In 2015, Kathy Nichols wrote the booklet for Heritage Days entitled 'Macomb's Healthcare Tradition'. For this booklet she did extensive research into the history of medicine and medical practice in Macomb.
A person usually strolling from the Chandler Park area of Macomb down East Carroll Street would not have to venture far, maybe half a block, before they would come to a nicely done bronze plaque on the north side of the street. If one stops to read the historical marker, they might be surprised to realize they are strolling in front of what was once the site of Macomb's first hospital. The plaque reads as follows: 'Site of Marietta Phelps Hospital built by Marietta Phelps and Dr. S.C. Stremmel in 1900, which served the Macomb community for 66 years.'
'In memory of these two and Dr. John W. Hermetet, Surgeonin- Chief 1918-1935 and Dr. J. Henry Hermetet, Surgeon-in-Chief 19351966, and the many doctors, nurses, and employees who staffed the facility, this marker is dedicated June 25, 1976.'
How Phelps Hospital Came to Be The opening of Phelps Hospital in Macomb might never have happened for not two unfortunate events that happened prior to 1900 in the Macomb area.
On December 22, 1899, a woman named Marietta Phelps fell and broke her arm at the elbow. Marietta was the widow of Leander Phelps. In the spring of 1845, Leander P. Phelps purchased from a soldier from the war of 1812, a deed for a quarter section of land located in what is now Emmet Township, west of Macomb. The Phelps moved to McDonough County, farmed their land, saved their money, and in 1870 retired and moved into Macomb.
Tragedy struck two years later. In January of 1872, a team of horses owned by a Mr. Cline broke loose from a hitching rack on the square near the jail. The terrified team turned up Carroll Street, where A.J. Fields and Leander Phelps were riding on a one-horse dray-a low cart with no sides used for hauling.
The frightened horses slammed into the dray from behind, throwing Fields and Phelps to the ground and trampling them. Both men were badly injured, and Leander Phelps died.
The childless Marietta never completely recovered from her husband's traumatic death and always had in the back of her mind that she would like to put some of her savings to a worthy cause in his memory.
One day, years later, while treating Marietta for her broken arm, Dr. Stremmel suggested she use some of her fortune to start a hospital in Macomb. At first Mrs. Phelps thought he was kidding, but after a while realized that he was quite serious.
On April 9, 1900, the Macomb Journal announced that on that day she and Dr.
Stremmel had signed a legal agreement by which she had agreed to provide $8200*, to be used for the purchase of land in the 200 block of East Carroll Street and the building and equipping of a hospital on that location (*some sources say she donated $10,000).
In exchange for the generous donation, Dr. Stremmel would oversee the money and Marietta Phelps would be allowed to live at the hospital for the rest of her life.
The donation proved to be insufficient, so Dr. Stremmel provided an additional $7500 of his own money.
On December 14, 1900, six days before the hospital officially opened, the first surgery was performed on a Mrs. Ison. Two other surgeries were also performed during those six days prior to opening.
Marietta Phelps did not get to live in her new hospital long. She died the next year on November 29, 1901.
Dr. Stremmel was quoted as saying that he had asked Marietta a few months before she died, if she had any regrets about giving money to build a hospital.
Her reply, according to Dr.
Stremmel, was as follows: 'She answered at once that the last years of her life had been the happiest of her existence; that she had no idea there was so much suffering in the world, or that so much could be done with her money; that she hoped the hospital would grow; and that others who had money to spare would see the importance of the work, and only wished that she had more means to apply in this direction.'
Phelps Provides Medical Need Services in the Macomb Area In 1900, the population of Macomb was around 5000. Two thousand people came to the open house on December 20, 1900 at the new Phelps Hospital. The original building was 38 feet wide, 55 feet long and two stories high, with 14 patient rooms.
The hospital was considered to be quite modern for that time. According to John Hallwas' book 'Macomb-A Pictorial History', the hospital had two ward rooms, one for women and one for men, which could each hold up to five beds. It also had an operating room, with an enamel table, portable wash stands, and a painted cement floor, so that it could be thoroughly cleaned.
The operating room was located at the northeast corner of the building, as to draw the best natural light.
The sinks in the surgical scrub room were designed so that hot and cold water could be turned on by foot pressure. In the days before antibiotics infection was a major concern.
When the hospital opened, the physicians on staff were Dr. J.B. Bacon, Dr. Henry Knappenberger, Dr.
R.E. Lewis, Dr. J.B. Holmes, Dr. E.R. Miner and Dr. S.C.
Stremmel.
During the first year 181 patients were admitted, and 144 operations were performed.
Prior to Phelps Hospital, patients were usually treated in their homes. It was common to operate on kitchen tables, as they were usually well lit from a light above.
A year after the Phelps Hospital opened, Dr. Stremmel started a school of nursing there. The doctors on staff served as the teachers.
One reason for the school of nursing was to provide help for the sparsely staffed hospital. The other reason was to create a pool of trained and licensed nurses for the hospitals in the area to hire from.
Phelps Hospital soon outgrew the current space so an addition was constructed to the back of the existing structure. That addition was 2.5 stories high and 36 feet deep and allowed for the addition of an elevator, a laboratory, and more patient rooms. At this point in time a new heating and sterilizer were installed. Dr. Stremmel paid the $6000-$8000 remodeling cost himself.
In July of 1918, Dr. Stremmel died of cancer. He had continued to operate Phelps Hospital until just a few days before his death.
Dr. John Hermetet took over the administrative operations of the hospital.
During the mid-1920's, Dr.
Hermetet supervised the construction of yet another addition. It extended to the alley running between Carroll and Calhoun Streets, and added a third floor to that section. Also added was a nursery, new X-ray equipment, and a full-time X-ray technician was hired.
Dr. John Hermetet's son, J. Henry, joined the staff in 1924 after an internship at John Hopkins Medical School. On August 4, 1935, Dr. John Hermetet died while on vacation. Dr. J.
Henry Hermetet assumed leadership of Phelps Hospital.
In 1966, besides the age of the building and the trouble making it meet federal guidelines, Phelps Hospital was also close to downtown Macomb and was running out of room to expand so Phelps Hospital was closed.
The following year, in 1967, St. Francis Hospital closed.
During its 66 year run, Phelps Hospital was the envy of most communities in Western Illinois. Patients often came from outside counties, and if they could not pay their county boards usually provided the funds.
Phelps Hospital, the hospital that likely began due to a woman's broken arm, was torn down in 1974. Apartments now fill the spot in a red brick building that was not a part of Phelps Hospital. Marietta Phelps' name adorns the historical marker near the apartment building.
Credits: 'Macomb's Healthcare Traditions' Kathy Nichols; 'Macomb-A Pictorial History' John Hallwas; WIU Archives; Western Illinois Museum
