Mercy Hospital

The impressive Mercy Hospital once stood where Waddell's garage now is. (I'm thinking it must have been the building on the North east corner of State and Maple as they had a car dealership there, but now it's a Pharmacy.) The post card was mailed in 1913, which was shortly before the building burned. It was run by the Sisters of Mercy and many old-timers remember well the day it burned. The building was the Northern Hotel until about 1910, when it was taken over by the Sisters of Mercy. The fire which destroyed the building in the winter of 1919.

This well known institution began its work of untiring and devoted care of the sick and wounded toilers of the pine forests in a wooden building 100 foot front by 40 feet deep, primitive in the extreme without any of the conveniences , or we may say luxeries of the modern hospital of today, yet to the cik and wounded woodsmen it was, as they wont to say, "their home." These privations never seemed to have been felt by them for many of them have said that the days they spent in Mercy Hospital were happy ones, despite the the iltis and aflictions they were suffering. The hospitak was opened on January 2, 1879. Previous to this time there was no place where the woodsmen could be cared for when sick or wounded. The zealous Pastor of St. Mary's Church, Rev. Father Herbstrit, realizing this great need, started a hospital fundamong the men employed in the lumber camps. These men who knew better than any other the needs of such a place, responded generously and so encouraged was the good Father that he made known the result of hus efforts to Rt. Rev. Bishop Borgess of Detroit, who was alo much pleased and also applied for Sisters who would be willing to undertake the erection and management of a hospital. Mother Mary Joseph, "Superior of the Sisters of Mercy, who was then teaching in Grand Rapids, consented to undertake this ardous task and then in October 1878 she and her little band of nine sisters came to Big Rapids. Mother Joseph had acquired the great sisters chosen to nurse the sick and wounded during this war. She also nursed in the cholera hospital during the epidemic of 1854. It may not be out of place here to say that Florence Nightingale, who worked hand in hand with the Sisters, remembered then in her will which was published a year or two ago, thus showing the friendly feeling which ever existed between them.

The Sisters entered upon their new field of labor with heroic devotedness, and ministered with tender care to all who flocked to them for aid in their afflictions.

During the first years there were from seven to nine hundred patients cared for each year. Many and great were the cures affected, unlike many small places like Big Rapids had very efficient physicians and surgeons. On Dec. 22, 1882, the hospital was completely destroyed by fire.

The Sisters realizing now more than ever the needs of the sick and wounded set about collecting funds for the rebuilding or a more commodious and modern hospital. The citizens of Big Rapids were the first to come to the aid by pledging $5,000. Manistee was the next, Grand Rapids and Muskegon also contributed generously. Four Sisters visited all the mills and camps of Westeren Michigan. Great kindness and respect were shown them at all times and they met with great success.

The contract for the new building was given to Messrs Hudnutt & Crocker, who also built the first hospital, love for sick and suffering humanity which so characterized her in lean years, on the Battlefield in the Crimean war. She was one of the priviledged. On November 2, 1883, the hospital was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Richter of Grand Rapids.

Up to April 22, 1908, about ten thousand patients have been cared. Since the funding of Mercy Hospital, thousands if these have been nursed back to health and many receive strength and comfort as they enter upon their journey to eternity.

The history of the second fire whiich occurred April 22, 1908, is well known to all the readers of the PIONEER. The good people of Big Rapids were again called upon for aid and they nobly and generously responded then by showing their deep appreciation the work accomplished in this worthy institution. Special thanks are due the doctors of the city for their uniting zeal and indefatigable labors, promoting the welfare of Mercy Hospital.

The Sisters of Mercy have the management of six other hospitals located at the following places: Grand Rapids, Manistee, Bay City, Muskegon, Cadillac and Grayling. Hospitals are not the main feature of the Order of Mercy. The education of the young is one if it's first duties. Where circumstances will permit the State conduct boarding schools and academies. At the present time they teach in fourteen parochial schools, four of which have high schools in connection.

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