Opening of New Hospital

House Warming and Reception Will Occur at the New Institution Today

Journal and Tribune, April 14, 1902 [page not noted on clipping]

The new city hospital will be formally opened today with a house-warming and reception. The reception will be given this evening from four to eight o’clock by the members of the city government, governing board and the ladies hospital board together with Miss Paulus, the new superintendent, and others who will be connected with the institution.

The public is invited to attend and inspect the new hospital, which is conceded to be one of the best equipped institutions in the entire country. Light refreshments will be served by the ladies, and a short program of addresses will be carried out beginning at five o’clock.

The patients in the old city hospital will probably be removed to the new quarters on Wednesday or the day following.

There will be one cause for regret in today’s opening and this is that Mrs. Dr. W. L. McCreary, who has been a tireless worker for the new hospital, lies dangerously ill at her home on Fourth avenue. Mrs. McCreary suffered a severe fall several months since resulting in a compoung [sic] fracture of the bones in her arm, and internal injuries. Her recovery has been slow, and recently her condition has grown much worse. Many friends hope for her speedy restoration to health and strength.

It has been Mrs. McCreary’s one desire to see Knoxville have a hospital adequate to the demands and it is to be regretted that Mrs. McCreary cannot participate in today’s event. It was her desire, however, that the woman’s board proceed with the good work.

[Transcriber’s notes, compiled from on-line resources: Anna Rebecca Knox Burris McCreary, age 44, died of peritonitis on April 26, 1902, in Knoxville. Her body was returned to Baton Rouge for burial. Anna’s first husband was Dr. William Addison Burris, an 1873 graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He died in Hope Villa, Louisiana, in 1885.]