From the Archives : When Did Mercy Change Its Name?

Question : When did Mercy change it's name?

Answer : In 1917, Lakeside Hospital (aka Lakeside Sanitarium) was renamed Mercy Hospital after the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother purchased it from the local Physicians who had been running it since 1912.  [From "The Red Book" chapter on Mercy Hospital, c1960.]

In 1968, Mercy Hospital became Mercy Medical Center after merging with Marian Home.
[See ONW article April 5, 1968.]

In 2017, Mercy Medical Center officially changed it's name to Ascension Mercy Hospital to align with naming conventions at Ascension Healthcare.  At the time, the public had the impression that they could get more services at a hospital than at a medical center.

As of June 1, 2018,  Ascension Mercy Hospital and Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital adopted a new legal name together : Ascension NE Wisconsin.   This has been described as only a legal business name change for tax purposes.   Billing notices may state that patients received services at Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus, although we are still doing business as Ascension Mercy Hospital as evidenced by the signage around the hospital.

MMC-125 : The 1918 Flu Epidemic Hits Oshkosh

Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh is celebrating 125 Years

Between now and the final celebration in September, we will share some stories and facts to show how far we have come in furthering the vision of the initial Sisters.

 1918 Flu Epidemic hits Oshkosh

Shortly after the Sisters took over Mercy Lakeside, the 1918 flu epidemic spread so rapidly that Mercy and St Marys were unable to accommodate patients.  The city opened a saloon as a temporary hospital and put the Sisters in charge. 

Sr. Mehrinda Gehring, in charge of nursing students, recorded briefly the history of the epidemic :

“The city police and ambulance took beds and everything wlse needed to this ‘hospital.’  We Sisters went back and forth by ambulance and patrol wagon, the same vihicles used to convey the sick and the dead of which there were many.  Already on the first day this emergency hospital opened, the house was filled and every patient was fearfully sick.  When the police and ambulance men had Sisters in their wagons they would blow their sirens extra loud, making everyone get out of the way.’                       

– Sr. Mary Josue in History of St. Mary’s Home for the Aged and Mercy Hospital 1891 -1976.

Read more about the 1918 Flu Epidemic in Winnebago County,Wisconsin.

Read more about  History of Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI :

                Library Archives LibGuide – Mercy Medical Center

                The Hallmarks of Mercy Historical Display (Digital)

                History of St. Mary's Home for the Aged and Mercy Hospital 1891-1976 (pdf)   by Sr. Mary Josue, written in 1976.

These short articles appeared in Jeremy Normington-Slay's Friday News & Notes emails sent out to all Mercy employees in 2016.  The historical and Archival Material was provided by Michele Matucheski, Librarian and Archivist at Mercy Medical Center. 

MMC-125 : Mercy Lakeside Expands in 1922

Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh is celebrating 125 Years

Between now and the final celebration in September, we will share some stories and facts to show how far we have come in furthering the vision of the initial Sisters.

Mercy Lakeside Expands

Mercy Hospital (Lakeside) August 1922

5 years after the Sisters take over Mercy Hospital, ground is broken for an expansion project.  Expansion of the facility includes a north wing, chapel, convent, new powerhouse, and laundry.  The extensive construction is completed two years later.   Increased capacity to 150 beds.

Read more about  History of Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI :

                Library Archives LibGuide – Mercy Medical Center

                The Hallmarks of Mercy Historical Display (Digital)

                               

          History of St. Mary's Home for the Aged and Mercy Hospital 1891-1976 (pdf)   by Sr. Mary Josue, written in 1976.

               St. Mary's Hospital, Oshkosh, WI - Chapter XII from The Red Book (pdf)  45 pages

               Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh, WI - Chapter XIII from The Red Book (pdf) 28 pages

These short articles appeared in Jeremy Normington-Slay's Friday News & Notes emails sent out to all Mercy employees in 2016.  The historical and Archival Material was provided by Michele Matucheski, Librarian and Archivist at Mercy Medical Center. 

MMC-125 : Mercy Hospital Begins as Lakeside

Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh is celebrating 125 Years

Between now and the final celebration in September, we will share some stories and facts to show how far we have come in furthering the vision of the initial Sisters.

Mercy Hospital begins as Lakeside

1917  The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother take over Lakeside Sanitarium, the Physician’s Hospital built in 1912 across from Menomonee Park, and lead by Dr. M.E. Corbett.   

After only 5 years, Lakeside was having financial difficulties and Dr. Corbett knew that if the Sisters ran it, it would be efficient, and continue to operate well into the future.  The Sisters reluctantly purchased it for about $40,000, half of what it cost to build it.  Soon after, the Sisters renamed it Mercy Hospital. 

At that time, The Sisters were also running St. Mary’s Hospital, about 4 blocks away on Merritt St. in Oshkosh. 

This Lakeside Hospital booklet dates back to 1911-17, showing many images from the state-of-the-art facility.   The booklet has about 20 pages.    The original resides in the Lakeside Hospital file of the Mercy Medical Center Library Archives.  

Read more about  History of Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI :

      Library Archives LibGuide – Mercy Medical Center

      The Hallmarks of Mercy Historical Display (Digital)

       History of St. Mary's Home for the Aged and Mercy Hospital 1891-1976 (pdf)   by Sr. Mary Josue, written in 1976.

        St. Mary's Hospital, Oshkosh, WI - Chapter XII from The Red Book (pdf)  45 pages

        Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh, WI - Chapter XIII from The Red Book (pdf) 28 pages

These short articles appeared in Jeremy Normington-Slay's Friday News & Notes emails sent out to all Mercy employees in 2016.  The historical and Archival Material was provided by Michele Matucheski, Librarian and Archivist at Mercy Medical Center.