Employees bid farewell to Jamestown Hospital

Nine people gathered to bid the old Jamestown Hospital an official goodbye Tuesday afternoon.

Though the building may be full of memories for those who worked there, all the memories shared Tuesday focused on the people — coworkers, friends, family and patients alike — who gave or received care through the hospital.

“My mother passed away three years ago. That year they planted that evergreen tree in front for the hospice patients,” said Sherri Brown, supervisor of the Sterile Processing Department. “I’ve had friends that I’ve had for years here, and family that I’ve had for years here... it’s been a memorable place to work, and I’m proud to be an employee.”

Greg Nordstrom, who works in the radiology department, recalled that when he was young, Jamestown was the only place he didn’t want to live. His opinions changed as he grew older, and he found himself repeatedly returning to Jamestown and its hospital as an adult in the work force.

“All three of my kids were born upstairs,” Nordstrom said. “What a great place to have come into. All the people I work with are awesome too.”

Chief Financial Officer Alan O’Neil remembered how often his father used to ask him about the progress of the new medical center.

“He passed away in April,” O’Neil said. “There’s a tree planted at the new (medical center) for him.

“There’s many memories here. There’s many new memories to be created at the new facility,” he added.

Martin Richman, CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, recalled admiring the look of the art deco-style building at his job interview, when he likened it to the Radio City Music Hall.

“You’ve got a wonderful new hospital and a wonderful history with your old hospital,” said Todd Hudspeth, who takes over as CEO on Monday. “It’s an exciting time for Jamestown and an exciting time for me.”

Bill Kennedy, the medical center’s marketing director, read an excerpt of the declaration of intent to build a new hospital, written by the Rev. Walter William August Keller on March 19, 1928.

The declaration emphasized the hospital wasn’t to be a “mere local hospital,” but a regional hospital serving 15 counties, and that it wasn’t to be “built in opposition to our present well-equipped hospital,” Trinity, which closed in 1966.

Most of the current hospital staff have already moved to the new medical center off Interstate 94, but some people will remain at the old building until a temporary office building is put up at the new site.

Lutheran Social Services will begin remodeling the old hospital on Oct. 28.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, hospital