Winchester Hospital history

1920 - The passage of the 19th Amendment opened the door to women candidates for elected offices.

1930 - The Town, whose roots went back to Puritan Charlestown, joined in the state’s tercentenary celebration of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and welcomed the mayor and mayoress of Winchester, England, as its honored guests.

Despite the hardships, Town Meeting supported two new construction projects which opened in 1931, a new Public Library and new Jr.

1932 - The first En Ka Fair was held, to benefit the hospital’s Nurses’ Home.

Doctor J.J. McKendry is credited with starting the ball rolling when he sent a letter to the Editor of the Winchester Press in 1944 stating the need for a hospital in Winchester.

He was chairman of the provisional council set up to finance and organize a hospital and when the hospital received its charter in 1946, he became Chairman of the Board.

Winchester District Memorial Hospital was officially opened on December 8, 1948.

In 1955, a new administration wing was added at a cost of $36,000.

1956 - After discussion and controversy which began in the 19th century over the dangerous grade crossing in the town center, a railroad overpass was completed in 1956.The proliferation of automobiles has spawned other challenges which have carried through into the 21st century.

1958 - The vacant Beggs & Cobb tannery burned, to be replaced by a housing development, representative of the direction the town had been taking away from heavy industry.

In 1960, the first major expansion was completed, going from 35 to 89 beds at a cost of $700,000.

The local papers were quoted as saying it was "for the relief of human suffering". The first patient on that day was 10-year old Glendon Loucks, who underwent minor surgery. It was officially opened on October 21, 1964, by the Provincial Member for Grenville-Dundas, Mr.

In 1968, a $1.6 million expansion included a 35-bed chronic care unit, relocation of the dietary unit, a boiler room and the addition of a 16-bed pediatric unit.

In 1972, a new modern incinerator was built at a cost of $100,000.

Gradually women joined elected Town boards, the first woman selectmen not elected until 1975.

In 1977, $225,000 was spent to create a new x-ray room, family lounge, pharmacy, and nursing office.

In 1980, the Intensive Care Unit expanded to four beds at a cost of $105,000.

In 1984, the hospital was renamed Winchester Medical Center and, with Valley Regional Enterprises and Surgi-Center of Winchester, became the core of a new nonprofit health system.

Ground was broken in 1986 for the new 356-bed Winchester Medical Center, an $80 million construction project that was the largest in Winchester’s history at that time.

The new facility opened in January 1990, featuring all-private patient rooms and space to expand.

1991 - With a mix of nationalities as well as faiths living in town, the Multi-Cultural Network was founded to help build an inclusive community.

In 1992, the HELP campaign raised funds for infrastructure changes such as ventilation systems, code upgrades and plumbing.

1999 - A multi-million, 20+-year Flood Mitigation Improvement Program was launched with an engineering report recommending a series of projects.

2000 - Temple Shir Tikvah opened a synagogue on Vine Street, a significant step in a long history of the gradual integration of a diversity of cultures into what was originally a Protestant, Yankee town.

After the first two projects were completed in 2002, the program was redesigned, approved by the State, and construction began again.

2007 - The Town purchased the Locke Farm, the last remnant of Winchester’s agricultural past.

On March 27, 2009, the new Winchester District Memorial Hospital was officially opened, resulting in the most technologically-advanced facility in rural Ontario.

In 2013, a Community Care Building was built on the WDMH campus, providing access to other key health and community services close by for patients and families.

In 2014, Winchester joined the Lahey Health System and is now a part of the Beth Israel Lahey Health system of 13 hospitals, including 3 academic teaching hospitals, 8 community hospitals, an inpatient behavioral health center and a premier orthopedics hospital.

In March 2016, the Community Care Building was expanded to double its size and welcome additional health and community services on the same site.