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 : Mercy's Medical Families

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’s Medical Families

There are many “Medical Families” in Oshkosh who offer the community generations of caring Physicians.  Can you name some of Mercy’s Medical Families?

Scroll down for the answers :

Answers : L-R in photo :  Zmoleks - Flahertys - Webers – McDonalds 

Three generations of Clark Family surgeons have helped keep Oshkosh residents alive and healthy for more than 100 years. Dr. William "Bill" Clark, seated in foreground, performed general surgery in Oshkosh from 1934 to 1976. His son, Dr. David Dick Clark, a general, vascular and hand surgeon, began his practice in 1974. Dr. Burton Clark, shown in the photo held by Dick Clark, began the tradition in 1894.

Other medical families not pictured include :

Radfords – Ringwalas  - Leschkes

There may be more …

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

                Library Archives LibGuide – Mercy Medical Center

                The Hallmarks of Mercy Historical Display (Digital)

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 : 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. 

Humble Beginnings for St. Mary's Hospital in 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. The first of these is below about our humble beginnings.

Thank you for all you do at Mercy for the patients we have served for 125 years.

  

Humble Beginnings of St. Mary's Hospital

   

In early 1891, the Reverend Roman Scholter, Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Oshkosh convinces Mother M. Frances Streitel, Superior General of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, to establish a hospital in the city.  An old 2-story building on the corner of Merritt and Boyd Streets is purchased for $6,074.71. 

·         On Feb 25,  10 Sisters arrive in Oshkosh, from Marshfield, to clean, scrub, and prepare the building for patients.         

·         By March 11, 1891, they were ready to see patients in the temporary Hospital, with room for 15 beds.

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.  

The Christmas Village at Mercy Medical Center

 

The Christmas Village is once again on display in the MMC Library, across from the Hallmarks of History.  Special thanks to Volunteer Helen Mathe, who sets it up for us every year.   

The Christmas Village was given to Mercy by an anonymous donor back in the year 2000.  The note accompanying the gift read :

If looking at this village makes you happy or brings you peace, then pass along those feelings to others whom you meet this holiday season.  Please give a hug from me to everyone young and old who is spending time with you this holiday season.  Let them know they are being remembered.

Nativity Set : A Special Mercy Tradition

The antique German nativity set is also once again on display outside the MMC Library in a display case across from the Sisters panel of the Hallmarks of History.  

In years past, this nativity set was displayed in the MMC cafeteria.  It is now part of the Mercy Archives.  The hand-painted nativity set was rediscovered at the back of a little-used closet of the old hospital in 1980, and is now proudly displayed behind the glass protection of a display case. 

The Nativity set was quite old and in sad condition when it was first found.  However the loving hands of volunteer Dolly Pahlow, set to work attaching broken pieces and even recreating an angel’s wing.  She spent months patching and painting the 20 figures in their original colors with the encouragement of former food service director, Bob Brennan. 

Read the following newspaper articles for more info about this local treasure. 

Mercy VolunteerRestores Figurse for Nativity Scene – 1985  and Restoration Project is aLabor of Love (pdf)

Nativity Set Gets NewLife - 1992 (pdf)

Nativity Set a Mercy Holiday Tradition

A special piece of Mercy Medical Center's history has found a place of honor this holiday season.    A hand-painted nativity set that was rediscovered at the back of a little-used closet of the old hospital in 1980, is now proudly displayed behind the glass protection of a display case.

The nativity set was quite old and in sad condition when it was first found.  However, the loving hands of Volunteer Dolly Pahlow set to work attaching broken pieces and even recreating an angel wing when needed.  She spent months patching and painting the 20 figures in their original colors with the encouragement of former food service director, Bob Brennan.

In the years since, the manger scene has traditionally been displayed in the open in the cafeteria at both the old and new Mercy Medical Center Buildings.  It is currently on display in one of the Hallmarks of Mercy display cases, outside The Clark Family Health Science Library.

Read more about this set :  Articles 1&2   Article 3   (Affinity / Ministry access only.)