History of Marquette General Health System

St. Mary's - Marquette's First Hospital

No review of local medical history would be complete without mentioning Marquette's first "real" hospital, St. Mary's. It was established by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, and the history of their journey to Michigan's Upper Peninsula is an interesting one. The sisterhood was founded in Harford, Westphalia, Prussia (Germany) in 1861 and devoted to the cause of caring for the sick, wounded, and suffering. They served in the war between Austria and Prussia in 1866 and later in the Franco-Prussian conflict. The order received the cross of merit from Empress Augusta of Germany in 1872 for their war service. Despite this, they were soon forced out of Prussia by Bismarck who disliked Catholics and their "socialist" tendencies. The sisters of the order moved to Iowa City, Iowa in 1875, and later opened an orphanage in Dubuque. A hospital was opened in Peoria, Illinois in 1876 and became the center of their Order. Additional facilities were opened in other states, including hospitals in Escanaba and Menominee.

Back in Marquette, Dr. A. K. Thiell saw the need for a large, organized community hospital to serve the growing city. Dr. Thiell and Bishop John Vertin convinced the Order to build and operate such a hospital here, and in 1890 the sisters came to Marquette. While plans were being made for a hospital, a temporary facility was set up, first in a home on the southeast corner of Rock and Fourth Streets, then on the northwest corner of Rock and Fifth. Property was purchased on Fisher and Fifth Streets for $8,000, and it was felt to be some of the finest land in the city due to its commanding view. During Marquette's severe typhoid epidemic of 1890, patients were treated in tents set up on the empty lots. Construction began in May 1891, and the hospital was dedicated that October. The building was trimmed in Marquette brownstone and designed to resemble the then famous Harper Hospital in Detroit. The staff consisted of 8 sisters and 3 physicians, and 456 patients were cared for the first year. St. Mary's was designated as a U. S. Marine hospital, and ill or injured merchantmen were routinely sent to Marquette for treatment. Funds for the hospital were raised in part by ticket sales to loggers. For an $8.00 fee, a ticket was issued to the buyer entitling them to free hospitalization and health care for a year. 309 ticket holders were treated in the hospital's first year, which demonstrates the widespread acceptance of this program by the loggers.

A north wing was added to St. Mary's in 1905 to meet Marquette's growing needs. A "new" St. Mary's Hospital was opened in 1955 with an 80 bed capacity, while the old facility was converted into a convent. After 72 years of service, the old St. Mary's was razed in April 1963 to make room for the addition of a long term care and psychiatric wing. In 1973, St. Luke's Hospital and St. Mary's combined services to form Marquette General Hospital. For a few years St. Mary's was informally known as "MGH South", and Rehab, SATU, Hemodialysis, Oncology, and Psychiatric Services were located here. Ownership of the building was eventually transferred to the state of Michigan. It was extensively renovated, and today serves as the D. J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans.

Ed Litwin - Staff Development Coordinator