The
Waynesboro community has a long history of coming together in times of need.
For WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital, that
history spans all the way to its founding a century ago in response to the
Spanish flu pandemic.
Today, the community is again coming
together to support the hospital with donations of food and supplies for
hospital staff.
Dick Marks, who chaired the WellSpan
Waynesboro Hospital board and now serves on the WellSpan Summit Health board,
said this community spirit was obvious from the first time he stepped foot in
Waynesboro as the executive director of the newly constructed
YMCA in
1975.
“We thought we’d stay just a few years
but soon realized this was the place we wanted raise our
growing family,” Marks said. “People cared for one another. They
were hard-working. Their institutions were important to them – church, YMCA,
schools, the hospital. Local people were involved in their institutions, and we
wanted to be as well.”
The Spanish Flu
Exactly 100 years ago this month, the
community was preparing to launch a public fund-raising campaign to establish a
hospital.
But the push for a permanent hospital in
Waynesboro actually began in earnest two years earlier in 1918 as an influenza pandemic
spread across the world.
In Waynesboro, schools and churches
closed, along with “moving picture houses” and other entertainment venues.
Physicians in the Waynesboro area set up makeshift hospitals inside the
firehall and YMCA.
In January 1919, the committee running
the emergency hospitals met to discuss establishing a permanent hospital in
Waynesboro. Dr. J. B. Amberson and others cited lessons learned from the
influenza pandemic.
The following month, members of the
public and religious, civic, fraternal, and industrial organizations met at the
Waynesboro YMCA, and led by local businessman J. H. Stoner, the
community began laying the groundwork for a permanent hospital.
Community Response
On June 1, 1920, the public campaign
officially launched with a goal of raising $300,000. The campaign
started with more than $170,000 already
pledged.
Newspapers kept tallies of individual pledges
and support from businesses and civic groups. Citizens National Bank set up a
special fund for community members to contribute. Civic clubs and the
Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce donated time and money to the cause.
The Arcade theater on Main Street hosted
a benefit recital with renowned mezzo-soprano Barbara Maurel and
violinist Sascha Jacobsen. The Lutheran Church organized a play at the high
school auditorium with all proceeds benefiting the campaign.
At the end of the drive on June 7, the
community had exceeded its goal, raising more than $327,000 – or roughly $4.2
million in today’s money. More than 3,000 local residents had subscribed to support the hospital fund.
The 35-bed Waynesboro Hospital was
dedicated on October 2, 1922, with thousands touring the new hospital building.
Community support did not end there. The
hospital held a Donation Day on Nov. 2, 1922, when residents dropped off fresh
fruit and vegetables, as well as towels, clothing and other supplies.
The Record Herald account remarked, “in a
short time these shelves were laden with capacity with products of many
descriptions and the receivers were compelled to use the floor.”
How to Help
The physicians, nurses, clinicians,
leaders and staff of WellSpan Health are grateful for the ongoing support of
government leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, healthcare
organizations and other community partners during this current pandemic.
WellSpan is actively seeking donations of
supplies, materials, blood, services and other needs in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about how you can help
during this time online or call the Coronavirus Information Hotline at
1-855-851-3641 and select option 4.