Hospital History

Beckel Hospital
One of the first known Hospitals in Estevan
Beckel Hospital located in the Beckel home at 1006-3rd Street
Around 1910 a nurse named Morrison hired 2 nurses, and operated this house as a hospital.
Lots of First Aid stations existed in various homes, in and around Estevan, especially near the mines.

1912 a New Hospital was built down in the valley, Corner Souris Ave (Highway 47) and Perkins St.,
per this 1912 map above, where Shell Station is today (2017)
I have never seen this mentioned in any history books? wonder who operated it?

Nurse Winteringham Hospital
In 1918 a nurse by the name of Ethel May Winteringham opened another small hospital at 929 4th St.
in what was the William Evenden house. She employed 2 or 3 nurses.

Also seen the name “Estevan Cottage Hospital” used for this Hospital.
Dr. Creighton and Dr. H. H. Galloway, worked with Nurse Winteringham

Found an article dated Oct 25, 1924 that stated Nurse Winteringham of Oxbow, who was operating a hospital at Estevan for the past 5 years,
has given up her duties there, to take charge of the Municipal Hospital at Climax SK., SW of Assiniboia, and 40 miles from a railway.
Her sister, Miss Mary Winteringham* will be her Assistant.
Originally called “Climax Community Hospital” on Main St. in Climax, it operated for 26 years.
Climax History book says it opened in 1925. It was a 2 story building.

In 1911 the Joseph Winteringham family lived at SE 1/4 Sec. 30- Tsp.3- Rge.- 1, W2, 1 and 1/2 miles E of Oxbow, and consisted of:
Father- Joseph “Joe” Henry Winteringham
b- Feb 25, 1858, in Galt, County of Waterloo, ON
d- Apr 29, 1911, age 53
buried in Oxbow Cemetery
1901 census- Farmer, English, Episcopal

Married 1882
Mother- Margaret White (McClute?) Winteringham, nee Hunter
b- Mar 1, 1862 in Hagersville ON,
d- Sept 8, 1926,
buried in Oxbow Cemetery
1901 census, Irish
1911 census, Farmer, Scotch, Methodist

They had 11 Children:

1. Thomas Vasey Winteringham
b- Oct 26, 1883, Brandon, RM of Whitehead, MB
d- abt 1883

2. George Oscar Winteringham
b- abt 1884, Brandon MB
d- abt 1884

3. William Wesley Winteringham,
b- May 25, 1884 in RM of Whitehead, Brandon, MB
d- 1954, Edmonton AB
1911 married Julyan Lang
b- ?
d- 1947, buried in Oxbow Cemetery
had 2 children
remarried to ?
found a William W. Winteringham cremated in Calgary, July 23, 1954

4. Joseph Henry Winteringham,
b- Apr 3, 1887 at homestead, near Oxbow SK
d- Sept 17, 1964, in Oxbow SK
buried in Oxbow Cemetery
2 wives:
married Margaret Padfield, Dec 25, 1915
They had 3 children
Mary Marjorie Beatrice Patterson, Nov 19, 1948

5. Albert (Bert) Joseph Winteringham,
b- Apr 16,1889 in MB
d- 1954, buried in Oxbow
married Olive Merrell, from Carnduff, in 1919

6.
Ethel May Winteringham
b- May 8, 1891 in Oxbow, SK
d- June 26, 1963, in Saskatoon SK
buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon, SK., June 28, 1963
married Hardwicke Leamon Phelps Russell in 1928,
b- Feb 10, 1879, in Hardwicke, Reg. Dist. Wheatenhurst, Gloucester, England
d- Feb 15, 1953, age 74, in Hospital in Saskatoon, SK.
Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, in Saskatoon, SK.
He came to SK., ca 1903,
not married in 1916 when he enlisted.
Served in Boer War and WWI, enlisted in Yorkton SK
Ethel had a child in 1929 that died in 1929.
son- John H. Russell, living in Porcupine Plain SK in 1953
worked with Bank of Montreal at one time.
Ethel and Hardwicke lived in Sheho SK from 1942-1950.
In Saskatoon, from 1950 onwards.
Lived at 829 5th Ave. North, Saskatoon, in 1953
Moved to Regina in 1956
She trained as a RN, and nursed for 28 years.
She was Matron of the hospitals at Climax, Kinistino, and Kamsack.
(She was the “Nurse Winteringham” in the History books)

7. Oliver James Winteringham,
b- Feb 1, 1893 in SK
d- 1943 at St. Catherines, ON
married Anabelle Thwaites
had 3 children

8. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Maud Winteringham,
b- Feb 3, 1898 in Oxbow SK
d- 1942 in Moosomin, SK
married Charles Jamieson, b- abt 1894
No children

9. *Mary Alberta Winteringham,
b- June 18, 1900 in Oxbow SK
d- 1951 in probably Owen Sound ON
married Earl Scott
(Assistant to her sister at hospital in Climax SK)

10. Charles Brock Winteringham,
b- Mar 13, 1904 in Oxbow SK
d- 1974, Fawcett, AB
wife name Irene, last name unknown,
had one daughter, 2 sons

11. Edith Isabella Winteringham
b- Dec 31, 1906 in Oxbow SK
d- ? probably in Edmonton
married Gordon Ramsay
had 2 daughters
1924 she went to Estevan to attend Normal training.
She also ended up in Climax SK. only Teaching School, not nursing

Father of Joe Winteringham Sr.
William John Winteringham,
b- 1817 in Yorkshire, England
d- Feb 22, 1881 in Perth ON
buried in Anglican Cemetery, Mitchell, ON

Mother- Mary Langton
b- 1825 in England
d- 1903 in Wentworth, ON
buried in Anglican Cemetery, Mitchell, ON
William J. Winteringham, age 52 in 1871 census
living on Lot 6, Conc 2, Perth County, North Logan Tsp, ON
Mary shown age 45.
Joseph shown age 13
William and his brothers left England in 1852
settled on land north of Mitchell ON
They had 9 children.

