospital building, rcllcccing Santa Barbara and the south

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL coast, the cross symbolizing the healing ministry and mission which contributes holistically to the needs of the community.

By the autumn of 1992. minimally in vasive procedures in the form of laparos copic surgeries were available at Sc. Fran cis. Over seventy percent of these surgeries are outpatient, which often al lows the patient to go home the same day and return to work within a week. Also in 1992. the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) opened, which was the first in the county.

Elizabeth Hayes was recorded as the first TCU patient. "Nothing like good TLC when you're feeling bad" was the assess ment she gave the unic.-'’^ The goal of the TCU is to help patients function at their optimal physical, emotional and social lev el and, therefore, become as independent and self-sufficient as possible. The TCU emphasizes the practical skills necessary for daily living. An average length of stay is titcccn days. The program offers a com prehensive. multidisciplinary approach to ward rehabilitation.

Sc. Francis then opened its first state li censed Residential Care Facility. Congre gate Care Center, known as the Villa Riv iera at St. Francis, which provides assisted living for twenty-one seniors. Opened in November of 1993. it is located in the for mer convent, a unique residential setting nestled in the foothills overlooking the city, islands and the ocean. Through gene rosity of the late Mr. and Mrs. Anselmo Pozzo, the remodeling was made possible with the architectural firm of Grant. Pe dersen. Phillips, and remodel by Pozzo Construction.

The Congregational Healthcare (Parish Nurse Program) was inaugurated in 199,5, again the first in the county, broadening the access to healthcare. The program consists of partnerships created with area churches and faith communities that provide a nurse at the congregation on a part-time basis.

Assisted by a health cabinet, the parish nurse provides a program of health educa tion based on assessment done w'ith that faith community. By 1998. there ucrc 26 congregations and eleven parish nurses.

123 On April 14, 1997, St. Francis went "on-line" with the patient medical record using MEDITECH Information Systems.

Computer technology, first implemented at St. Francis Hospital in 1990. propelled St. Francis to one of the most technologi cally advanced in the area. Locally and na tionally, information available confirmed that St. Francis was the first hospital to "go live” on all nursing units(including the OR and ER)through the use of a hand-held computer used at the patient's bedside.

A single step by St. Francis toward strengthening the role of mission-driven not-for-profit Catholic health care dedi cated to community service was the mer ger with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), CHW is California’s largest notfor-profit health system and transitioned from a stand-alone hospital to a member of one with 37 hospitals state wide includ ing one in Phoenix, Arizona, and Hender son. Nevada.

In June 1998. St. Francis opened the first Senior Mental Health services in the county. It is a fourteen-bed, acute-care locked facility for seniors requiring acute intervention for mental health.

St. Francis is preparing for the future.

On the drawing board tor the Medical Center is a Medical Office building to pro vide adequate space for physicians seeking to relocate to the campus. In the years of development for St. Francis, available space became limited. By 1998 it was crit ical that physicians be attracted to the campus, helping to assure long term via bility for the hospital so that Santa Barbara can continue as a two-hospital city, preserving the element of choice in healthcare.

Ed\\’ard Hays wrote once. "We who live in the present recall the past so that by our remembrance we might more fittingly prepare for the luturc time." These pages have been devoted to recalling the richness of our heritage, in tb.e ministry that has been ours since 1908. It really is God’s work that will continue into the new millennium. St. Francis has always proved to be resilient in confronting the

124

NOTICIAS

challenges before it. Throughout her nine ty years, the small but mighty hospital has overcome many obstacles. Neither fire, nor earthquake, nor financial hard ships have destroyed this ministry. In the decades to come. St. Francis’ commitment to the community will continue, for heal ing is what we are about.

X i II r t y

Y e a r ,c

A

Ministry «/

Healing Since 1908

Momins Press, 7 Novcmbcrl908, describes chc St. Cecilia Society and Cottage "as adjoining the hospi tal." The cottage’s location is referenced as being near the intersection of Salsipuedcs and Arrellaga streets in Bertha Gregory Smith. "The Saint Cecilia Club. ” Notidas 7(Summer 1961): 20. Photographs seem to indicate this location is inaccurate, as tne cottage was on the hillside, near the sanitarium.

16 Daily News(Santa Barbara). 20 Aug_,ust 1908. arch 1909.

17 Morning Press(Santa Barbara). 7 Ma 18 Walker A. Tompkins, Radio Script #520.

19 Daily News(Santa Barbara). 20 August 1908.

20 The 1906 Santa Barbara city directory cites that the Santa Barbara Sanitarium was located on 118 West Figueroa Street.

