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- The Lindsborg Community Hospital would open its doors to the public in 1949 -
- The Lindsborg Community Hospital would open its doors to the public in 1949 -
1943, After Lydia, Emil's part planning Lindsborg's "first" hospital and Dr. Holwerda's role
~ An account by Dr. Lungstrom
In the summer of 1976 in the Deere home, I remember my mother phoning the Lindsborg Community Hospital to let them know that we had the "blue prints" for the hospital, and she asked if they would like them. Why did we have them? This had been due to Dr. Emil O. Deere's role, our "Uncle Emil's" role, in moving plans forward to build that hospital. Once it was built, the blue prints were stored in the basement.
Emil lost his wife Lydia in 1943, so the campaign for a hospital in Lindsborg during that same year must have been therapeutic for him as he moved forward without her.
Bethany College science professor Dr. Leon Lungstrom in his 1990 book, History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College Lindsborg, Kansas on pages 196 and 198 /\ describes Deere's activities concerning the plans to build the Lindsborg Community Hospital as follows:
"Professor Deere exerted great influence in the development of the Lindsborg Community Hospital beginning in 1943. He served as chairman for the first ward in its early governmental development. He helped develop financial drives for its construction and became president of the hospital board of directors, a position he held for 19 years. In the process of planning construction, a chairperson became established for each committee involved. Deere went out to surrounding communities to discuss the hospital plan for support. Construction of the new hospital was begun in 1948.
Emil lost his wife Lydia in 1943, so the campaign for a hospital in Lindsborg during that same year must have been therapeutic for him as he moved forward without her.
Bethany College science professor Dr. Leon Lungstrom in his 1990 book, History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College Lindsborg, Kansas on pages 196 and 198 /\ describes Deere's activities concerning the plans to build the Lindsborg Community Hospital as follows:
"Professor Deere exerted great influence in the development of the Lindsborg Community Hospital beginning in 1943. He served as chairman for the first ward in its early governmental development. He helped develop financial drives for its construction and became president of the hospital board of directors, a position he held for 19 years. In the process of planning construction, a chairperson became established for each committee involved. Deere went out to surrounding communities to discuss the hospital plan for support. Construction of the new hospital was begun in 1948.
"In addition to his dedicated work for the local hospital, Professor Deere was elected to the McPherson County Hospital Board in 1948 and served in that role for a ten-year period.
"The new Lindsborg Community Hospital was dedicated in 1949 with 1,500 people present.
"The hospital continued operating successfully with continued leadership by Deere. A plan for expansion of the hospital was initiated in 1958. The machinery was put in place by the careful leadership of the board under Deere’s guidance, and with successful community support so that it could continue financially in the black."
"The new Lindsborg Community Hospital was dedicated in 1949 with 1,500 people present.
"The hospital continued operating successfully with continued leadership by Deere. A plan for expansion of the hospital was initiated in 1958. The machinery was put in place by the careful leadership of the board under Deere’s guidance, and with successful community support so that it could continue financially in the black."
Dr. Emil O. Deere
- President of Lindsborg Hospital Board of Directors -
1943 - 1962
- A McPherson County Hospital Board Member -
1948 - 1958
- President of Lindsborg Hospital Board of Directors -
1943 - 1962
- A McPherson County Hospital Board Member -
1948 - 1958
Source: The Deere Papers
Dr. William Holwerda would be the "first" full time doctor serving at the Lindsborg Community Hospital from 1949 until his unexpected death in 1964. Therefore, it is assumed that some of the needs for the addition to the Hospital certainly would have come from him early on in the planning phase at the Board meetings which led up to the fundraising campaign in 1958.
This campaign was initiated through the use of a brochure outlining the Hospital background and the steps needed to collect $80,000, a first step in the financing of the addition. This brochure was prepared by Lawson Associates of Rockville Center, New York, 1958. The Campaign Headquarters were located on West Lincoln, Near Main, Lindsborg, Kansas, and the phone number given was 5371.
The trusted information found within this brochure would provide "the plan" that the community would support to build the addition to their hospital.
This campaign was initiated through the use of a brochure outlining the Hospital background and the steps needed to collect $80,000, a first step in the financing of the addition. This brochure was prepared by Lawson Associates of Rockville Center, New York, 1958. The Campaign Headquarters were located on West Lincoln, Near Main, Lindsborg, Kansas, and the phone number given was 5371.
The trusted information found within this brochure would provide "the plan" that the community would support to build the addition to their hospital.
Dr. William Holwerda
- Practiced Medicine in Lindsborg -
1931 - 1964
- First Lindsborg Community Hospital Doctor -
1949 - 1964
- it was not long before Dr. Holwerda became a highly regarded physician and friend to all -
- Practiced Medicine in Lindsborg -
1931 - 1964
- First Lindsborg Community Hospital Doctor -
1949 - 1964
- it was not long before Dr. Holwerda became a highly regarded physician and friend to all -
Source: 1965 "Lindsborg on Record" by Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
The Brochure
" DEDICATED TO SERVICE "
- used for the 1958 $80,000 Fundraising Campaign with Lindsborg Community Hospital Board President Dr. Deere guiding the way -
Source: The Deere Papers
The Hospital's ongoing commitment:
The Committee's Swedes and non-Swedes of Lindsborg and the Smoky Valley neighboring communities who were in charge of seeing that the addition was built:
The statistics since opening the 1949 Lindsborg Community Hospital:
The problem defined:
The initial need of $80,000 sought through public subscription, then the possibilities for the problem to be resolved:
The solutions and plans for the problem to be resolved:
The addition was built, and Dr. Lundstrom finishes: "It served its purpose well until 1988, when the community again was willing to update the services and decided it would be best to build a new structure rather than to renovate the old building."
To learn more about Dr. Holwerda and what health services were like when he arrived in Lindsborg in 1931, go HERE
Dr. William Holwerda ~ Remembering their family doctor with Messiah Lutheran Church tributes ~ An account by Dr. Leon Lungstrom.
Go HERE also for William Holwerda, M.D. ~ Remembering him as "Doc Bill," a city father and loving citizen.
~ Accounts by Dr. Leon Lungstrom and Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg.
For today's Lindsborg Community Hospital, go HERE.
/\ On January 31, 2016, permission was granted by Mrs. Leon (Linda) Lungstrom the use of her husband's book in SWEDES due to the important biographies it has on early college Swedish professors, on Bethany College history, on the only recorded Bethany College Museum history, and Old Main and its blue prints. Therefore, this information has come from Dr. Lungstrom's chapter on Dr. Emil Olaf Deere, page 196 and 198 which is verbatim as indicated.
* These shared selections on Dr. Holwerda have been shown to his granddaughter Mrs. Betty Nelson for approval as of 4-21-2021.
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"Let Us Celebrate Them"
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Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
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All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
