1949
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At midnight on April 4, 1949, a blaze of unknown origin engulfed the hospital. Seventy-seven lives were lost including 11 infants.
Help came from everywhere. Doctors rushed to the scene, police arrived with needed blood plasma, and staff came from area hospitals and the Sisters' hospital in Springfield and Decatur.
The fire claimed victims from everywhere - patients, newborn children, nurses, Sisters, a Priest, and employees. One nurse, Fern Riley, stayed with the newborns so they would not be alone. According to the April 18, 1949, article "Sorrow in the 'Heart of the U.S.'" in Life Magazine, "On the night of the fire she was on duty caring for 10 newborn babies in the second floor nursery. When the alarm sounded someone heard her shout, 'My babies! I've got to stay with my babies!' Her body was still in the nursery when the fire burned out."
Early in the morning of April 5, ten town citizens met to determine how they could best serve their stricken community. These men - Mayor Eugene Wenthe, J. William Everhart, George Dehn, C.J. Moritz, Dr. D.A. Niccum, Tom Buell, Edwin McDonald, Fred Mason, Paul Koboldt, and Charles Smith - all prominent city leaders - conferred and planned their course of action. That group became the Finance Committee, and the drive began to raise funds to rebuild the hospital.
Help of every possible kind came forth. From every state in the union and from several foreign countries, the daily contributions poured in. (left: a page from the deposit receipts showing contributions to the Effingham Civic Foundation Hospital Fund)
Within a few days, the Sisters created an emergency hospital from their existing convent. The structureemergency hospital was such that not too much remodeling would have to be done. On June 22, 1949, St. Anthony's Emergency Hospital was opened for medical emergencies, surgery and accident cases. It consisted of 16 patient beds, a pharmacy, laboratory, a portable x-ray machine and two operating rooms. Medical cases were cared for in their homes, and doctors often delivered babies in their offices or the patients' homes.
This facility served the community for more than three years, while preparations were made to build a new hospital.
Help came from everywhere. Doctors rushed to the scene, police arrived with needed blood plasma, and staff came from area hospitals and the Sisters' hospital in Springfield and Decatur.
The fire claimed victims from everywhere - patients, newborn children, nurses, Sisters, a Priest, and employees. One nurse, Fern Riley, stayed with the newborns so they would not be alone. According to the April 18, 1949, article "Sorrow in the 'Heart of the U.S.'" in Life Magazine, "On the night of the fire she was on duty caring for 10 newborn babies in the second floor nursery. When the alarm sounded someone heard her shout, 'My babies! I've got to stay with my babies!' Her body was still in the nursery when the fire burned out."
Early in the morning of April 5, ten town citizens met to determine how they could best serve their stricken community. These men - Mayor Eugene Wenthe, J. William Everhart, George Dehn, C.J. Moritz, Dr. D.A. Niccum, Tom Buell, Edwin McDonald, Fred Mason, Paul Koboldt, and Charles Smith - all prominent city leaders - conferred and planned their course of action. That group became the Finance Committee, and the drive began to raise funds to rebuild the hospital.
Help of every possible kind came forth. From every state in the union and from several foreign countries, the daily contributions poured in. (left: a page from the deposit receipts showing contributions to the Effingham Civic Foundation Hospital Fund)
Within a few days, the Sisters created an emergency hospital from their existing convent. The structureemergency hospital was such that not too much remodeling would have to be done. On June 22, 1949, St. Anthony's Emergency Hospital was opened for medical emergencies, surgery and accident cases. It consisted of 16 patient beds, a pharmacy, laboratory, a portable x-ray machine and two operating rooms. Medical cases were cared for in their homes, and doctors often delivered babies in their offices or the patients' homes.
This facility served the community for more than three years, while preparations were made to build a new hospital.