History of Virginia Gay Hospital

Virginia Walcutt Gay and husband, Harvey  D. Gay, moved to Vinton from Worthington, Ohio in 1850. Harvey D. Gay was in the mercantile business and had extensive holdings in lumber and mining in the western United States.  Mr. Gay preceded his wife in death in 1878, leaving Mrs. Gay with considerable wealth.  Mrs. Gay died on May 8, 1914, in Columbus, Ohio.  In Mrs. Gay's will, she stated:

"I have an affection for Vinton and its people because most of the years of my life were spent in it and among its people.  They were my happiest years.  For these reasons, I have made this provision for a hospital in Vinton.  It shall be known and designated as the Virginia Gay Hospital."

Mrs. Gay willed $50,000 in trust to the City of Vinton to be used to build a hospital.  On May 22, 1917, Mayor J.F. Allen of Vinton called a group of Vinton residents together for the purpose of establishing a Board of Regents for the Virginia Gay Hospital.  Original members of the Board of Regents were Mayor Allen, Dr. C.C. Griffin, J.P. Whitney, T.J. Ray, and W.G. Ellis.  The Bylaws of the Board of Regents were approved on November 22, 1917.

One of the buildings of the old Tilford Academy was purchased for $7, 400.00. The remodeling of the building cost approximately $54,000.00, the elevator was purchased and installed for $3,050.00, and the equipment was purchased for $2,500 for a total cost of approximately $67,000. This was a three story building with a basement and was located in the south part of Vinton.

At the July 5, 1923, Board of Regents meeting, "It was moved, seconded, and approved that public announcement should be made that the hospital was ready to receive a few medical and obstetrical cases.  Wards A & B will charge $2.00 per day, private rooms will cost $4.00 per day, and a private apartment will cost $6.00 per day. Mother and baby rates will be $5.00 per day."  Mrs. Margaret Smythe was hired as superintendent as a salary of $125.00 per month plus maintenance.

At a special meeting on December 19, 1925, the secretary of the Board of Regents was instructed to give to the press a statement that "The Virginia Gay Memorial Hospital will not receive patients after December 20, 1925, and will close January 2, 1926."  This closure was due to the lack of funds to care for patients and maintain the building.

During the coming year, the Federation of Women's Clubs of Vinton conducted a subscription campaign in order to raise funds necessary for re-opening the Virginia Gay Memorial Hospital.  The goal of $3,000 was surpassed and the clubs donated a total of $3,661.30 to the re-opening of the hospital.  In the affidavit signed by Lora A. Leutz, Coral Woodhouse, and Frances H. Miller, it is stated, "We started our campaign with the conviction that a hospital for Vinton wanted and needed.  We close our campaign with the absolute knowledge that the hospital is really wanted by practically everybody within a reasonable distance from our town...The hospital is an actual necessity to the welfare of our community and it should be reopened with the least possible delay."

The hospital was reopened on September 14, 1927.  The superintendent was Miss Gladys Knudson and assistant to the superintendent was Mrs. Nettie Burk.

On January 11, 1932, the Board of Regents met to discuss the temporary closing of the hospital due to the economy and outstanding accounts.  Miss Knudson resigned her position as superintendent effective January 18, 1932.  Mrs. Burk was named acting superintendent on February 8, 1932.

At their July, 1932 meeting, the Board of Regents discussed the hospital's finances due to the closing of the banks and the loss of funds the hospital sustained.  However, the Board decided to keep the hospital open by "using good economy and cutting back wherever possible."

In 1947 a house adjacent to the hospital building purchased as an annex to the hospital for hospital patients who did not need as much acute care or who required more hospitalization while recovering.

In late 1946 and early 1947, discussion was held about the possibility of building a new hospital building.  These plans were approved and the architectural firm of Wetherell and Harrison of Des Moines was retained in May of 1948.  Several locations of the hospital were discussed, and on 1948 the present site of the hospital was purchased from Jerry and Floss Carrier for $5,000.  A fund raising campaign was held to raise funds for the new hospital.  Board members at this time were Dr. G.R. Woodhouse, Lida Hall, Dr. L.W. Koontz, J.H. Milroy, Dr. E.V.Lovett, Dr. T.L. Chadbourne, and Mayor Gordon.  Bids were received for the construction of the building on May 16, 1950.  Pledges were solicited from community members for the new hospital building. Work has begun in early fall of 1950.  Open house for the new facility was held on December 2, 1951, and patients were moved and admitted on the first of January of 1952.  The old hospital building was sold to the Lutheran Home for the Aged for a nursing home at a special meeting on October 17, 1951.  Additional land to the north of the hospital site was purchased for $5,000.  The cost of the new building, plus equipment was $384,323.84.

Mrs. Nettie Burk retired as hospital administrator in April of 1956.  She had served for 16 years and 5 months in this position.  George Garwood was appointed Virginia Gay Hospital administrator in April 15,1956.  Mr. Garwood served as administrator until his retirement in 1982.

In 1960 plans were formulated to build a long-term care facility adjoining the present hospital to the south.  Kenneth Feller and Karl Fischer were appointed to co-chair the fund drive for the long term care facility.  At a special meeting on June 6, 1961, the motion was approved. At a special meeting on June 6, 1961, the motion was approved for a construction fund of $483,000.00 for the construction of the this facility, 161,000.00 of which would be Hill-Burton funds from the federal government.  Work was begun on the long-term care facility in 1961.  This facility was opened on September 2, 1962.  In addition to the Hill-Burton funds, $100,000 of the Dr. C.C. Griffin Trust was designated to be used for this construction, funds were donated from various other trusts willed to the hospital, $152,800.00 was loaned to the hospital from 103 Vinton community people, and gifts of $13,107.00 were received.

