Sharon Hospital history

On May 8, 1893, with a population of 7,000 people, the foundation for the Sharon and Sharpsville Charitable Hospital was incorporated.

The Valley's first hospital opened on May 8, 1896 and was located on Silver Street between Shenango and Vine avenues.

The first Sharon Hospital opened on December 10, 1909 in a rented brick house owned by Otto Tiedeman on Calkinstown Road. (still standing)

The new hospital opened on April 10, 1916, with 16 beds, 3 nurses and an operating room.

A home for the nurses was built in 1917 with funds from the estate of Peter L. Kimberly.

In 1922, the hospital purchased the adjacent “Kenny” home to serve as a nurses’ home.

When the building opened in 1923, the total number of beds expanded from 16 to 25.

1939 - $145,314 was raised from community donations for a new addition.

George Wassell, flight surgeon and captain in the Army Air Forces who was killed in a 1942 airplane crash in England.

During the four years preceding 1943, the hospital's 50th anniversary, $490,000 was spent to better equip the facility for increased demands from war workers, soldiers and their families.

1947: Doctor Jerome Chaffee, hospital founded, dies on November 26th.

After the purchase of additional land to the north, the building began to take shape and opened its doors in 1948 at a cost of $799,405.13.

In 1949, the new Chaffee Pavilion was added at the cost of $800,000.

Shortly thereafter, Doctor George Haydock joined the practice, and Doctor Roger Moore followed in 1951.

In the 1952 annual report it is noted that, “the installation of additional equipment in the Laboratory…afford us a type of service which previously could only be found in larger hospitals.”

In 1957, the new Harry Payne Bingham Wing and the Ford Wing were opened to increase the capacity to 68 beds in projects costing more than $200,000.

In 1958, the $1.25 million North addition was completed.

On August 1, 1965, formal dedicatory ceremonies were held to open the Fransioloi Building, the Berry Unit, and the Ward Unit.

An intensive/coronary care opened in 1968 and increased the hospital's bed capacity to 292.

1979 - A $17 million expansion program began.

1985 - The modernization and expansion project was completed.

Corporate Health Services, a comprehensive occupational medicine program, started in 1986 to better meet the needs of the corporate community.

In 1988, the hospital added Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a 40-bed Skilled Care Center and renovated its 4th floor to relocate an expanded Behavioral Health Center.

May 15, 1990 brought a new name from the board of directors: Sharon General Hospital became Sharon Regional Health System.

The new North Wing opened on April 29, 1995, adding four new operating suites, rehabilitation services including cardiac, a chapel, a new kitchen and employee dining room, and a new medical/surgical unit.

The development of an $8 million Heart Institute at Sharon Regional was announced in 1999.

Opened in the summer of 2000, The Heart and Vascular Center brought open heart surgery capabilities along with angioplasty, stenting and a second cardiac catheterization lab to Sharon Regional Health System.

It became a for-profit hospital in 2002.

In 2013 the Sharon Regional board of directors completed a year-long process to determine if the best interests of the community would be served by Sharon Regional remaining independent or pursuing some type of strategic partnership.

Cordeau had been CEO of the hospital since 2015, and will be a member of the Health Quest executive team.

Sharon is the state's smallest hospital, with operating revenue of $49.8 million in fiscal 2016.

In 2020, there were more boating accidents in Connecticut— 54 —but fewer deaths, three, according to the Coast Guard’s annual Recreational Boating Statistics report.The Courant

A deadly mix for Connecticut boaters: Distractions, alcohol and no life jacketIn 2021, the Coast Guard reported 43 boating accidents and seven deaths in Connecticut.