Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission Archives and Special Collections newsletters

Winter 1992 New Jersey Catholic Records Newsletter, Vol. 11, No.2 New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/njchc Part of the History Commons, and the Religion Commons

Recommended Citation New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission, "New Jersey Catholic Records Newsletter, Vol. 11, No.2" (1992). New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission newsletters. 32. https://scholarship.shu.edu/njchc/32 NEW JERSEY faJJwIi.c Jiii}uriaJ RECORDS COMMISSION

S l TUN ~i A LL U l'\j IV t: R S I TY

VOLUME XI NO.2 WINTER 1992

Thus it was that Newark's frrst Saint Michael's Medical Center, Newark: hospitals opened in the aftermath of the war. St Barnabas, affiliated with the 125 Episcopal Church, began receiving patients in a private house in 1865. Some years ofNewark's residents ofGerman descent began work toward a facility for their of service fellow-Germans, which opened in 1870 as German Hospital. Between these two, to the Newark's Catholics started what became community Saint Michael's Hospital. Catholic interest in serving the sick poor manifested itself earliest, perhaps, in the wishes ofNicholas Moore, who left money in his will to found a hospital and Saint Michael's as the building appeared in 1871 asylum. Father John M. Gervais, pastor of S1. James Church and executor of the "The Sisters of the Poor are fully south. The swelling population over­ will, provided some service for the sick established and have a gem of a hospital, whelmed the primitive social welfare poor through the S1. Vincent de Paul its only fault being its small size." These institutions of the village era and de­ Society and the ladies of the parish, but it words ofFather George Hobart Doane, mands for reform soon began to be heard. would be some years before S1. James written on June 12, 1867, to Bishop Hospital opened its doors. In 1862 the James Roosevelt Bayley, then in Rome, One of the earliest demands was for Sisters of Charity began to care for a few marked the successful completion ofa a hospital to serve the sick poor. Medi­ sick people in their building at Washing­ project initiated some four years earlier. cine in the mid-19th century still lacked ton and Bleecker Streets, but the building And yet, "completion" is a misleading understanding of the germ theory of also housed an otphan asylum, an word, for the task undertaken and the disease, had few speCific remedies for a continued on page 2 institution established then are still with given illness, and still awaited the us, transformed in some ways over the development ofaseptic procedures, past 125 years, but still vibrantly alive in anesthesia and all the panoply of modem pursuit of the original goal. medicine. Those who could afford to pay the doctor expected to be treated in their As Newark grew during the 19th own homes; only the poor resorted to century from a modest village into a hospitals. Newark, like other growing thriving industrial city, its population American cities, counted many sick poor expanded and diversified rapidly. The among its residents; what it lacked was a 8,000 residents of 1826, when the town hospital for treating them. observed the 50th anniversary ofthe Declaration of Independence, grew to In the 1850s a group ofpublic­ about 90,000 in 1866, on Newark's 200th spirited citizens formed the Newark anniversary. Much of the increase was Hospital Association to remedy the lack, due to the heavy immigration ofGermans but the Panic of 1857 disrupted their and Irish, who in the later 19th century plans. Then the Civil War ensued. The were joined by waves ofPoles, Italians, city did have a hospital then to care for Romanians, Serbs and most other the wounded, but it closed at the end of Europeans as well as by blacks from the hostilities. The first St. Michael's on Bleecker Street Saint Michaels Massea Keenan and a postulant, Bridget door-to-door begging which supported continuedfrom page 1 McDonald, who would soon be Sister them and the hospital. One contretemps Regina. All five were immigrants, the did occur: a donor brought the sisters a academy for young ladies and, for a time, fast three from Germany, the latter two container of ice cream for dessert but the the motherhouse and novitiate of the from Ireland. Except for the 39-year-old cook, mistaking it for a pudding, set it community~ The facility was clearly not superior, all were in their twenties. aside where it would keep warm! There adequate to meet the needs of the area. Father Doane showed them through the must have been some rueful laughter in house at 69 Bleecker Street which Bayley the recreation room that night In 1863 Bishop Bayley had and the Newark pastors had obtained as approved Father Anthony Cauvin's the site of the hospital. Over the next few days the sisters invitation to the Sisters of the Poor of St established the hospital routine. Nine Francis to establish St. Mary's Hospital The frrst floor contained the patients were transferred from the Sisters in Hoboken. This community - now reception room, pharmacy and an ofCharity to the new building. On the known as the Franciscan Sisters of the oratory; wards accommodating 13 third day an accident victim was brought Poor - was founded in 1851 by Frances patients occupied the second floor. The in, and on the next a fever patient. Soon Schervier and began working in the third floor contained two small sleeping the beds were full, and usually remained United States in 1858. Four sisters and a rooms for the sisters, who used the so. In addition to receiving patients at the postulant arrived in Hoboken to begin the basement as kitchen, dining room, hospital, Sister Monica began to nurse the hospital there and Bayley was impressed recreation room and laundry. Bandages, sick poor in their homes'and to discover --bytheir work. He wrote several times to- bedding afidother necessities were -- ~tfieir needs. Sheoecame so a ept at the the provincial superior in Cincinnati for provided through the Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul Society began sisters to serve in Newark, but the the S1. Vincent de Paul Society and the supplying her with funds. Over the frrst demands on the community were such ladies of several parishes, who had winter in Newark she distributed more that not until 1867 could the Provincial worked through the winter preparing for than $3,000 in emergency aid. satisfy his request. the arrival of the hospital staff. Medical service at the hospital was On May 6, 1867, a cart bumped Doane's parishioners at S1. supplied initially by two doctors, William across the meadows from Jersey City Patrick's supplied fruit, vegetables, O'Gorman and James Elliott, both bearing the staff for the new hospital­ potatoes and. a side ofbeef. The food immigrants from Ireland. They were Sister Monica Voss, the superior, Sisters saw the sisters through the first few days, soon joined by other physicians, whose Hortulana Menzen, Ewalda Mittler, until they began the regular round of continued on page 3

