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For the non-history buff cachers, here's your basics:
A canister, about the same diameter of a film canister, but longer. At the edge of a rarely-used parking area. May want tweezers to help get the log out, but thin fingers should work, too. Stealth required!
For those of you like me, who love the history of an area, here's a brief history of the site:
A 1911 news clipping boasts that Medford, population 11,500, with its "fine wide street and concrete pavements" is "one of the most progressive and promising towns in Oregon."
Some 30 physicians served this burgeoning community. Local hospital care was primarily in the form of trained or untrained nurses working in "houses for the sick."
In the John Cox home a small frame house on the corner of Eleventh and South Central, several doctors operated The Southern Oregon Hospital. Its two floors were managed by a registered nurse, Mrs. Harper, but the facility was inadequate for physicians determined to bring modern medical care to the Rogue Valley. They appealed to Portland's Archbishop Christie and petitioned the Sisters of Charity of Providence to undertake a hospital in Medford.
On May 26, 1911, Sister Praxedes, Sister Pascal and Sister Gerard were met at the train station by Dr. Conroy, who took them immediately to "our new home." Finding they would start work in a small yellow house, the Sisters recalled with joy the famous "Yellow House" of Montreal's Mother Gamelin. They had, indeed, found a new home.
Years of community support and cooperation with the Sisters of Providence began with the initial agreement of the Sisters to serve the community. The city was to provide a building site and raise $10,000; the Sisters expected to expend at least $90,000 erecting and equipping the new hospital.
Medford's Commercial Club appointed a soliciting committee to secure pledges. The site selected as Nob Hill, Siskiyou Heights. The acreage was purchased by the committee, Robert F. Tegan was enlisted as architect, Littleman and Company of Portland was let the building contract. Plans were presented to the City Council and displayed at Haskins Drug Store. The edifice would be a "modern brick structure," several stories high with a full basement, one of the city's show places. To expedite matters, Messrs. Pickel, Conroy, Porter, Reddy and Putnam advanced a "considerable amount" of their own money. Regular progress bulletins appeared in the newspaper including a movement to abolish the county Poor Farm and have the Sisters care for its inmates.
During this flurry of activity, the Sisters continued caring for patients in the Southern Oregon Hospital. Sisters Joseph Cupertino and Welhemina came to help. The woodshed was converted into a dining room and office, while the attic served for living quarters. An August visitor, however, was housed in a tent as "the dormitory at this time is not too comfortable with a temperature of 114 degrees...the system of ventilation is not of the most modern."
Years of Chronicle pages disclose the devotion that has become a way of life in southern Oregon.
On January 2, 1912, Sisters and patients moved to the "Red Brick Castle" on the hill. With much work incomplete, the fourth floor was at first the only area occupied. A gala celebration and formal dedication of the new Sacred Heart Hospital on February 18th attracted visitors from throughout the state.
"Complete in every detail, equipped with every device known to modern science, standing upon a site without an equal in the northwest, overlooking a landscape "as fair as the valley of the Lord" and one of the most progressive and cultured cities in the Western Country, conducted by the Sisters of Providence, who have no equal for excellence and thoroughness in such work, Medford's new hospital, erected at a cost of $150,000, is without a peer on the Pacific coast.
"Each lesson taught by the erection of such buildings throughout the nation has lent its influence to the local structure and it is as near perfect as can be devised. Someone has said that success consists in never making the same mistake twice. Years spent in erecting hospitals have taught the Sisters of Providence much. Here is is found applied."
(Medford Mail Tribune, February 19, 1912)
Sacred heart was, in fact, the Order's 120th Mission, opened 38 years after they founded St. Vincent's in Portland as Oregon's first hospital. Rich experience and courage to innovate was reflected by a quiet patient signal of electric light rather than buzzer or bell, a paging system and ventilation by electric fans "so Marvelous...that every particle of air in the building, on every floor and in every room can be changed in 4 minutes."
With perfect equanimity the Sister recorder notes "we were not assured of any money for our daily bread" and lists the Providential gifts of winter hay for their two cows from Farmer McAndrews, gifts of peas, peaches, apples, oranges, eggs and tomatoes from local supporters. Mrs. J.F. Reddy coordinated a fund raising bazaar sponsored by several societies, clubs and associations. "Slat, Slat," a gift from Dr. Conroy, made the trip to market much easier. A tax exemption was granted by the county.
The Sisters left for other posts, new Sisters arrived. Sister Praxedes, who would become Provincial Superior General, was replaced by Sister Andrew.
The "inaudible and noiseless foot of time" finds the Sisters celebrating their 25th anniversary of service in Medford.
With a "world still suffering economically...our hospital is in great need of new, more modern equipment to keep apace with medical developments."
Some 1700 patients a year, staying an average of 14 days, were cared for by the Sisters and 22 employees. Alert to the needs of the community, the Sisters were growing and changing to accommodate the growth and change about them.
President John F. Kennedy's assassination and Neil Armstrong's historical steps shook and changed our nation in the '60's. Dramatic changes occurred, as well, for the Sisters of Charity of Providence and their small family in Medford.
"Name Change To Providence Hospital Will Coincide With Move"
"The change is intended to end confusion of the general public regarding area duplications of the name "Sacred Heart." This name change is well received by the majority of citizens in the community." (Medford Mail Tribune)
"Providence Hospital Sisters Change to New Habits, Names"
"With the first major modification in dress since the Congregation's foundation in 1843, gone are the starched white "calla lily" bonnets, the short capes and long skirts belonging to another age. The change is optional to individual Sisters, as is the resumption of family and baptismal names. The dress change seems popular with the Sisters, and many support simplification of matters by elimination confusion between legal and religious names.
"To the public, the most important things are not changed. These women are still the Sisters of Charity of Providence, ministering to the ill and befriending the poor." (Medford Mail Tribune)
At this time the Sisters also became simply the "Sisters of Providence," formally adopting the shorter name by which many already knew them.
The new Providence Hospital is a tribute and a monument to the countless number of men and women who have toiled to bring what was once a dream into glorious reality. They gave their time, talents and financial support to provide their fellow citizens with a completely new, up-to-date community hospital.
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(Decrypt)
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