Most of the information in this article comes from Saltcoats Roots and Branches.
During the past year, everyone has gained a new appreciation for the hardwork and dedication of health care workers. They dedicate countless hours of their lives – hours that would otherwise be spent with family and friends – to keeping everyone safe and healthy. Throughout the pandemic, their already long and trying hours became even more so, with the added concern of being in a position that puts them at very high risk of contracting COVID-19.
Saltcoats has a rich history when it comes to medical care and health care providers.
In 1895, residents of Saltcoats decided that the village needed a hospital. The then Minister of the Anglican church, Rev. T.A. Teitelbaum was especially involved in bringing a hospital to Saltcoats. In 1896, the Saltcoats Cottage Hospital was built and opened in 1897, almost entirely locally funded. Dr. R. H. Mason was the first resident Medical Superintendent at the hospital along with four trained nurses. The nurses worked in the hospital and also attended to private cases outside the hospital. This depended on the nurse’s volunteer time as well as payments made by patients as a case outside the hospital cost $5.
The Saltcoats Cottage Hospital was one of the first such hospitals in the Northwest Territories as well as the first hospital in western towns that cared for sick people in their homes.
Throughout the years, many doctors came and went from the hospital. Each doctor made positive contributions to Saltcoats in their time serving at the Cottage Hospital.
The nurses and doctors that worked at the hospital were also instrumental in the management and control of various epidemics that swept through the village. In September of 1897 (the year that the hospital opened) the town organized a Board of Health with the then resident doctor, Dr. Mason, as Medical Health Officer (MHO).
When it was first established, the board’s main duty was to improve sanitation within the village limits and control the animals that were running loose in town. In order to help prevent diseases spread by animals the village passed a by-law in 1910 that put veterinarians Dr. Briggs and Dr. Cass in charge of inspecting any animals that had been killed and put up for sale within the village. They were also in charge of inspecting dairy cattle from which milk came that was being sold in village limits.
The MHO (a position filled by the local doctor) was also in charge of quarantine measures for preventing the spread of contagious diseases. They informed council about diseases that were present in the area and provided advice for preventing the transmission of these diseases. Notable epidemics in Saltcoats include the measles in 1916, chicken pox in 1917, Infantile Paralysis in 1918 and Spanish Influenza in the winter of 1918-19.
Of these epidemics, the Spanish Influenza epidemic had the most severe impact for Saltcoats and its residents. The mayor gave orders for schools, churches, public meetings, and picture shows to close but the disease still spread throughout the village with devastating effects.
In Saltcoats Roots and Branches, “Mrs. Ed Wiley related the story of her family attending a Charlie Chaplin movie in the Parrott Block at which they contracted influenza. Due to the fact that it was winter and chores needed to be done, the flu victims were unable to stay indoors until recovered. She well remembers Dr. Torrance travelling from farm to farm caring for his patients.”
Although people couldn’t do very much to help those who contracted the flu, doctors, nurses, and volunteers dedicated long hours to doing everything that they could to ease the suffering of those ill, much to the admiration and appreciation of Saltcoats residents. One volunteer was Miss Marjorie Amy, a teacher who taught at Perley and Meadowvale Schools. Miss Amy volunteered her services as a nurse at Calder, tending to the most severe cases in an emergency hospital. Unfortunately, after a time at the hospital Miss Amy contracted influenza and died on November 28, 1918 of pneumonia and complications due to the flu in an emergency hospital set up in the Saltcoats Town Hall.
Other diseases that were widespread in the area were tuberculosis as well as polio and encephalitis in the 40s and 50s.
After the Cottage Hospital closed in 1910, there were several nursing homes set up in private residences. In 1945, a board was given $100 by the R.M. of Saltcoats with which to set up a hospital. On April 2, 1945, the town council approved the donation of a $500 Victory Bond that was to go towards the hospital. The Saltcoats War Memorial Hospital was set up in the Kensington House and the building was rented from the owner, K.L. Hallett. Dr. Duncan was hired as resident doctor, becoming the first municipal doctor hired by the town and R.M. Norah Copeland was the first matron of the hospital.
To begin with, the hospital had five beds but the number increased to twelve as finances improved. An operating room, an examining room, an x-ray and delivery room and a nursery were also added to the hospital.
In June of 1957 the hospital became part of the Yorkton Hospital District. In 1967, due to a low number of patients and difficulties in finding a doctor for the hospital, the Saltcoats War Memorial Hospital was closed, much to the disappointment of Saltcoats residents.
In consideration of this rich history, the Saltcoats Beautification Committee will be dedicating a plaque in honour of the Saltcoats Cottage Hospital. Gerri Knudsen, a member of the Beautification Committee, says that the plaque will be placed at the North East corner of the Legion Park/Arboretum as this is close to where the Cottage Hospital was located.
Gerri says that the Beautification Committee will be hosting a community event during which the plaque and an old picture of the Cottage Hospital will be unveiled. “Saltcoats has a long and rich history, so when the glass print photo was seen, we all agreed that this history and picture needed to be shared with Saltcoats residents. We will be unveiling it on July 4th at 11:30 followed by a Picnic in the Park – everyone brings their own chair, bag lunch, and refreshment. All are welcome.”