Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital
Encyclopedia
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital is a tertiary acute care hospital
located in Windsor, Ontario
, Canada
. The hospital was created in 1994 when two existing hospitals, Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
's Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital and the Salvation Army
's Grace Hospital, joined to share services.
Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital is the oldest hospital in Windsor, Ontario. It was founded in 1888 by Dean
James Theodore Wagner, pastor
of St. Alphonsus Parish, and five sisters from the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
(RHSJ), who came from Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal
on September 14, 1888.
Dean J.T. Wagner had become concerned for the black people
who had migrated from the southern United States
to his parish, particularly the children in the community. The families had come from the rural American South for the industrial jobs. The children were excluded from white schools and had no school of their own. In addition, many had become orphans. Dean J.T. Wagner organized a mission
for black people and sent letters asking for donations.
One of these letters reached Mother Bonneau, the R.H.S.J. Superior in Montréal. She was so moved that she sent Wagner $2.50 and said that if he were considering building a hospital in Windsor, her order would be happy to help.
Construction on the hospital began on October 10, 1888; it was officially blessed October 15, 1889 and was completed February 1890. The original 1888 building was a three-story brick building built in the Norman architecture
style with three turrets. An orphanage and school for black children was also opened on the site in 1890 and was run by the RHSJ. After four years, the school was discontinued because of low enrollment.
Over the years Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital was renovated and expanded several times, adding more beds as the need arose. Additional beds were added in 1910, 1927, 1938, 1952, and 1962. In 1963 the original 1888 building was demolished.
converted the former Ellis home at Crawford and London Street to fill the need for more hospital beds in Windsor. The Grace Hospital was originally supposed to be a maternity hospital, like others the Salvation Army had founded in Canada. The need for a second general hospital was so great that the plans were changed.
The original building (the former Ellis home) had a capacity for only 28 beds, by 1922 the hospital added a second wing to increase the capacity to 122 beds. Over the years, other wings were built, including a South Wing (1942) and a North Wing (1945). After a fire destroyed a large portion of the hospital on June 6, 1960, approval was obtained to build a new five-story high, air-conditioned wing, which was officially opened in September 1966. After this wing was built, all that remained of the original Ellis home was its central door.
An additional expansion and renovation project was approved in February 1980. The West Wing was officially opened in March 1985.
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
located in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The hospital was created in 1994 when two existing hospitals, Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
The Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph was a religious order founded in La Fleche, France by the Venerable Jerome le Royer de la Dauversiere and Venerable Marie de la Ferre...
's Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital and the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
's Grace Hospital, joined to share services.
History
The Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital was created by an agreement between two hospitals to share services. In 1991, the CEOs of the hospitals began meeting to discuss the options. An agreement was signed a couple years later on December 1, 1993 and after about three years of discussions and planning, the alliance went into effect as of April 1, 1994. The Grace site was officially closed February 1, 2004.Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
James Theodore Wagner, pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Alphonsus Parish, and five sisters from the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
The Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph was a religious order founded in La Fleche, France by the Venerable Jerome le Royer de la Dauversiere and Venerable Marie de la Ferre...
(RHSJ), who came from Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal
Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal
The Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal is the oldest hospital in Montreal, Quebec. Since 1996 it has been one of the three hospitals making up the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal ....
on September 14, 1888.
Dean J.T. Wagner had become concerned for the black people
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
who had migrated from the southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
to his parish, particularly the children in the community. The families had come from the rural American South for the industrial jobs. The children were excluded from white schools and had no school of their own. In addition, many had become orphans. Dean J.T. Wagner organized a mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
for black people and sent letters asking for donations.
One of these letters reached Mother Bonneau, the R.H.S.J. Superior in Montréal. She was so moved that she sent Wagner $2.50 and said that if he were considering building a hospital in Windsor, her order would be happy to help.
Construction on the hospital began on October 10, 1888; it was officially blessed October 15, 1889 and was completed February 1890. The original 1888 building was a three-story brick building built in the Norman architecture
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
style with three turrets. An orphanage and school for black children was also opened on the site in 1890 and was run by the RHSJ. After four years, the school was discontinued because of low enrollment.
Over the years Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital was renovated and expanded several times, adding more beds as the need arose. Additional beds were added in 1910, 1927, 1938, 1952, and 1962. In 1963 the original 1888 building was demolished.
Salvation Army Grace Hospital
Windsor's second hospital was created in 1918 when the Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
converted the former Ellis home at Crawford and London Street to fill the need for more hospital beds in Windsor. The Grace Hospital was originally supposed to be a maternity hospital, like others the Salvation Army had founded in Canada. The need for a second general hospital was so great that the plans were changed.
The original building (the former Ellis home) had a capacity for only 28 beds, by 1922 the hospital added a second wing to increase the capacity to 122 beds. Over the years, other wings were built, including a South Wing (1942) and a North Wing (1945). After a fire destroyed a large portion of the hospital on June 6, 1960, approval was obtained to build a new five-story high, air-conditioned wing, which was officially opened in September 1966. After this wing was built, all that remained of the original Ellis home was its central door.
An additional expansion and renovation project was approved in February 1980. The West Wing was officially opened in March 1985.
External links
- History of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital
- "History", Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
- "Wagner, James Theodore", Dictionary of Canadian Biography
- African-Canadian Roads to Freedom: Essex/Kent County African-Canadian Connections to the Ontario Curriculum for Grades 1 to 8 Social Studies/History and Geography, February 2010, Greater Essex County District School Board
- African-Canadian Roads to Freedom: Essex/Kent County African-Canadian Connections to the Ontario Curriculum Grades 9 and 10 Canadian and World Studies, January 2008, Greater Essex County District School Board
- Canadian Medical Hall of Fame: Laureates - Dr. Henri Breault