City Hospital

Chicago City Hospital, Cook County Hospital I
Life Span: 1859-1875
Location:
Architect: TBD

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859

City Hospital

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863
Chicago City Hospital, cor. Lake (sic) and 18th.

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1866
Chicago City Hospital, 18th cor. Arnold.
Cook County Hospital, ns. Arnold, bet. 18th and 19th

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1873
Cook County Hospital—Ss. Arnold, bet. 18th and 19th

Chicago Tribune, August 22, 1859

The City Hospital.
The City Hospital as now in operation with Mr. Carter as Warden, bids fair to rapidly become the desideratum so long awaited. The lessees having devolved the control upon the Board of Nine Governors, three from each Division of the city, the names of these gentlemen, which we have already given, will be sure to win a confidence for the enterprise among our community at large.

On Friday evening last, a meeting of these Governors for the purpose of organizing among themselves, was held at the office of Gurdon S. Hubbard, Esq., and the election resulted in the choice of William Jones, Esq., as President of the Board of Governors, and Edson S. O’Hara, Esq., as its Secretary. The meeting was adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening next.

The Hospital deserves well of our community and is now in readiness for the fulfilment of its humane and important relations to those who are of the class it is designed to aid. And these must not be understood to be exclusively the poorer and more squalid victims of misery and want. For these indeed exist ample wards, comfortable couches, and careful attendance, but beyond and in addition to this, the Chicago Hospital must be considered as open for all and any who are overtaken bp illness at places of sojourn, where adequate attention and care is from necessity denied them, as at the hotels and boarding houses, the homes of the stranger, these may find proportionate to their wishes and their purse, attention, care and a home in elegant and commodious private wards.

An institution like our City Hospital is what we have long needed, and we congratulate our public on its present prospects. The terms of the lease from the city stipulate the fixed rate for the admission of patients, sent by the city, the strangers and wayfarers that are thrown upon public charity. The rates of board and attendance fee for other case are a little more, but in each and all the grades the figures are certainly lower than the same accommodations could be secured elswhere for, even if they could be so secured at all.

The physicians and surgeons of the establishment are confessedly among the foremost in the old school practice in our city. They have, we believe, embarked in the enterprise, not with the belief or expectation that it will prove a paying one, indeed, we do their intentions and wishes the fullest justice when we say that their highest wish will be realized when the city may induced by the success their venture shall have pared the way for, to assume and adopt the City Hospital as a city institution.

We think we see in the enterprise a promise of a future which shall make the noble building on South Wells street, below Old, a pride and an honor to Chicago.

Chicago Tribune, September 29, 1859

The City Hospital.
Mr. Editor:—The City Hospital is situated in the southern part of the city, not far from the Archer Road. It was built by the city authorities some four years ago, at a cost of about $75,000, and is a well planned edifice, of ample dimensions. Contrary to the general rule applicable to public buildings, it has been well and thoroughly constructed of good materials. Its wards and rooms are spacious with high ceilings, and well, very well ventilated, with convenient bath-rooms attached. Almost the entire building is to be warmed by steam and the apparatus for that purpose is completed and in place; this apparatus is also to warm water for the baths.

The hospital grounds constitute a small block bounded by streets on all sides, and require to be filled, fenced and planted with trees. Would it not be well for the city to make the small appropriation necessary to improve and beautify these grounds, so as to make the Hospital more attractive, or at least less repulsive to the fastidious.

I understand it has been but recently opened for the reception of patients, it having, at the time of my visit but seven or eight; although it has, as I judge, accommodations for at least 150. It is the best arranged and ventilated Hospital that I have examined. The air in it was very pure and salubrious. I found two Physicians there, civil and gentlemanly men, well versed in the “theory and practice” of their profession. And the general neatness and cleanliness of the rooms were very creditable to the gentleman and lady who have charge of the premises.-The Hospital is at present occupied and managed under a lease from the city.—Citizen.

A Strangers’ and Tourists’ Guide to the City of Chicago, 1866

COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL.
Located in a commodious and elegant brick building, four stories high, on Arnold street, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets.

Chicago Tribune, October 14, 1871

COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL.
The following circular, from Dr, Emmone, explains Itself:

It is the intention of the committee to retain this building during the winter, and they feel able to afford attendance to all who my require It. There are at present numbers of persons in the churches who require medical aid, one West Side doctor having had eight childbirth cases night before last, most of them premature, and it would be far better to have them in a hospital where they can be properly cared for, than in the places where they are now situated.

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