In February of 1965, it was felt that the Board Room should be converted into an area for the care of five geriatric patients.  In April of 1965, twelve patients were housed in the room then used for occupational therapy.  Patients were moved out of the basement in December 1967.  Discussion began in December of 1967 regarding an addition to the long-term care facility.  This addition was proposed to be added to the west wing of the facility and would include the addition of ten beds.  This addition was approved and the $75,000.00 addition was opened in August of 1969.

In 1973 discussion was held by the Board of Regents about building a "clinic" building for the physicians adjacent to the hospital.  At the September 5, 1973 meeting following a discussion with the architects and physicians, it was moved, seconded, and approved that "the hospital proceed with the building of the clinic".  This building was erected at cost of $274,421.00 with funds from the Herger trust.  The building was dedicated on September 15th, 1974.  Board members at this time were Burton Davis, W.G. Blanchard, Dr. D.C. Weideman, Jack Milroy, Dr. G.A. Fry, Keith Elwick, and Mayor Winston Watson.

In October 1975 the Board met to discuss the financing and construction of an addition to the hospital.  In November 1975, the Board approved "that the hospital raise one million dollars for the new addition." The Board then approved entering into a memo of agreement with the City Council to obtain city revenue bonds in the amount of one million dollars. This addition included a special nursing unit as well as a new nurses' station.  An additional 29 beds were made available for acute care nursing as a result of this addition as well as new kitchen facilities and a materials storage area.   The addition was officially opened in December 1976.  This addition was made possible by the bequest of the Rodgers Trust for $400,000 and $480,000 donated by area residents. Board members during the planning and construction of this addition were Dr. D.C. Weideman, Keith Elwick, Galen Grote, Burton Davis, Dr. G.A. Fry, L.A. Blanchard and Mayor Winston Watson.

George Garwood retired as administrator in 1982 and, at this time, Virginia Gay Hospital entered into a management contract with St. Luke's Hospital. Robert Wessman was appointed administrator in December 1982 and he served in this capacity until July 1985.  At this time Mark Hearn was appointed as administrator.

New Services  in 1985 recently added to Virginia Gay Hospital include mobile services of mammography, echocardiography, CT scans, and nuclear medicine.  Hospice services were recently added also. These services are in addition to the services provided at Virginia Gay Hospital of surgery, emergency care, obstetrics, acute medical care, skilled nursing care and long term care.  Present Board members include W. G. Lohr, George Herger, Dr. D. C. Weideman, Francis Beggs, Katherine Ervin, Dr. S.L. Anthony, Warren Gulick, and Mayor C. W. Barron.

Upon Mark Hearn's resignation, the Virginia Gay Hospital Board of Directors decided to end the management agreement with St. Luke's and hire an Administrator who once again would be an employee of Virginia Gay.  The person selected to fill this role was Michael Riege, who currently serves in this position.

Past additions and improvements to the hospital have included a new radiology suite and emergency room/trauma area funded by the John Grovert Trust.  All asbestos was removed from the facility, a new nurse call system was installed along with a new fire and smoke detection system and a sprinkler system. The laboratory was completely remodeled along with the maintenance shop. The hospital also has a fleet of three vans which provide free transportation to and from the hospital or any of the Vinton or Van Horne medical clinics.  In 1994 the Virginia Gay Hospital Healthcare Foundation sponsored the "Investment in our Future Campaign."  The campaign raised $1.2 million dollars in donations which was used to expand and completely remodel the Annex, along with replacing hospital boilers and chillers.  The campaign also brought a new teleradiology system, cardiac monitoring system and surgical instruments.  Services available at Virginia Gay include the mobile services of Bone Density Analysis, Mammography, Ultrasound, Echo cardiology, Vascular Doppler and EKG.  A new permanent CT was installed in 2000 and mobile MRI was added in 2001.

Surgical services include general surgery, laparoscopic surgery, orthopedic surgery, ear/nose/throat surgery, foot surgery and endoscopies.  A new cardio/pulmonary rehab clinic has also been added.  In 1994, Virginia Gay merged with Benton County Public Health to form the Virginia Gay Hospital Home Health Agency.  The hospital brings 12 specialty clinics to Vinton monthly, which are staffed by over 50 physicians from Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and the University of Iowa.  In 1996, Virginia Gay began operation of two family practice medical clinics in Vinton. In 1997 another medical clinic was added in Van Horne.  In 2002 the Urbana Family Medical Clinic began operation.

In 1996 Virginia Gay entered into a retirement housing, building the first CedarView condominium duplex.  This project was completed in 2001, with its three fourplexes and three duplexes adding 18 units of quality housing for older residents of Benton County.

2000 marked the opening of  a kidney dialysis unit at Virginia Gay.  This joint venture between VGH and Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids has brought the convenience of local dialysis service to people in Benton County suffering from end stage renal disease.

Also in 2000 Virginia Gay made sweeping changes to its outpatient services.  A two million dollar addition added a modern waiting room and surgical suite complex.  It also allowed for the consolidation of physical therapy, occupation therapy, speech therapy and cardio-pulmonary rehab to be re-located from the basement to near front of the hospital.  Administrative offices were re-located to the basement.  Six new clinic examination spaces for consulting physicians were also added.  These changes allowed for increased convenience to outpatients and physicians.  The move of administration also served to provide a more quiet hospital environment.

We look forward to the future and the changes it will bring to better serve Vinton and the surrounding communities.