Pomerene Hospital

History

History
Joel E Pomerene began his medical career during an era when doctors braved the elements in horsedrawn buggies to call on sick patients During the Civil War he left his practice in Mt Hope to become a Surgeon of the 42nd Ohio Volunteers There he established a lifelong friendship with the regiments leader James A Garfield 20th President of the United States He returned to Mt Hope in 1863 after resigning his post as SurgeonGeneral He eventually moved to Millersburg to better serve the county until his death in 1881 at the age of 55

Determined to do something for the county her father had served Jennie Pomerene Haney set up a trust fund of 10000 upon her death in 1919 The money was to be used to construct a fitting tribute to her fathers memory a county hospital

The Joel Pomerene Memorial Hospital opened its doors for patients on June 1 1937 It was an immediate success and soon the hospital rooms were so filled it became necessary to place patients in beds located in the hallways

The medical staff consisted of 10 physicians located at Millersburg Killbuck Walnut Creek and Holmesville The original facility consisting of a sixbed womens ward a threebed mens ward six private rooms a threebed obstetrical ward and a nursery of five cribs gave a feeling of home for patients