The Memorial Hospital at New Eagle might be said to date back to 1882, when J. Sutton Wall, James Luttit and Dr. G. A. Linn made an attempt to start a hospital at Monongahela city. Nothing, however, ever came of this but it was revived again in 1891 by Post 60 of the G. A. R. in an effort to have such an institution erected as a memorial to the soldiers of the Civil war. This plan was not carried into effect until 1902, when, on April 12, Joseph A. Herron, chairman of the executive committee reported the gift from Hon. J. B. Finley of the Parkinson property in New Eagle. The
Memorial Hospital was opened for patients on December 18, 1902, with Dr. C. F. Linn as acting superintendent. He was succeeded by Miss Cook, who died suddenly. The next superintendent, Miss Elizabeth B. Reid, was elected May 15, 1913, and Miss Ethel Dushane became superintendent on March 1, 1917. Others who have followed are: Miss Margaret P. Mahoney, elected October 1, 1918, served until March 1, 1919; Miss Olive MeWilliams, the present superintendent, was elected March 19, 1919. The new building was erected in 1913 and 1914 at the cost of $85,000 and opened for patients on May 30, 1914, and it is a fitting memorial to the citizens of Monongahela and vicinity who gave their lives to preserve the Union from 1861 to 1865.
The first board of trustees was composed of the following: George A. Linn, Monongahela, president; C. B. Wood, vice president; J. G. Sloan, secretary; J. B. Finley, treasurer; Harry Brown, Pittsburgh; D. M. Walt, Pittsburgh; Theodore Jones, Allenport; P. J. Forsythe, Coal Center; J. B.
Yohe, Pittsburgh; W. J. Alexander, Monongahela; C. W. Hazzard, James Jones, J. P. Norman, H. J. Gamble, Hugh McLaughlin, Pittsburgh.
The officers at the present time (1926) are, Joseph A. Herron, president; James B. Hagart, vice president; 0. H. William, secretary; and W. A. Alexander, treasurer.
The hospital has a capacity of 72 beds as follows: 8 in the children's ward; 10 in the women's ward; 10 in male surgical ward; 10 in male medical ward; 10 private rooms and 2 semi-private rooms.
The Charleroi-Monessen Hospital Association was incorporated by court on January 13, 1913. A property was secured immediately at Lock No.4, North Charleroi, and the hospital was opened. The first board of directors or trustees was composed of the following: William R. Gaut, Charleroi; Kerfoot W. Daly, Charles 0. Frye, John W. Carroll, Richard A. Roberts, Herman A. Heupel, D. N. Hall, George S. Might, Miss R. S. Miller, Lock No.4.
This hospital really dates back about twenty years when Drs. Cramer and Griffith, of Monessen, and Dr. Sloan, of Charleroi, first started it in the old Theodore Allen homestead at North Charleroi. After conducting it for a time the state took charge, and later it was turned over to the present
hospital association. The superintendents have been Misses Miller, Watson, King, Adabell Watson, from January 1, 1920, to January 1, 1926, when Miss Retta Sheridan took charge.