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL. :H:OSFIT.AL OF Under the charge of tlte Sistt'rs of tlte P{Jor of St. Frallcis. OUR LADY & ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. NEWARK. ADMISSIOX. The charities of the Hospital are conferred on all, irrespective of The Sisterfi of the Poor of St.. Francis have been estab­ religious creed, social condition, color or nationality. liAhe.l in Newark 0 vel' a year, at No. 69 Bleecker Street. I. ~n elnergency cases, accidents, etc., patients will be adlnitted During that time they have rtmle a great amount of good im~g-ia.tely into-the Hospital. with the. limited menn8 nt t.heh· command. The house 2. In all other cases, application must be made to the Sisters, and, heing Hmall t.hey could only tnke care of thirteen patients generally, a note from their physician, stating nature of disease, will be at a time, and yet, during t.he cour~e of th~ year over required. 8eventy patientA have been treated in the hospital; besides 3. Patients will be admitted between the hours of 8 A. M. and 5 thi~ a great amonnt ~)f good has been dqpe in relieving P. M. the want.s of the out-door poor. The entire expenses, with 4. The poor are received free, but those who are able will be re­ the exception of the interest on the debt, has been paid by quired to pay a moderate charge. the alm~ they have collected from door to door. The hOl1se where they are now is entirely too small for the wOI;k.to be INTERXAL RULES. done, and the time has come to provide a larger place to I. All clothing and valuables belonging to the person admitted will be taken in charge by the Sisters, and returned to the owner on leaving meet the wants of the City. AlmoRt daily the sick have the Institution. In case of death, if the patient has paid board, they can to he refllsed admis.sion into the hou~e be(~:m~e there is no be claimed by relatives; otherwise they will be given to the poor. room. This being the ca~e, the property at the corner of Wa~hington and Warren streetR has been pnrchaf'led of Mr. 2. Patients will not leave their respective wards and corridors with­ out permission; they must always be in their wards during the visit of Jnnl('~ l\fullin, for $16,000, the owner giving $1,000, which the Physicians. will leave $15,000 t.o be paid. An additional $5,000 will 3. No smoking will be allowed in the Hospital, but only in the be required to make the necessary alterations. We will place, and at the time appointed. then hn've in the heart of the city a building fully equipped, 4. Patients cannot go out of the Hospital \vithout permission, and with fifty or t3ixty beds Which will f!0 far to meet tho wants should they abuse the privilege, they will be forthwith dismissed. of the present time. The Si-st.ers are about to commence 5. Patients will be dismissed when deemed proper by the a general collection for this purpose, in the Parishes of St. Physician. Pntrick'R, 8t John's, St. 1\1:11")"s St. Peter's, and St. JOt~eph's, VISITORS. amI it is e:l1'ne8tly hoped that t.he Cat-holicR of the city, and other~ who are kindly di~J-wsed, for the H08pital will always I. The visiting days are Thursday and Sunday, from 3. to 5 P. IVI. he oven to the f::ick no mntter wllat their religious convictions 2 No artIcle of food or drink is to be £[iven to the sick by visitors Hospital regulations of1894 1871 appeal to complete the new building Saint Michaels check for $500. Asked what promp~A1 his continuedfrom page 2 action, he replied that he had seen the ANNUAL REPORT newspaper accounts and thought the services were much in demand, not only hospital "one of the good things." St. Michael's Hospital, .. fer the bed-patients, but also for the FROM DECEMBER 31,1869, TO DECll:MBER 3l, 1870. . rapidly increasing number ofout-patients. Throngs attended the laying of the Occnpied 30 I DISCrrARGED. 0 .. ¥~~.:I~npjed ~ ~ When Mother Frances Schervier visited cornerstone of the new building on Nnmber of Reds { Sexes ff£~tiesl ~~ ~ ] the facility in May, 1868, she admired the ~ ~ September 29, 1869. Bishop Bernard f¥~~r' =~ ~ g~ ~ accomplishments of the fIrst year, but McQuaid celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's Color advised Sister Monica to find larger in the morning. In the afternoon Grand ~,,~,,·f~~g::\:··.;r f quarters quickly. Marshal Patrick Callan led a parade of l~~~~~lt~.:i:~~:::: ::::: :2~ Protestants.••...... ••...... 57 many organizations - both Catholic and The problem of space had been on non-Catholic - past a reviewing party of the minds of Bayley and the Newark civic and church notables and through the pastors, who had been seeking another streets ofcentral Newark past cheering location. To their dismay, Doane commit­ thousands. Prominent in the line of march ted them to buying a livery stable at the was the Friendship Benevolent Society, comer ofWashington and Warren Streets led by Charles Brown astride a large white for conversion to a hospital and they horse. This was a fraternal society authorized a public appeal for funds to composed entirely ofblack men. One complete the work. Fortunately, Bayley newspaper commented that their appear­ was able to obtain a better site at the ance "was a grand event for Newark, and comer ofNesbitt and High Streets (now the only one of its kind ever noticed here." Central Avenue and King Boulevard) by purchasing the estate of Mr. and Mrs. After the parade, McQuaid blessed Eliphalet C. Smith Jr. for $35,000. and laid the cornerstone of the new building. Designed by Jeremiah The sisters - now 10 in number­ O'Rourke, the building was ofred brick began moving into the new building in trimmed with brownstone. Three stories May 1869. The substantial two-story tall, with basement and Mansard roof, it Smith residence now housed the kitchen contained 22 wards and could accommo­ and sisters' dining room in its cellar, the date as many as 150 patients. Construc­ pharmacy, chapel and sacristy/library on tion was completed in the spring of 1871 *l'ransferredtoOld.Age. the first floor, and wards and sleeping L-.,..,..,."""""""'~~~~~~~~~~":",:,,:,,,:,~•• and the building was dedicated on May 8. i~~~;;~f;~~·~he~~~;;t;;;;;~f~;187ir······ quarters for five sisters on the second It stands there today - modified and floor. The former stable was fitted to added to - now only a part of Saint accommodate the remaining sisters, the Michael's Medical Center, but still a all who began the worlc and have carried indigent old ladies the sisters were also monument to the vision and dedication of it on through the years. caring for, a laundry and the morgue.

