House of the Good Shepherd. - About the year 1871-2
two Canadian women, members of the Episcopal church, came to Syracuse sick
with fever and were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. On the following Sunday,
Bishop Huntington, in St. Paul’s church, alluded to the incident, dwelling
upon and regretting the fact that the church people had no hospital in
the city. At the close of the service a gentleman offered a house in East
Fayette street for this purpose, rent free, if others would furnish it.
The offer was promptly accepted and the hospital was immediately opened.
Later it was removed to Hawley street. Outgrowing that institution, George
F. Comstock in July, 1874, offered to the board the present site on Marshall
street, and measures were inaugurated for erecting a suitable building.
This building is a wooden structure three stories high and was finished
in December, 1875. The name, “House of the Good Shepherd,” was given to
the institution previous to its removal from Hawley street. The first officers
were: President, Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, S. T. D.; secretary, Rev. Thomas
E. Pattison; treasurer, D. O. Salmon; executive committee, A. C. Powell,
D. O. Salmon, D. W. Marvin. The first medical staff consisted of Drs. Dunlap,
Benedict, Didama, Plant, and Rhoades, and the first surgical staff were
Drs. Van Duyn, Mercer, and Pease. The doors of the institution are open
to all who need its care, regardless of their belief, race or color. The
number of beds is nearly sixty, and they are usually full. There are two
memorial rooms, one furnished by Mrs. D. P. Wood, in memory of her daughter,
and the other by Mrs. W. G. Hibbard, of Chicago, in memory of her mother,
Mrs. Peter Van Schaack. There are also three free beds, one supported by
the British American Association; one by Mrs. Thayer-Webb, of Skaneateles;
and the Van Schaack memorial bed. The sum necessary to support a bed for
one year is $250 and any one may have the privilege.
In 1885 a department was established for the training
of nurses in connection with the hospital. Miss L. B. Mills, a graduate
from Bellevue Hospital, of New York, was made superintendent of this school
and hospital. In 1887 a building was erected adjoining the hospital for
the accommodation of the school. The training covers a course of two years,
and the discipline is strict.