St. Eugene Hospital

ST. EUGENE’S HOSPITAL – The Handsome Structure Will Soon Be Ready for Occupation – Supplied With Modern Appliances – And Conveniences for Mending Broken Bones and Healing the Sick.

            On the banks of the rapid St. Mary’s river, six miles from Cranbrook, in a beautiful sunny spot, sheltered on every side from chilling blasts by hills and mountains, yet not so much so as to prevent any degree of penetration of light and heat from the sun each day, is situated the St. Eugene Hospital, at the Indian mission of the same name.

For many years a primitive structure has answered all demands and purposes for a hospital in this – until quite recently – very remote country, and during that time its principal occupants have been Indian patients with an occasional miner, prospector or freighter to vary the monotony.

With the advent of a boom, supplemented by the construction of a great railway in process, however, the demand for a hospital of increased capacity and with modern appliances and conveniences not only for caring for those troubled with the common ailments of mankind, but for the maimed and injured by modern surgical operations, became quite pressing, and Father Coccola soon devised ways and means for the erection of such a place – a hospital, when completed, whose equal will not be found in East Kootenay.

The structure is of attractive design and architecture, the main building two and one-half stories in height, and 45x60 feet in dimensions, with an “L” 18x26 feet, two stories high.  Two cellars, 20x30 feet and 12x16 feet respectively, built of stone underlie the building, and a stone foundation or walls are yet to be built.  The whole building is lathed and plastered, will be hearted throughout by furnace steam, and supplied with every comfort and convenience tending to promote the speedy recovery of all who may become patients.

The first floor of the building consists of a kitchen and a pantry 18x26 feet, a dumb waiter leading thence to the second floor; a dining room for the Sisters adjoins the kitchen, and is separate from the main dining room.  In the front are two cosy parlors separated by a large hall, two small wards and a commodious bath room; also the drug room and the operating room, the latter being ample in dimensions and very well lighted by many windows.

The second story consists of five private rooms for patients, 12x15 feet; one large ward, 20x30 feet; chapel-room with private room adjoining, and one bathroom; the Sisters’ dormitory is also on this floor.

The third story consists of one large room, 30x40, which is held in reserve as an extra ward-room should necessity at any time require it.

Verandas or porches, where convalescents may take a sun-bath or sit in the shade when not able or desiring to exercise about the grounds, are also a feature.

It is hardly necessary to state that St. Eugene’s hospital furnishes an ideal place to go to for treatment and restoration to health; not only is it quiet and secluded, but it is not too much so; the discordant noises of the city, often so irritating to the ill, are absent, yet there is enough of life around to furnish some variety for the patient.  The (in season) green fields near by, the picturesque snow-capped mountains not so far distant, and the singing of wild birds all around make one think that if he has got to be sick or maimed that he would like to be an inmate of St. Eugene’s until restored to health.