1st discussions about a Schuylkill County hospital occurred in the early 1870s. Several thousand dollars was raised in 1873, but all was lost because of a bank failure. In 1874 the Anthracite Hospital Assn. was chartered. It raised some money but little else was done.
On June 11, 1879, an act was passed authorizing the construction of a hospital along with a $60,000 appropriation. 6 commissioners were appointed to select a site & supervise the construction. Fountain Springs was the choice & land was donated by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad.
Construction began in May, 1880, was completed in 1882. The1st patient was treated in November, 1883. The 2-story stone building with a Queen Anne style administration wing had several 1 story high pavilion wards, operating rooms, laundry, & stable. It accommodated 75 patients--only injured miners, railroad workers, & textile workers. There were no women or children patients until the early 1900s.
During the early mining years, injured miners were taken to a doctor's office. "Black Maria" wagons delivered critically injured miners & deceased miners to their homes. After the Ashland Hospital opened, injured miners were carted often for hours by horse & wagon on the long, painful journey to Ashland.
During the early 1960s, it was decided a new building was needed. The present day facility was completed in 1967 with the old structure being demolished. Ashland State General Hospital was divested by the state in 1992 & became Ashland Regional Medical Center.
It was a rough financial ride for the hospital after state divestiture. In May, 2006, new owners renamed the hospital St. Catherine's Medical Center. A new name did not bring the facility good fortune. The hospital closed unexpectedly in the spring of 2012.
The hospital is gone, but the memories remain. Many hospital artifacts from the state hospital years were saved by the Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society. If you have an Ashland State General Hospital memory, please COMMENT below.
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