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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, May 14, 2023, pg. 5 It's been over twenty years now since Albion had a hospital of its own, as Trillium Hospital closed on February 5, 2002. For many years however, it was the Sheldon Memorial Hospital that reigned as the premiere place for hospital health care in town. This month marks the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of that structure, located at 803 S. Superior St. The hospital was named in memory of prominent 19th century Albion banker, James W. Sheldon (1830-1894) as a result of a gift of $50,000 via his grandson, James W. "Don" Sheldon Riley (1879-1968). Don's mother Madelon (Sheldon) Leffingwell (1859-1921) had set aside the funds from her estate to create a memorial to her banker father. The hospital board approved the offer. When calculating costs, it was determined that more funds were needed, and so an additional $50,000 was raised via a city bond issue that passed by a vote of 1082 to 295. The cornerstone was laid in the northwest corner of the building on May 25, 1923 in an elaborate ceremony which featured numerous dignitaries. Dr. Samuel Dickie was the featured speaker for the event. Placed in the cornerstone was a zinc envelope containing a history of Albion's hospitals up to that point. A larger box was also prepared and placed adjacent to that at a later date, containing various letters and photographs, names of city and hospital officials, a copy of the Albion Evening Recorder issue covering the cornerstone laying, and "other articles which may be of interest in the next century." Hmmm. I wonder what else is in there? Construction continued over the following year, and the hospital officially opened for business on May 1, 1924, with Mary E. McDonald as superintendent. It was truly a community effort. Local civic organizations and individual supplied funds to furnish individual hospital rooms. The Albion Malleable Iron Company furnished equipment for the operating room. Sheldon Memorial Hospital served our community for many years, until the end of 1967 when it was replaced by the Albion Community Hospital on W. Erie St. Sheldon Manor, specializing in long-term care, opened in the former hospital in January, 1970, and operated until February, 1978. Eventually the building was purchased by private investors and transformed into apartments. It is now known as Sheldon Manor. From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of the cornerstone laying ceremony in 1923. How many of our readers were born in Sheldon Memorial Hospital? (Yours truly was.)
 Sheldon Memorial Hospital Cornerstone Ceremony in 1923
All text copyright, 2024 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
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