The new facility, although much more spacious than the old, was soon just as crowded. The increased patient load Commi sion cele ra e it resulted in the appointment of Dr. George M. Swain as the fIrst house physician, and 15th anniversary the available space enabled Saint Michael's to establish clinics for eye and On Sunday, October 27, 1991, Commission ear diseases, as well as for diseases of the members, friends and supporters met at the throat and the skin. All concerned Scanticon-Princeton to celebrate the 15th recognized, however, that the old Smith anniversary of the Commission's founda­ residence was only an interim solution to tion. Established in 1976 by the bishops of the space problem: the ultimate answer New Jersey and Seton Hall University as had to be a new building. part of their bicentennial observance of American independence, the Commission Through the spring of 1869 was first chaired by the late Bishop John J. fundraisers were held by the parishes of Dougherty and is currently led by Arch­ Newark, and subscriptions solicited bishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety. Its widely. Press accounts kept the story purpose has always been the collection, alive and resulted in help. One New preservation and dissemination of the Yorker who owned property in Newark history ofCatholics in the state. called at Bayley's residence and gave a continued on page 4 Archbishop Theodore McCarrick 3 15th Anniversary ties ofPennsylvania and author of The only to Catholics, but in fact the materials continuedfrom page 3 Paddy Camps: The Irish ofLowell, 1821­ there throw light on a variety ofgeneral 1861. Mitchell's research for that book . historical concerns - family life, Monsignor Joseph C. Shenrock, relied heavily on parish and institutional education, social welfare and numerous vice-chairman of the commission, served records, material that the Commission is topics ofconcern· to the entire historical as master ofceremonies at the affair. most concerned with, so he was particu­ community. During the course of the evening, Louis larly competent in addressing our Scarpa, a theology student at Immaculate concerns. He noted that the information "We need to tell [the story of Conception Seminary, received the fourth contained in such archives is of high American Catholicism] often and we annual Archbishop Gerety Seminarian quality, and said the fact that many need to tell it well," he said. But we also, Award for his essay on church architec­ historians do not recognize this is "a real he added, need to introduce non-Catholic ture in the 19208 and 1930s and its problem." Too often Catholic archives historians to the riches of the past relation to wider cultural developments. have been thought to contain data useful contained in Catholic archives.

