Exhibit Celebrates Southampton Hospital’s First Century

 

Way back in 1909, Southampton Hospital officially opened its doors to the public. Prior to its founding, East End residents in need of emergency medical care were either carted off to the hospital in Greenport for treatment or taken care of at home.

A couple years ago, Mary Cummings, an author who has written several books on local history, was approached by Marsha Kenny, the director of marketing and public affairs at Southampton Hospital, about compiling a book to honor the hospital’s centenary. That book “100 years of Healing: Southampton Hospital, 1909-2009” comes out this weekend in conjunction with an exhibit Cummings is curating for the Southampton Historical Museum. On view will be photographs, a re-creation of a 1920s hospital room, a history of the hospital’s school of nursing, and a wall of baby photos of people born at the hospital. A second exhibit will be offered at the hospital beginning May 29.

“The idea of a hospital was a fairly new concept in 1909,” says Cummings. “Babies were born at home and people treated at home. Southampton was such a sophisticated community, and had so many other attractions and clubs — but no hospital.”

Cummings notes it was a group of summer residents, along with the Southampton Village Improvement Society and Dr. Joseph Ely, a prominent physician, who were instrumental in the founding of Southampton Hospital.

“It came about after Dr. George Schenck and Dr. Joseph Wheelwright were called to a women’s home who was in urgent need of surgery,” says Cummings. “They did it in the attic, with no light. It was horrendous and she did recover. But it dawned on people that there was a need.”

The hospital’s first quarters were just two rooms in a Southampton boarding house.

“Charlotte Lilywhite, the nurse ran the whole show,” says Cummings. “She ran to people’s homes and helped out in surgery.”

The hospital then moved to a house on Hampton Street in Southampton Village and at times, notes Cummings, tents were erected on the lawn to handle the overflow of patients. Finally, the decision was made to build a proper hospital on property donated by Samuel T. Parrish on Meeting House Lane. Many years and additions later, that original building is part of the complex that now exists.

“When they decided to build the first piece of the hospital, they had to tell the community over and over, it’s not just for the poor and not just for accidents,” says Cummings. “It was for everybody.”

And they mean everybody. Plenty of famous names passed through Southampton Hospital’s corridors long before Madonna fell from a horse. On July 28, 1929, Jackie Bouvier was born there, one of 219 babies born at the hospital that year.

“There certainly were a lot of well known people who also spent time there,” says Cummings. “Figures from the mid-20th century, like Truman Capote, or deKooning who would go for various reasons. James Jones finished his last novel in the hospital.”

“Before there were nursing homes and assisted living, if you were elderly and wealthy and couldn’t live alone, you‘d just go and live in the hospital,” adds Cummings. “You’d have a very elegant room, your private duty nurse, meals served at a decent hour — then of course, they [the hospital[ hoped there would be a nice bequest and often there was.” 

Incidentally, the first ambulance was purchased for the hospital in 1915 — among the donors were Sag Harbor’s Mrs. Russell Sage ($1,000) and Mrs. Aldrich ($300). Generosity of spirit and pocketbook has long been a staple of the hospital and Marsha Kenny notes that in light of all the medical advances in past decades, that is one thing that has stayed consistent at Southampton Hospital.

“The thing that has really remained throughout those 100 years is the support of community,” says Kenny. “The community started the hospital and through the decades, even during lean times, always stepped up to the plate and raised money. It’s a thread of community support which fortunately hasn’t ended.”

“We’re here for everybody.” 

“100 Years of Healing: Southampton Hospital, 1909-2009” opens with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the Southampton Historical Museum’s Rogers Mansion, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton (283-2494). At 3 p.m., everyone born at the hospital is invited for a group photo. The Centennial Exhibit at Southampton Hospital opens on Friday, May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.