START OF THE "NEW" ST. LUKE'S

The first St. Luke's Hospital opened in 1897 on 123 W. Ridge Street. By this time, Marquette had recovered from a disaster that almost ended the city. On June 11, 1868, a small fire started in the Marquette and Ontonagon Railroad property on Main Street, and soon spread to the nearby dock and buildings. The downtown business district had been constructed of locally cut pine, and the dry buildings burned with a vengeance. With no effective fire fighting equipment, businesses attempted to save their stock by moving it into the streets. Looting followed, and as the fire grew merchandise in the streets and on the docks was consumed by the flames. The fire reached as far north as Ridge Street, and south to Superior Street (now Baraga Avenue). Virtually all businesses, and all but one dock, were left in ashes. More than 100 buildings were destroyed, property loss was close to $2 million, and the only undamaged shops were a meat market and a drug store south of Superior Street. Rebuilding started immediately. The city wisely passed an ordinance requiring all downtown buildings to be fireproof and fronted with stone. This resulted in the impressive facades, most from locally made bricks and quarried stone, which you can see today on a walk down Washington Street.

Marquette continued to grow and prosper, and St. Luke's Hospital responded to the town's needs. Frank Stolpe took over as hospital superintendent, and through the years filled many roles for St. Luke's. He took care of all male patients, and still had to carry nonambulatory patients up and down the stairs. For a while, Mr. Stolpe and his wife were also in charge of the kitchen and serving the meals. His name and office were on the hospital tickets sold to the lumberjacks, and because Mr. Stolpe spoke Finnish and Swedish as well as English, he acted as interpreter for these nationalities. In later years he was the hospital's radiographer and anesthetist, in addition to nursing and supervising the men's wards. In 1935 a party was held in honor of his 40 years' work at St. Luke's. He was known as "a tower of strength in all departments, and one of the community's jolliest and best loved citizens."

By 1907 St. Luke's had outgrown the Ridge Street location, so plans were made to raise the needed funds for a new facility. Money came from private donations, hospital ticket sales, and benefit fundraisers. The largest and most profitable benefit was a charity ball held in the then-new Lake Shore Engine Works plant. The nationally known Calumet and Hecla Brass Band was persuaded to play for the event, which drew over 1500 people. Decorated boxes, filled with home made pies, cakes, and other treats were sold to the highest bidder. The benefit was considered "the" social event of the decade, and over $2000 was raised. The building fund rose slowly over the next several years, with proceeds coming from concerts, lecture series, and other benefits. A major contribution of $27,000 came in 1912 from Mrs. Charles Hebard. Charles Hebard came to the UP in 1876 and started a logging operation centered in Pequaming on Keweenaw Bay. His fortune was made by cutting off the vast tracts of virgin white pines found in that area. After Charles' death, his wife wanted a memorial built in his honor. She was persuaded that a more meaningful legacy would be to donate the funds to St. Luke's for a surgical wing. Hebard Court and the Charles Hebard Memorial Surgical Wing (which still stands - do you know where?) were named in his honor.

Joint Commission
Accredited

Top of Page

 
(906) 228-9440
Marquette General Health System - 580 W. College Ave. - Marquette, MI 49855

Telephoning a Patient  |  FREE Valet Parking  | | Text Page

Site Disclaimer | Link Policy | Web Site Privacy Statement

http://www.mgh.org

We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation

Copyright © Marquette General Health System