During the early mining years, injured area miners were taken to a doctor's office. "Black Maria" wagons delivered critically injured miners & deceased miners to their homes. In later years, injured miners were taken by horse & wagon & then by streetcar to hospitals in Ashland, Pottsville, & Philadelphia.
in 1904, a survey was conducted to determine the need for a Panther Valley hospital. In June, 1907, the Panther Creek Valley Hospital was chartered. LC&N Company wanted to put the new hospital in Summit Hill's "Stoney Lonesome" section. But thanks to strong lobbying by Father L.B. Norton at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coaldale, LC&N officials relented & turned over a piece of land known as "Moser's Field" for the hospital site.
Miners donated a day's pay to help build the hospital in 1908. $50,000 was raised & LC&N matched those donations. Andrew Breslin was awarded the construction contract. Breslin also built the former Summit Hill High School, Citizens National Bank in Lansford, & Tamaqua Elks.
The Coaldale hospital opened July 11, 1910 & accommodated 30 patients. Defective wiring on the upper floor caused a fire in August, 1911, & forced patients to be moved to nearby homes. The hospital bounced back & grew thanks to community fund raising & grants. By 1934, bed capacity increased from 30 to 92. Before that, additional beds & cots were added. Some patients slept on the floor with blankets & often there were 2 & 3 patients to a bed.
Ground was broken for the nurses home in 1927, but it was wasn't finished until 1933 because of the onset of the Great Depression. A new maternity ward opened in January, 1932. A new laundry & kitchen building & black lung clinic were added in the early 1950s.
In October, 1970, ground was broken for a new building that opened in October, 1973. The hospital was divested from the state in 1992 & today it's part of St. Luke's University Health Network.
I was a patient in the children's ward at Coaldale State during the summer of '65...laying in traction for almost 2 months after fracturing my femur during a little league game. Dr. Steele was the surgeon who patched me up. I remember it was hot...there no was A/C...& TV was limited. My son Kris was born in Coaldale in 1978 & was among the last babies to be delivered by Dr. Dirnberger.
Do you have an old Coaldale hospital memory to share? Remember any former doctors & employees?
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