Archbishop McCarrick, in brief remarks to the audience, described the work of the Commission as "a work of Published by the New Jersey Catholic Historical Records family, a family history." Archbishop Commission, Seton Hall University, South Onmge, New Jersey 07079-'1£>96. Gerety remarked that he was delighted to

see the frUit of the Commission on its Most Reverend Peter L. Gerety, D.O., Chairman; Reverend Monsignor Joseph C. -r- ­ anniversary, noting that stirring interest Shenrock,Vice chairman; Bernard Bush, Reverend Augustine Curley, O.S.B., in history on the part ofclergy and laity Reverend Mark Dobrovolsky, Reverend Monsignor William N. Field, Reverend was a vital part of the Commission's Monsignor Charles J. Giglio, Sister Mary Ellen Gleason, S.C., Reverend purpose. Sister Margherita Marchione, Raymond J. Kupke, Joseph F. Mahoney, Sister Margherita Marchione, M.P.F., M.P.F. reviewed the Commission's Reverend Monsignor Robert Moneta, George L.A. Reilly, Sister Irene Marie activities over the past 15 years, both to Richards, O.P., Sister Thomas Mary Salerno, S.C., Bernhard W. Scholz, Rever- recognize and to stimulate accomplish­ end Monsignor Francis R. Seymour, Reverend Monsignor Edwin V. Sullivan, ment Reverend John F. Wrynn, S.J. Consulting Member: Barbara Geller. Featured speaker of the evening Newsletter editor: Joseph F. Mahoney was Dr. Brian C. Mitchell, president of the Independent Colleges and Universi-

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Seton Hall Seton Hall University University South Orange, New Jersey 07079-2691