For a brief time in 1941 Bud Grimes managed the hospital, while Hazel Kunkleman* headed the nursing staff. (*Janet Thurston McMahan gave the name as “Knuttle.”) During this time, a two room cabin was added to increase the capacity to eleven beds.
By 1942, Hazel Kunkleman’s husband, Clay Kunkleman, was manager. By then, the demand for services had greatly increased; the hospital was handling an average of six patients per day. At one point that year, 5 babies were born in one week.
That year the hospital began a major remodel and expansion, which included adding three more patient beds, a three-car garage, a woodshed and storage room, plus a remodeled surgery, delivery room, nursery and supply room. Once again the community was called upon to help with the equipment and furnishings.
Janet Thurston McMahan’s sequence of events is a little different from the one outlined above. She said the expansion continued the next year: “In 1943 plans for a new north wing and nurses quarters were begun, and for the first time volunteer nurses aides were used. The hospital was still overcrowded, having as many as eighteen patients to occupy fourteen beds on occasion. Mr. C. W. Kunkleman assumed the role of manager, and Mrs. Kunkleman joined the nursing staff.”
In November of 1945 the north wing was finally added, bringing the number of beds to 20. The next year the mortgages were paid off and a heating plant was added.
Even though Weiser already had a hospital of some kind, in 1946 the News-Reporter said: “Washington County taxpayers voted 1130 to 500 Saturday to issue bonds to build and equip a county hospital. The Upper Country voted 46 to 609 against the issue while 1084 of the 1130 votes cast in favor of the issue were voted in the lower part of the county.” Cambridge votes: 15 in favor, 249 against. Midvale votes: 26 in favor, 124 against.
In the spring of 1947 Dr. and Mrs. John Edwards arrived from Vermont to join Dr. Thurston in medical practice.
The hospital and the community in general thrived during these postwar years. But in the spring of 1949 everyone in the area was stunned by the sudden and unexpected death of Dr. Thurston from a heart attack in his sleep. He had become a legend in his own time – very loved and respected. His ashes were scattered over the Council Valley from an airplane.
It’s probably hard to overstate how traumatized the hospital staff and board of directors were from Dr. Thurston’s death. In spite of this, just under a year later (January 1950) the hospital held an open house to show the “many new improvements.”
Continued next week.
100 years ago
February 13, 1925
The Idaho Legislature passed a law which provides for a heavy penalty for making false statements regarding a bank’s financial condition.
The Cambridge Meat Market will move from their present location into the DeVaney building, formerly occupied by the Lorton Drug Store.
75 years ago
February 9, 1950
The work of putting celotex ceiling and wall plank celotex on the Grange Hall was completed Tuesday by the small group of volunteer workers. The building was rewired with new wire and new lights were installed.
49 years ago
February 12, 1976
The Selective Service System, which has been in existence since 1940, is now being inactivated. All activity in connection with the Selective Service operation, including registration, the lottery, classification, and induction have now been terminated.
25 years ago
February 10, 2000
“Due to the decreasing school enrollment, the Cambridge School District will be receiving less money for the coming school year, and unfortunately is looking to having to reduce our administrative/teaching staff by three positions.”
A daughter named Madison Kate-Marie was born February 1 at the Weiser Hospital to Shanell Elson and Sam Wagner.
Died: Edgar Stanley Garner, 100, of Boise, formerly of Midvale.
