Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

In the old facility. the Sister's quarters were on the
fourth floor of the hospital building. Economically. the
arrangement was sound. but the hospital board of
directors chose to erect a separate home for them. north
of the new hospital. This provided more privacy for the
Sisters. and allowed for more space for the medical
complex in the new hospital.
The names on the list of Sister administrators
through the years are familiar to many persons in the
community. Those serving in that capacity were:
Sisters Mary Andrew Falon. Mary Baptist Hanley. Mary
Genevieve Fay. Mary Edward McConohy. Mary C.
McCaffrey. Mary Visitation Touhey. Mary Ethelreda
Driscoll. Mary Elaine Shanley. Mary Ellen Flaherty.
Mary Sebastian Keefe. and Mary Mercedes Kobbe.
In 1982. the Sisters of Mercy were forced to terminate
their administrative duties. as fewer sisters were
entering the medical profession. and the older ones
were approaching the age of retirement.
This termination ended 88 years of relationship with
the community which owed so much to the Sisters of
Mercy. The Sisters served with tenderness and
compassion under very difficult conditions. both
financially and emotionally. Their compassion for
those in need and their frugal living habits not only
helped save a hospital. but enhanced the lives of many
people through the years.
Besides having a garden behind the hospital. they
gratefully accepted any surplus from other gardemers
in the area. and along with the kitchen staff. canned
and preserved food to stock the pantries.
Local merchants often donated scraps and bolts of
cloth. which the Sisters transformed into clothing for
the needy children of the community. The sewing
machine on the fourth floor of the ‘Nun's Quarters‘ was
kept humming during the days and nights.
It was not uncommon for the Sisters to make ‘housecalls'.
without charge. to a needy situation in the area:
to lend a hand. offer advice. or support. The were a
dedicated group ofwomen who adopted the community
to which they were assigned.
The Anamosa Community Hospital was. (and is)
owned by Anamosa Community Hospital. Inc. It was
administered by the Sisters of Mercy under a lease
agreement. and they were salaried.
Early in the 1970s. all borrowed money involving the
new building was re-paid.
The hospital. leased and managed by St. Lukes
Methodist Hospital in Cedar Rapids since 1982.
continues to offer efficient. modern facilities. with a
competent staff of medical personnel to serve the
community.
Doctors and Dentists
by Bertha Finn
Anamosa has always been fortunate in attracting
high-quality physicians. surgeons. and dentists
through the years.
Anamosa‘s first physician was Dr. Clark Joslin who
came to Anamosa as soon as the town was laid out. He
was followed by N.G. Sales. Some of the other early
doctors were J.S. Dimmitt. John Crockwell. and Dr.
S.G. Matson.
In the files of the Eureka in 1857. it was noted. “We
have several physicians. but the poor fellows make a
sorry life of it. one firm told us a few days since. all the
money they had taken for services rendered in the last
eight months. was $ 1.50.“
In 1860. it was reported in the Eureka. “Anamosa has
long been slandered as an unhealthy place. This
brought her more physicians than she wanted. A year
ago. she had five or six; she now has only three. Our
friend Dr. McGuire. too. has left. He was a good Dr. and
had as much practice as any other. and yet. he declared
that he was starved out." (He came back two months
later.)
Regarding Dr. Crockwell. in 1866. quite a stir was
caused in the town when a startling rumor was set
afloat that portions of a human skeleton had been
found concealed in the earth under the floor of an old
house ‘downtown’. opposite the Waverly House. Crow
bars and other tools were handy. as the house was
being dismantled. An expectant crowd gathered.
Bones. charcoal and lime were found. The
circumstances were very suspect. However. the
citizens were relieved. or in some cases. disappointed.
to ieam later that an examination revealed that they
were hog or sheep bones. It was thought that Dr.
Crockwell. years before. was suspected of dissecting
bodies and the townsfolk attributed it to be his doings.
In 1874. Dr.E. Blakeslee established an institution in
Dr. Sales old mansion on North Garnaviilo St. He had
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The first drug store to be built in Anamosa. and
later converted to a residence. on the south end of
West Main Street. it was built by C. L. D. Crockwell
and Dr. Clark Joslin across the street from the
Wapsipinicon hotel in I850. The first story of the
building is a bit darker than the upper part. but shows
where the old plate glass windows were removed
when it was converted into a house. (Journal-Eureka)
251