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| Reston Community Hospital in 1964 as found at McKee Archives |
Having a hospital in Reston was apparently a long ongoing discussion that first began in 1919. At that time, hospital facilities for many locals were in Virden and more serious cases went to Brandon or Winnipeg. In 1934, Dr. Alva Chapman called a meeting to discuss the establishment of a "Cottage Hospital" for Reston. This is an interesting concept explained here as early socialist medicine but it never got off the ground in Reston. Nursing care in the patient's home was common with ladies of various skills and training from the community. Doctors made house calls, prescribed and filled limited medications in the early days. Winter house calls were often dangerous for the doctor, nurse and driver and the snowplane built by Sherman Dayton in 1936 came to the rescue of many. Many births took place at home with the help of a midwife. There were also a few maternity homes in Reston for birth and recovery over the years including Katie Fraser, Helen Kay and Emily Holton beside Dr. Clark on Fifth Street.
Finally, the building at 523 First Street was constructed in 1951-52 as a 10 bed facility. Everyone did not agree at the time that it was a good use of funds and many debates were held around kitchen tables and on the streets of Reston. Once completed, it soon proved to have been a good decision and was actually deemed too small. It was enlarged in 1960 to have room for 7 more beds and an emergency room, operating room, lab and X-ray suite. In 1981, a 20 bed personal care home, the Willowview, was added along with a new kitchen, dining and activity room and hairdressing room. Summer of 1984 saw the first residents move in. In 1988 the Auxiliary funds constructed a solarium in the front area of the Personal Care Home and the outside space has been made welcoming with a gazebo and courtyard. In 2002, the former hospital side was made a Transitional Care Facility and in 2006 a Palliative Care suite was added. It is an attractive and important building in our community. The reputation of the staff for their excellent and loving care is known far and wide.
Finally, the building at 523 First Street was constructed in 1951-52 as a 10 bed facility. Everyone did not agree at the time that it was a good use of funds and many debates were held around kitchen tables and on the streets of Reston. Once completed, it soon proved to have been a good decision and was actually deemed too small. It was enlarged in 1960 to have room for 7 more beds and an emergency room, operating room, lab and X-ray suite. In 1981, a 20 bed personal care home, the Willowview, was added along with a new kitchen, dining and activity room and hairdressing room. Summer of 1984 saw the first residents move in. In 1988 the Auxiliary funds constructed a solarium in the front area of the Personal Care Home and the outside space has been made welcoming with a gazebo and courtyard. In 2002, the former hospital side was made a Transitional Care Facility and in 2006 a Palliative Care suite was added. It is an attractive and important building in our community. The reputation of the staff for their excellent and loving care is known far and wide.
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| 1969 Reston Community Hospital Annual Meeting as found in Brandon Sun |
In its early days it really was a community hospital, full of joys with countless births along with the illness and death. Candy Stripers were recruited from Reston Collegiate to volunteer to help the staff with their duties and introduce the girls to the medical field. The name came from their red and white striped aprons. A local hospital board looked after expenses and revenue, staffing and ambulance service. Hospital Aid and Helping Hands committees took on fundraisers and projects that directly benefitted the community hospital and patients.
The Reston Health Auxiliary/Hospital Aid was active in raising funds to purchase needed furnishings, medical devices and needs for the patients like televisions, books and magazines. The Reston Fun Fair began in 1951 and was a major contributor of funds over the next many decades.
The hospital has been a major employer over the years. Nursing care at all levels, clinicians, maintenance, cleaning, laundry, meals, activity staff each had their roles in addition to the doctors. A list of those with hospital privileges (from the history books) over the years may bring back memories for current and former Restonites. Please let me know if I've missed any.
The Reston Health Auxiliary/Hospital Aid was active in raising funds to purchase needed furnishings, medical devices and needs for the patients like televisions, books and magazines. The Reston Fun Fair began in 1951 and was a major contributor of funds over the next many decades.
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| 1965 clipping from the Brandon Sun about reopening lab and 1976 Hospital Aid Report |
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| Copied from Trails Along the Pipestone page 480 |
The hospital has been a major employer over the years. Nursing care at all levels, clinicians, maintenance, cleaning, laundry, meals, activity staff each had their roles in addition to the doctors. A list of those with hospital privileges (from the history books) over the years may bring back memories for current and former Restonites. Please let me know if I've missed any.
- 1951 - Drs. Alvin Burton Chapman, Frank Clark and James W. Cairns
- 1952 - Dr. D. E. Bradley
- 1956 - Dr. C. S. Wood
- 1961 - Dr. Edward Verinder
- 1962 - Dr. J. S. Klotzek
- 1967 - Dr. W. G. Warrian
- 1971 -Dr. H. J. Furston and Dr. Aquino M. Dizon
- 1972 - Dr. Scott and Dr. S. G. Cleto
- 1984 - Dr. Pierre Vanderspuy
- 1995 - 2009 Dr. Mary O’Neil, Drs. Karen and Andre Louw, Dr. Pinear, Dr. Myburgh, Dr. Wepner, Dr. Coetze and Dr. Alberts.
Administration of the facility was locally based at first but was also in with District 10 in Virden for a time and with Melita as well. Health districts have certainly changed and expanded over the years. Our current district, Prairie Mountain Health, covers 66,000 square kilometers and employs over 8500 people. Dr. Chapman would be astounded, I'm sure.
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| Thank you to Janis McMorran for this photo of Dr. Chapman with his cocker spaniel Monty at the corner of his Drugstore building in the early 1950's. |
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