21 Walker A. Tompkins. Santa Barbara Past and Present: An Illustrated I iistory (Santa Barbara.- Tecolote Books. 1975). 86.

22 Morning Press(Santa Barbara), 7 March 1909.

23 Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.

24 A BriefHistory ofSt Francis Hospital and Woman's Ad visory Board n)o8-u)zg. unpaged.

25 Ibid.

26 Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.

27 Rouse.

28 Ibid.

29 Ibtd.

30 Independent(Santa Barbara). 4 September 4 1908.

31 Ibid.

REFERENCES l Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Santa Barbara, California Chronicles. 25 June 1925, Sister Rosina Mer kel writes of her experiences during the earthquake.

We recognize original narrative is sometimes awk ward to read but to preserve its authenticity, the mate rial is quoted at length unabridged.

2 The term. "Quisisana" is spelled in many ways throughout various printed media since 1908. Among them are "Quisisano", "Quissisano". Que Sesano. The 1906 Santa Barbara city directory spells it "Quisisana" and is considered the most authentic extant document verifying the spelling.

3 Church of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish of Santa Barba ra Service and Instruction Book.. 1911-1916 (Owensbo ro, KY: Church Publishing Company), 59. 60 4 Stella Havcrland Rouse. "Olden Days: Hospital Estab lished by Two Groups," Santa Barbara News-Press, 20 September 1964.

5 Church of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 60.

6 Rouse.

7 Church of our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 60.

8 Father Theodore Arentz. OFM, Chronicle ofthe Francis can Friars of Sunto Barbara Province. Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library, "On the Coming of the Franciscan Sisters to Santa Barbara", 1908, unpaged.

9 Ibid, 10 A Commissory was an appointed overseer of a territo ry of the Franciscan Friars prior to the establishment of a province. The Santa Barbara Province was formed from Sacred Heart Province in Chicago, Conversation with Fr. Howard Hall. OFM, Associate Pastor, St. Barbara's Parish. 1998.

11 Arentz.

12 Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, 60.

13 Rouse. To this day, the St. Cecilia Club continues to provide moneys to Santa Barbara hospitals to help care for the indigent patients. The care of the poor is helped by the establisnmcnt of an endowment mnd to aid in supplementing the costs of indigent care.

14 Edward L. Markthaler, M.D.. Santa Barbara County Medical Society Directoiy, Seprember 1960.

15 Morning Press (Santa Barbara), 5 August 1908. The

32 Vie Tidings (Los Angeles Archdiocese), 13 December 1912: 7,8. For the past several years the statue has been in the garden adjoining the hospital. It will be do nated to the Santa Barbara Historical Society in 1999 as new construction begins at St. Francis Medical Center.

33 Markthaler, 34 The Tidings (Los Angeles Archdiocese), 4 November 1921. A photocopy oT this article was consulted at the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library.

35 Daily News(Santa Barbara), 30 November 1921.

36 Ibid.

37 Daily News(Santa Barbara). 8 February 8 1923.

38 Ibid.

39 Daily News(Santa Barbara). 20 May 20 1922.

40 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Frankfort, Illi nois. An article found in their archives was consulted.

41 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Santa Barbara.

California. Chronicles. 1923, unpaged.

42 Ibid.

43 1925 scrapbook in the collection of Lloyd Monk. Mr. Monk was nine years old at the time of the earth quake.

44 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Santa Barbara, California, Chronicles. 1925.

45 Hospital Progress. 1927; 271-2.

46 77ie Tidings(Los Angeles Archdiocese). 27 May 1927, 47 Student Nurses of St. Francis School of Nursing, The Antidote(1927).

48 'Vie Tidings(Los Angeles Archdiocese), May 1927.

49 Daily Netvs-Moming Press (Santa Barbara), 31 Dccember 1933.

50 Chet Holcomb. "Renowned Medical Center Here Ex panding Activities," Santa Barbara News-Press, 1960. (full reference unknown) 51 1he Tidings Hospital Supplement(Los Angeles Archdi ocese), 21 May 21 1965: 24.

52 Santa Barbara Navs-Press, 18 June 1967: A-16.

53 Ibid.

54 Ibid.

55 Ibid.

56 SantaBarbaraNew's-Press, 14 November 1971.

57 Santa Barbara News-Press, 13 May 1977.

58 St. Francis Medical Center News and Health. Summer 1992:4.

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CONTENTS Pg.lOl: The History of St, Francis Hospital: The Healing Ministry