Lead-Deadwood Hospital celebrates 125th anniversary

If you’re looking for 125 years of history, you need look no further than Lead-Deadwood Hospital. On Jan. 15, 1897, St. Joseph’s Hospital officially opened in Deadwood, and on May 19, Monument Health and the Lead-Deadwood community celebrated 125 years of providing health care on the exact same spot where the Benedictine Sisters provided care over a century ago.

Originally scheduled as an outdoor event at the hospital itself, inclement weather changed the plans, and the celebration was held at the Deadwood Mountain Grand. “We’re very grateful that the doors were opened to us here at the Deadwood Mountain Grand,” said Mark Schmidt, President of the Lead-Deadwood Hospital. “The people here understand the importance of the history we’re celebrating, and the significance to the community, and I think this ended up being the perfect venue.”

Nicole Shiffrar is passionate about the history of Lead-Deadwood Hospital — so much so, that she literally wrote the book on the subject. “Doctors and nurses have been providing care in some form here, even before the hospital was built,” says Nicole. “Because we have so many records, as well as memoirs from former caregivers and community members, we know a lot about the history, including famous patients and how we handled the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic.”

Nicole signed copies of her book, History of Health Care in Lead and Deadwood and Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital and Clinic for the more than 200 people that attended the celebration. “I’m happy that I could share this information with people,” Nicole said. “The early health care here helped lay the groundwork for the medical care that would develop in the area, and paved the way for the high-quality, compassionate care that Monument Health provides today.”

“There’s a lot of history in the walls of Lead-Deadwood Hospital and Clinic,” added Schmidt. “I’m proud to be a part of that, and I know that Monument Health is proud of every doctor, caregiver and volunteer that is part of this legacy.”