| Additional Information: | 2018 survey report write-up: The former St. Mary’s Hospital complex is comprised of seven “historic-era” buildings that were built between 1940 and 1968. The earliest extant structure on the grounds is the 1940 physical plant along Brown Street (AHI#50876), that is largely constructed of stone and includes a single, brick-clad story on the top. One year later, a classical-inspired, brick-clad, four-story wing (#237243; seen in photo at left) that was built as a twin and opposing wing to that which was completed in 1922 (#52074 and which is no longer extant) was completed. This 1941 building is the northern-most (historic-era) structure of the complex (as a modern addition extends further north from the 1941 block). In 1945, the brick-clad, two-story plus basement laundry facility (#237244) was built along Brown Street and adjacent to the physical plant. In 1947-48, the brick-clad, multi-story isolation hospital (#237245) was added to the campus on the east and, shortly thereafter (1948), a three-story plus raised basement and brick-clad convent (#52012) was completed north of that isolation facility. The final two buildings—Mary Hall (#237095) and the west hospital wing addition (#237094)--each rise four stories and both visibly exhibit their reinforced concrete framing.
St. Mary’s Hospital was established in 1905, when Dr. Douglas Sauerhering invited the Sisters of the Divine Savior to operate the hospital he had established in 1892 as Riverside Hospital (no longer extant). With their arrival came the name change to St. Mary’s and, within just three short years, a new, 55- (or 60-) bed hospital (no longer extant) was erected on the subject N. 7th street parcel, opening in August 1908. Growth of the hospital prompted the construction of a four-story south wing that was completed in 1922 (AHI#52074 and no longer extant) which increased the number of beds to 120. In 1941, a four-story wing to match that added in 1922 was completed and initially served as the school of nursing and as a student dormitory. The 1940s was a prolific year for construction, as four additional structures were added to the campus that year: the physical plant and a laundry building (in 1940 and 1945, respectively), an isolation hospital (in 1947-48), as well as a convent (1948). Finally, in 1960-61, a 90-bed nurses’ dormitory was added to the southwest corner of the parcel and, in 1968, a west wing was added to the hospital proper. In 1970, St. Mary’s and Wausau Memorial Hospital (located at 1320 Grand Avenue and also included in this report) merged as Wausau Hospitals, Inc. and the sites were designated as North Hospital (St. Mary’s) and South Hospital (Wausau Memorial). In 1973, the former convent building was converted for use as a senior (over age 55) living residence. Each hospital continued operations until 1979, when a modern hospital—known as the Wausau Hospital Center—was completed at 333 Pine Ridge Boulevard, which resulted in the closing of both hospital sites. Since that time, the original 1909 block of the hospital, as well as the 1922 wing, have been demolished. The 1941 and 1968 wings now serve as Forest Park Village, an independent senior living facility. Mary Hall now provides assisted living accommodations and is known as The Garden Apartments. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Citations for the 2018 survey information below: There are discrepancies regarding the actual number of beds in each of the early blocks of the hospital, depending upon which source is cited from the following: “City Gains Fame Through Hospital,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 9 August 1922, Golden Anniversary Edition, Section 2, 2/3-6, “St. Mary’s Hospital: Its Past Struggles, Present Achievements, Future Possibilities,” Booklet prepared by the hospital, no date (but circa 1950), in the St. Mary’s Hospital file, MCHSRL; “Chronological History of St. Mary’s Hospital,” Typescript, Circa 1965, also in St. Mary’s Hospital file; and Geri Nickolai, “St. Mary’s Hospital Began 65 Years Ago,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 20 May 1970, 3/1-3. |
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