Elk Regional Health System history

A post office known as Busch was established on March 18, 1901.

Because Busch was similar to another post office name, it was renamed Elk City on July 20, 1907.

In 1908, it was decided that a Nurse's Home (presently the Dickinson Mental Health Center) should be built.

Developing as an agricultural trade center, Elk City had four banks, four cotton gins, and a cotton oil mill by 1909.

On October 11, 1915, Elk City's Carnegie Library opened, and Elizabeth Keen served as the first librarian.

With campuses in St Marys and Ridgway, and physician offices in several locations throughout the region, it proudly serves the residents of Elk and Cameron counties.The hospital was created due to the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918 that hit St Marys very hard.

The History of Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital In 1922, three daughters of Andrew Kaul recognized the need for a hospital to serve the area.

In August 1931 the Community Hospital opened as one of the first cooperative hospitals in Oklahoma.

In 1934, a fire gutted the entire hospital and a temporary hospital was established at St Joseph's Convent.

By 1941, the shell of the old monastery was once again serviceable and two wings were added.

On November 24, 1947, Shell Oil Company brought in a producing oil well that furthered Elk City's economic development.

The sisters donated half of the money raised.The sisters owned and operated the hospital until 1978 when it was turned over to a public-not-for -profit corporation owned by the community.

In 1980, a new $3 million wing was completed on the hospital’s northern side.

In 1984, dedication and ribbon cutting ceremonies were held for the two-story wing housing.

In 1990, the hospital’s Board of Directors voted to restructure, forming the Andrew Kaul Health System with three subsidiaries – Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital, the Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital Foundation, and ELCOHousing, Inc.

In 1994, a Professional Office Building was erected at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Hospital Street.

Elk Regional Health System Is Created On July 1, 1999, St Marys Regional Medical Center merged with Elk County Regional Medical Center to become Elk Regional Health System.

Brad NobleJuly 15, 2015 at 9:34 AMHere's an interesting Pennsylvania History Project