Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/92

From Brunswick MD History
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has not been proofread

A.M. care, carried trays, fed patients, changed beds

daily, and performed other services incumbent to their positions. "We made $30 a month and saved money," stated one of these aides. They worked five eight-hour days a week. Only at the second hospital location were there orderlies. Recalled were Henry Giles, John Bush, Philip Smothers (Burkittsville), William Hardy and Willis Gilbert. They cared for the male patients, shaved them, gave enemas, did the cleaning and mopping. They were trained at the hospital. Mae Fink from Charles Town served as technician. Anna Thompson Sullivan, of Brownsville, was the cook at the newer hospital, while Judge Schnauffer's wife, Elaine, prepared the diets. There were no volunteers at this hospital. For its day, Schnauffer Hospital was well equipped, having an electrocardiagram, oxygen tents, ultra-violet lights, X-ray, diathermy, colonic irrigating machine (which some people required weekly), and equipment to do I.V.'s. Even tooth extractions were done there by dentists. An annual state inspection was required. The revolving floor fans were recalled as doing an adequate job of keeping the hospital comfortable. Visiting hours were 2 - 4 and 7 - 8 PM. The dwelling adjacent was connected to the main building and served as the waiting room. The nurses' residence was in the same building with Miss Ella Minor serving as house mother; for this there were three rooms and a bath upstairs. Dr. Schnauffer is remembered as a good administrator, being very kind, helpful, patient and with a nice bedside manner. (Our consultants for this history did not recall any "trouble" among patients and nurses, or any personnel problems.) Everyone must have his or her favorite story about the hospital experience. Louise Bireley Kimes cites the following as the happiest experience of her life outside of family and home: Leroy Grams' son was five years old. (He too was named Leroy and later married Shirley Kneisley.) He had run a nail in his foot and tetanus developed. They couldn't part his teeth to feed him. Everyone thought he was going to die. Louise was making the rounds with Dr. Schnauffer, and as they stood beside the small child's bed his jaws unlocked. Louise has never experienced such happiness as she did that day. Leroy began to talk; he started calling Louise "Sugar." Louise saw Leroy years later at the Seventh Street ShoppingCenterwhenitopened. His wife said, "So this is Sugar?" "Yes, this is Sugar," he answered. Dr. Schnauffer moved to Frederick when he bought the "Spite House" on Church Street and was

commuting between home and hospital. This may have been one reason that contributed to his closing the hospital in 1946. Also, the railroad was raising its test standards for employees and more government requirements were entering the picture, making the enterprise too costly to sustain. It was a sad loss for Brunswick in July 1946 when the Schnauffer Hospital closed its doors on its last patient. S - Thelma Frye McMurry - June Shewbridge - Mary Jane Watson W-MMM

BRUNSWICK HEALTH CENTER Brunswick's first Health Clinic was located in the lower level of the Jewish Synagogue, in 1947. Inner Wheel members cleaned the quarters for a Baby Clinic, for which Doctors Pruitt and Carpenter provided help. Nurses from the Frederick County Health Department also staffed the clinic, in which Inner Wheel members continued to volunteer. Mary Jane Watson was the nurse volunteer. A Pregnant Mothers clinic was added, requiring another room. Equipment was augmented by the Frederick office. A move was made to the Moose building; Inner Wheel continued help by providing transportation for regular clients. Eventually a Health Clinic building was built at 601 East Potomac Street; it was dedicated November 4, 1978. This was one of three satellites associated with the Frederick County Health Department. It contains two treatment rooms, kitchen-lab area, office, and a small waiting room. A medical equipment "loan chest," provided by the service organizations and several businesses, was introduced during the 1950's. The "chest" was located at Mrs. Lynch (Cora) Gross' home. She was responsible for distribution and record-keeping. The items included an adjustable hospital bed, commode, crutches, and wheel chair. When the Ambulance Company organized, the loan chest was transferred to them. S

- Leah MacMillan - Elizabeth R. Frye

W-MMM

93