Swedish American Hospital

Postcard submitted by Marsha Schulz

 

In response to a great need for healthcare services in Rockford , the city's growing Swedish community decided to build a new hospital.

O.F. Nilson writes a letter to Carl Hjalmar Lundquist, editor of the "Svenska Posten," Rockford 's Swedish newspaper, urging the construction of a Swedish hospital in Rockford . Nilson half-jokingly challenges every Swede in the city to contribute one dollar per year, and encloses a dollar as a token of his sincerity. Acting on Nilson's request, Lundquist calls a meeting of Rockford 's Swedish ministers to discuss the matter and uses Nilson's donation to open a savings account for the hospital at the Swedish-American Bank. A public meeting is held at Lundberg Hall on Seventh Street on May 8, 1911 . A decision is made to form the Swedish-American hospital association for the purpose of providing encouragement, direction and assistance in the equipment and establishment of Swedish-American Hospital .

The Swedish American Hospital Association receives its charter of incorporation from the Illinois Secretary of State on June 6 of the same year. The first fund-raiser was a picnic at Sinnissippi Park was held on June 29 that included a parade, a 100-member chorus and an orchestra and raised more than $1,000.

A three-acre site is purchased on Charles Street for $11,500. Contractor Gust Holm of the Holm-Page Co. and architects E.A. Peterson and Gilbert A. Johnson are later retained to translate the dream into reality.

Private rooms with bath cost $6 per day. Patients are charged weekly rates of $15 to $42. Charges for delivery and operating rooms are $5. Top nurse salaries total approximately $60 per month.

Dr. T. Arthur Anderson was SwedishAmerican's first chief of medical staff.

On June 17, 1918 the 55-bed SwedishAmerican Hospital is completed at a cost of $175,000.

Swedes in Illinois

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Illinois Ancestors