Lady of Perpetual Help Hospital - 1940

The idea of a hospital in Falls City, originated in 1918, when Dr. C.L. Hustead and Rev. John Mathieson, pastor of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, started and organization to construct a Lutheran Hospital.

Dr. Hustead traveled to New York City for consultation with the Board of the United Lutheran Church to get approval and to have defined an allotted territory for the solicitation of funds.

When the Board granted approval and established Falls City as the hub of the hospital district, plans proceeded, funds collected, and building started. The cornerstone was laid on September 22, 1918.

When the building was near completion, dissatisfaction occurred within the Board of Trustees and among members of the association; there were objections to certain by-laws made by the Attorney from the Intermission Board. By a special election, the property was voted out of the control of the church.

On June 1, 1922, Dr. Hustead purchased the property from the Lincoln Safe Deposit Company, Lincoln, Nebraska. He completed the building, and operated it from the date of purchase until August 1, 1940. During that period, the hospital was equipped with necessary facilities, including fully equipped x-ray and laboratory departments. It was operated as an open door hospital with an organized staff, and members of the Richardson County Medical Society and physicians from adjacent medical societies were privileged to practice there. The Falls City Hospital, under the administration of Dr. Hustead, was the fifth hospital in Nebraska to be accredited by The American Hospital Association.

In May 1940, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth purchased the local hospital, and assumed operation in August 1940. The name was Our Lady of Perpetual Help Hospital.

During the fifteen years that the Sisters remained here, the hospital was staffed with qualified laboratory and x-ray technicians, dietitians, and nursing supervisors from their order. A resident Chaplain was employed.

In the fall of 1954, Mother Ancilla, Superior of the Sisters of Leavenworth, decided to cease operation of the local unit. She felt that the lack of patronage and community interest could be revived under a different type of ownership. A group of local business and professional men were organized to study the hospital situation. The Sisters agreed to remain until July 20, 1955. The Community sold bonds and purchased the hospital from the Sisters of Charity at that time. The hospital was incorporated as a non-profit community hospital and is known as Community Hospital, Inc., with a Board of Trustees elected as the governing body. The original Board of Trustees was composed of John Lichty, Harry Huston, Roland Owens, Wilbur Prichard, Walter Kottich, Sr., Kenneth Sandrock, Ed Buchhoz, Gus Scholz, and Homer Wiltse.

Community Hospital, Inc. operated the original structure for five years, at which time the decision was made to add twelve beds, new offices, a surgery and obstetrical department. During this time there were periods when the hospital made a profit and periods when it operated at a loss. It is worthy of mention that the first year’s budget for Community Hospital, Inc. in 1955 was approximately $100,000 and in 1997 the budget was approximately $9,000,000.

In 1969 and 1970 the 1918 structure was completely gutted and rebuilt to conform to the existing fire and safety codes. The entire hospital was air conditioned at this time and the Emergency Room was moved from third floor to first floor. A physical therapy department was also added during this phase. In 1976 it became apparent that the 39 beds currently in use would not be sufficient to handle the patient load and the Board of Directors elected to embark upon a two phase building program. Phase I was the first floor addition of a new x-ray, lab, emergency room, dietary department and a new mechanical room to replace all of the existing boilers and air conditioning. This project was done primarily with Hill-Burton money. Phase II was financed by a fund drive which had a goal of $640,000 and was successfully completed prior to the completion of Phase I. This wing is named the Henderson Memorial Wing in honor of the $140,000 bequest from the Robert G. Henderson, M.D. estate.

In 1982 a portion of the 1918 structure was removed and a new entrance built in honor of Sherm Eddie for his bequest of $50,000.

In June, 1986, Max Rathman, Administrator, unexpectedly passed away. The Board of Trustees contracted with Great Plains Health Alliance, of Phillipsburg, Kansas, to assist in hiring a new administrator and aid in managing the facility.

In September of 1991, the articles of incorporation and by-laws were changed. In 1955, when the community purchased the hospital from the Sisters, people who contributed to that cause were invited to annual meetings and board members were elected from these meetings. Over the years, as these people either moved or died, no one from the community attended these meetings and the board members became responsible for helping find their replacements as their terms ended. The change in the articles of incorporation and by-laws reflected this new board member replacement process and made it self perpetuating. The changes also decreased the board size from ten members to seven.

In November 1994, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the construction of a new physical therapy and business office and the renovation of about 15,000 square feet of the facility. This project was to reorganize the facility and add more area for the outpatient services that had dramatically grown. In addition, an arrangement was made with Christ Lutheran Church to develop a parking lot north of the church for hospital employees and church parishioners.