Sec. B Pg 12 Missoulian Centennial Cornerstone Draws Many
Cornerstone Draws Many
The cornerstone of the Northern Pacific Hospital was laid in a ceremony witnessed by a large number of railroad employees and other residents Aug. 9, 1892.
The Ft. Missoula Band marched from the Main street-Higgins avenue intersection to the site of the hospital, constructed to replace the first NP hospital which had burned. NP General Manager Mellen arrived on an eastbound train just in time to lay the cornerstone.
Plans for the building were made by chief architect Joy of the company and the construction was superintended by Engineer H. C. Ralph. Contractors were L. L. Weatherhead and J. H. Kennedy and the cost of the structure was estimated at $16,000. The central portion of the frame building was 132 feet long by 32 feet wide with a cellar 74×28 feet. On the ground floor were the doctor’s offices, operating room, reception room, reading room and smoking rooms, dining room, kitchen and pantries. Living quarters of the physicians were on the second floor. The wings, one on each side, one for medical and the other for surgical uses, were 67×24 feet and one story high.