Old News: Homes served as hospitals in Washington

Going south out of Washington on Main Street, in the historic "tree" section of town, are two homes, which served as hospitals in the mid 1900s.

Interestingly enough, it wasn't a doctor who started the hospitals but an enterprising couple, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Lasance.

They had operated hospitals in other cities and after settling in Washington they opened a nursing home/hospital on the corner of Main and Catherine streets at 127 S. Main St.

Perhaps those who have been on house tours or participated in the historical Society's Halloween program know this house as the Hops/Harms house.

Frank Hops, who was newly married to Carrie Vorhees built the home in 1896, but afte,r she passed in 1900 he sold the house to Henry Harms who was married that year to Josephine Chaffer. Both Frank Hops and Henry Harms worked at the Denhart Bank.

Soon, the medical needs of the 2,456 Washington residents outgrew the Hops/Harms house and the hospital moved a block south to the Reyburn home on the corner of Holland and Main.

Asa Danforth built the large home in 1858 and also built a home at the corner of Holland and Market. Henry Rupert Danforth, builder of the Danforth Hotel and Mayor of Washington, lived in the Holland and Main Street home when he retired to Washington in 1889. Henry died in 1910 and his wife Mary lived until 1930.

The following narrative is taken from the "Washington Sesquicentennial" book published in 1975 when residents still remembered the hospitals. The book had scores of contributors and from Washington Times-Reporter articles and scrapbooks it is known that Mr. and Mrs. William (Winnie) Ebert, Dr. and Mrs. Wayne (Ruth) Kinsinger, Mrs. Laverne Eilers, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Maxwell, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Joann) Summer, Mrs. Bill Valentine headed the effort to produce this book, which 40 years later continues to give us a glimpse into the rich history of Washington. Herbert and Laurel Paul did pictures and artwork in the book.

"On Nov. 17, 1942, Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Lasance operated a nursing home and hospital at 127 South Main Street, Washington, Sr. The first three patients were Jennie Davis, Mrs. R. F. Tanton, and Miss M. Cummings. On Nov. 26, 1942, the first baby, a boy named Charles Allen, was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Fecht at the facility. In December of that year, a hospital staff was named comprised of O.P. Bennett M.D. President; L. E. Monroe M.D. and George Cohen M.D., Vice Presidents; L.L. Rich M.D., Secretary and Treasurer; and Roberta Lasance R.N., Superintendant. The above officers, plus Dr. D. B. Clymore and Dr. H.K. Mueri, constituted the Board of Directors, which determined hospital policies. Many individuals donated money for equipment and the Washington American Legion Post organized a drive for funds to be used for necessary medical and surgical equipment.

By the end of March 1943, it was apparent that there was not sufficient room available to meet demands so efforts were made to find larger quarters.

The following month the Reyburn home on Holland Street was purchased.

Because of the war some equipment was difficult to obtain, so Robert Anderson of Washington built the autoclave used for sterilizing surgical needs.

Open house was held at the new location on Oct. 10, 1943, with over 600 visitors touring the building, consisting of rooms for the elderly on the first floor, a maternity wing with nursery in front upstairs, and a medical-surgical section to the rear on the second floor.

At that time the name of the facility was officially changed from Lasance Hospital to Washington Hospital in appreciation of the cooperation of Washington citizens and organizations.

During that first year of operation, approximately 50 babies were born, and the facility was used not only by the four local doctors, but also doctors from the surrounding area.

In 1945, Ray Lasance, Jr. joined his father in the business; later his wife, Tiena, and his sister Mary (Mary Atterberry) were active in the operation of the hospital.

Following the death of the senior Mr. Lasance in 1949 and the subsequent illness of his wife the following year, a decision was made to terminate ownership of the hospital and an offer was made to turn it over to the city.

During the seven years of its operation, 1,250 hospital cases plus other miscellaneous surgical and medical cases were served by the hospital in addition to caring for the elderly.

In December 1950, the property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Max Baltz for use as a nursing home for the aged."

Lasance's daughter, Mrs. Mary (Dick) Atterbery, lives in Washington and has many memories of working in the Hospital on Holland Street.

Mrs. Baltz, who became a nationally recognized authority on elderly care, took over the operation of the hospital and it continued for six months to serve as an obstetrical/convalescing home before being converted to a sheltered care home.

At this time Mr. and Mrs. Max Baltz built the Washington Nursing Home.

Many Washington residents claim true Washingtonian status by having been born in one of the two Washington hospitals.