A Pioneer Hospital

No pioneer rendered greater service to the community than Mrs. Baldwin, who started the first hospital in Adanac.

Mrs. Margaret Baldwin was born Margaret Brady in Toronto, August 8, 1858. She married James Baldwin on October 13, 1873. They pioneered in various parts of Ontario chiefly around Owen Sound. It was here their twelve children were born -- Ada, Alice, Ethel, Walter, William, James, Millicent, Morgan, Reg, Flora, Vera and Ray. (At the time of writing Vera Barrs is the only living relative left. She lives in Summerland, BC.)

I 1906, they came west with the family to a homestead near Adanac, Saskatchewan. Their nearest railway was Battleford, fifty miles away.

Mrs. Baldwin had a great love for people. She travelled hundreds of miles to see the sick, sometimes riding on stoneboat, sitting on a tub holding on for dear life.

It was in March 1910, that Mrs. Baldwin moved into the Adanac hospital where she was indeed busy attending the sick and looking after her large family. She brought many babies into the world and saved countless lives especially expectant mothers. Dozens of men and women living here and elsewhere proudly say, "I was one of Mrs. Baldwin's Babies.

Mrs. Baldwin lived her latter years at Vancouver with her daughter Flora and her son Walter. This was her home until her death in April, 1949. She was ninety-one vears of age.

One of the greatest draw-backs to pioneer life was the lack of treatment for the sick. The fear of losing a loved one was ever present. How wonderful to have a person like Mrs. Baldwin who gave herself unstintingly to relieve this fear. The weather was never too stormy nor the road too long for her to come to someone's assistance. When she came radiating confidence and good cheer everything seemed to be all right.

Too much cannot be said for Mrs. Baldwin with her outgoing personality and her clever, capable nurse's hands. She is one person who will never be forgotten in the pioneer days of Adanac.





Last Updated: Sunday, February 10, 2002