This Day In History, Oct. 1, 1928 – Ground breaking for new Jamestown Hospital building. (1928) *** from the 125th Anniversary Calendar of Jamestown History ***  

Following Information about Jamestown Hospital, now known as Jamestown Regional Medical Center, from “JRMC “Our Legend”:

Reverend W.W.A. Keller, Lutheran Pastor, and the first board of directors sold bonds as the Lutheran Charities Association of Central North Dakota. Gilbert Horton was hired as the design architect. Ground was broken on October 1, 1928.

The photo to right is the placement of the cornerstone on Wednesday, October 30, 1929, by Board Chairman W.W.A. Keller. It was estimated that between 1200 and 1500 people attended. This was one day after a dramatic Wall Street drop. Construction was slowed to allow for further fund raising.

Due to the perserverance of Reverend Keller and his board of trustees, some of whom are listed here, Reverend Joseph Johnson, Mr. A. Johnson, Mr. F. G. Koehn, Mr. J.G. Bunge, Reverend Ernst, Mr. E. Frey, Mr. A Foesch,Mr. Ben Gilbertson and Mr. F Koehn, the north wing of the main building opened six years later on September 25, 1935.

In 1943 the second wing of the core building was completed, giving a capacity of 76 beds, and in 1952 the ground floor of this new wing was finished, providing housing facilities for the nurses training program carried on under the auspices of Jamestown College.

The South wing addition campaign began in 1950, to provide educational departments and other offices that were on the first floor at that time. The addition was completed 1952 and the first floor was remodeled for patients.

In January 1964, a second floor of the south addition was completed for intensive care and post-operative beds. The Jamestown Hospital was growing but the community did not realize how suddenly it would have to change its role. On May 14, 1965, Trinity Hospital announced it would close. On March 1, 1966, Trinity locked its doors and the remaining equipment and patients were moved to Jamestown Hospital. The new arrangement gave the community a facility with 127 beds. Nine months later, they agreed to serve as a teaching hospital for students at North Dakota State School of Science. A 12-month practical nursing program began here on December 26, 1966.

Hospital employees and the board broke ground for the east wing addition of the complex on June 29, 1967. When completed, the wing housed new surgery units, emergency rooms, central supply, x-ray and storage. In 1970, a four-year program of renovating and new construction to complete the east wing was completed.

In August, 1999, citing a serious need for better and more accessible outpatient care, they broke ground for an addition to the front of the hospital. This $5 million outpatient project was completed in July 2001, along with a $2 million update to mechanical systems that included new boilers, new generator, and an additional air cooling system.

From 2001 to 2007, more parking was made available by removing houses on hospital property and renovations to the sterilization area of the Central Supply environment were completed. Minor changes to the laboratory area provided more patient privacy and better utilization of workspace.

Plans for a new medical center located on the west side of Jamestown, just off the I 94 freeway, were launched in the fall of 2008.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center (new name) is 120,000 sq. feet located off I-94, Exit 256 and Hwy 281. JRMC is a 25-bed critical access facility with 3 LDRP rooms, 3 ICU and 2 exam rooms. JRMC has 3 state-of-the-art operating rooms.

JMRC is actively seeking photographs and documents related to the history of this building from its conception onwards. Any photos or documents submitted will be scanned and returned immediately. Please call and discuss mailing, emailing or drop off options. 701 952-7496.

From History of JRMC website.