As an aside, I read that one of the Winteringham family members living in Oxbow owned American traitor, Benedict Arnold's coat, and they were related to him as well.

After piecing this family history together, I found the family history recorded in the Oxbow History book online.
If I knew it was there, it would have saved me hours of tracing.

Drs. Jim And Bill Creighton had a small hospital upstairs in the J. F. Loughlin store, in the 1100 block on 4th st. Later became H. J. Clasky's store.

Creighton and Walsh Hospital created ca 1924
Named after the owners:
Dr James (Jim) Forbes Creighton, and Frank B. Walsh
Became the Estevan General Hospital
on 5 St NE corner of 12th Ave.

Colorized Postcard above, and picture taken in Mar 2009, donated to me by Volker Tobias in Estevan with thanks.

It was the First Formal Hospital in the district.

This was originally the Delight Theatre in Estevan The First theatre in Estevan, originally owned by the Kinna Family

Ad for Dr Creigton and Walsh, plus a millinary shop

Miss Crummer was on staff at this Hospital in May 1926, as she left to visit her parents in Frobisher.

A Miss Wilson was on staff at the same time, but she quit and moved to Griswold MB, where she married Arthur Hayes from Winnipeg.

This Hospital became infamous during the miner's riot on Sept 29, 1931, as the Hospital that wouldn't treat one of the miner's that was shot during the riot.
A time referred to as Black Tuesday. One of the 3 miner's that died, Pete Markunas, was refused medical attention because he was claimed to be a “Red” communist,
and he had to be taken by truck to Weyburn, he died 2 days later. He was treated by Dr. McGillvray at Weyburn General Hospital, 54 miles away.
I know a coroner's Jury was held, and the blame was put on the striking men, but I ask you, why was one fellow taken 54 miles,
with a serious gun shot, on roads that wouldn't be that great, in an old truck that wouldn't go that fast?
Other books and statements years later, have showed the other side of this situation. I don't think it was necessary to kill anyone.
Funny thing the article in the press about the coroner's trial, didn't have a word about this, other than Dr McGillvray giving testimony as to how he died.
This happened not that many years ago, and to me, is a sad case in this Hospital's history.
Just so happens, Dr Creighton was also a Coal Mine Owner, so was it his decision to refuse help? By all accounts he was a great Doctor,
extremely well liked and respected in the City and in his career. Tommy Douglas was not too pleased with Dr. Creighton's actions,
and pointed this out in interviews about the riot. One thing for sure, the Hospital should have provided help to the Miners, as well as the Police.

This Hospital was partially destroyed in a fire on Feb 26, 1936 which actually started in the Clarendon Hotel next door to the East.

This Hospital was on 5th St., behind the present day Liquor Store.
The Old Texaco Station was located on the corner where the people are standing in the top picture
Today there is still a good service garage there, Parkway Service.
The Wing on the Left Still Exists today as a Rooming House, called the Barrie Block.
It Faces the West, towards 12th Avenue.

photo taken Aug 2009

As it turns out I have a couple family connections to this old Hospital.

My Cousin Clare Saunderson, was born in this Hospital.

My Mother, Helen Gent, was working in this Hospital when it burned down.
She writes, I worked in the Kitchen, did dishes, helped with patients trays, and every morning, she cleaned the Doctor's Offices, which she says,
were next door, west, of the town Hall.
Emilie Cooley (nee Kolke) was doing laundry in the hospital, and Mom roomed with her. The nurses stayed there too.
(She is referring to the Hospital here)
Her sister Rose died on Feb 2, 1936, while she was working here. Then she describes the fire.
Not long after this the cafe next to the hospital started burning, They couldn't contain the fire, and the hospital started burning.
We were very busy trying to save all we could. Everything was loaded onto trucks and taken to the old leader store, which was empty at the time.
The patients were taken to homes in the town.

My grandmother, Fannie Gent from Bienfait, happened to be a patient at the time, and she was taken to the Anglican Manse.

In the Feb 16, 1936 Estevan Mercury, Bienfait News section. it says Mrs. Percy Gent underwent an operation recently in the Estevan Hospital and is doing fine.

Mom writes, We gathered all our personal stuff in a sheet, and lowered it into a truck, 2 stories down.
She says she had trouble finding her things in the pile of stuff in the leader Store after. The Annex where they stayed was all that was saved.

Avenue Apartments (old Hospital Annex)
Photo taken Mar 2009, by Volker Tobias
This was the Annex to the old St. Joseph Hospital, and all that remained after the Feb 1936 fire.
The last section from the 4th window on the side back, would have had to have been rebuilt. This is the reason for the different coloured brick there.

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A Temporary Hospital was set up in the Creighton Block after the fire, above the Princess Cafe until 1938

ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL

ca 1947 Postcard of St. Joseph Hospital, courtesy Mrs Jean Dornian

Civic Address was 1401 1st

Built in 1938, on the corner of 1st St and 14th Ave.
It was torn down, when the new hospital was built, and a new Seniors complex, Hillview Manor, was built on that site.
It Overlooked the Valley, with it's entrance facing 14th Ave

AIRPORT HOSPITAL During the 2nd World War and until 1956, there was also a hospital at the airport south of Estevan

2nd ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL

Is the New Hospital in Pleasantdale at 1176 Nicholson Rd

Just north of King st, and Highway 39, and the railroad tracks, at the Kentucky Fried Chicken corner
Built by PCL-Maxam as a 140 bed unit.

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