BGH History

Willett History

The story of John H. Stratford's founding of what is now the Brantford General Hospital.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1885 dawned bitterly cold. The previous two days had seen some slight moderation of the sub-zero weather, which had kept people indoors for the past fortnight. A five-inch snowfall had blocked roads and streets, but now it was well packed, at least in the city of Brantford, and sleighs and cutters passed swiftly between the high-piled snow banks and drifts.

About noon, the guard of honour, 100 men of the Dufferin Rifles, marched smartly onto the windswept platform of the Grand Trunk Railway depot at Colborne Street.

Lieutenant-Governor

Carried on the frosty air, the long drawn, musical wail of the whistle as it approached some level crossing could be heard from far down the line. The clang of wheels on rails added its rhythmic pattern. The frantically impatient huffing and puffing of the engine joined in as, with scores of small flags sprouting from it and fluttering madly in the wind, the special train of the lieutenant-governor swept majestically up to the platform and, with a squealing of brakes came to a stop and subsided, proudly wreathed in plumes of steam. It was 12:30 p.m. right on the scheduled dot. The guard of honour bayonets fixed, stood rigidly at attention as the gubernatorial party descended from its train. Then when all were on the platform the command rang out, "Present arms" and the regimental band played God Save the Queen.The party, including Lt.-Gov. John Beverly Robinson, was met by John H. Stratford, Mayor Scarfe and Dr. J. W. Digby.  They were quickly escorted to waiting sleighs and, bells jingling merrily, drove off to the Stratford residence for lunch.That the opening ceremonies were carried out with all the formality of the time is beyond question. The Expositor of that week remarked on it in these words:"In his characteristic manner, the generous donor has provided for a formal opening of the institution commensurate with its importance as one of the first public institutions of the city."It was about three o'clock before the lieutenant-governor and Mrs. Robinson and party accompanied by Mr. And Mrs. John H. Stratford, Mrs. A. S. Hardy, Mayor Scarfe, Dr. Digby, Capt. Jos. Stratford and Mrs. Stratford proceeded to the hospital, where a large number of citizens now awaited the distinguished party.

The highly polished sleighs, with their warmly clad passengers, well wrapped in buffalo robes, and probably with hot bricks on the floor of the sleigh, set out at a spanking pace through the city streets and up the long winding drive to the John H. Stratford Hospital standing on the eminence of Terrace Hill, and surrounded by some seven or eight acres of, on that day, fairly deep snow. In summer time, it would be green pasture and trees, and the vista would be peaceful and beautiful right down to the winding silver trail of the Grand River, and beyond out into the country.

That pasture idea was not just a matter of a pleasant view, for the Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Governors in 1885 record that it was decided to keep cows at the hospital for the supplying of milk. In fact, the custom continued until 1910. This probably explains why the amount spent on milk on the entire year of 1886 came to only $215.52, a mere $4.10 a week which even with food process what they were, would hardly be adequate for an establishment of the size and type.

Another saving was instituted in 1891 when a resolution was passed to allow sheep to graze on the grounds, "thus saving the necessity of buying a lawn mower."

Formalities Take Place

The wait of half an hour or so did not irk those who had already arrived at the hospital. In addition to touring the hospital and viewing its comforts and beauties, the band of the Dufferin Rifles entertained with the popular airs of the day. Besides, it was nice and warm inside.

With a flourish, the sleighs drew up to the big front door entrance; bells jingled as spirited horses tossed their heads and pawed the snow. The door swung wide, and the group entered to the enthusiastic and lengthy applause of those assembled, proceeding up the stairs to the second floor where a dais had been built, and over which a festoon of the national colours was draped. Here it was that the formalities were to take place. "As soon as the commotion had subsided," The Expositor reported, "Mayor Scarfe, representing the city, read the following address of welcome to the lieutenant-governor."

This brief excerpt from that address will suffice:"The necessity of a hospital for this city has long been felt, but now systematic attempt had been made to secure its establishment until about 16 months ago when a public meeting was called and committees appointed to visit other hospitals, to select a site and to solicit subscriptions. "A this juncture, Mr. John Stratford with great generosity came forward and offered to purchase a site and erect a hospital entirely at his own expense, much larger and more complete than any of the citizens of Brantford proposed attempting to erect, and make it a free gift to the City of Brantford forever."

Next, Mr. Stratford read his address. He spoke of meetings held with the city council more than a year previous. He explained in some detail the construction of the hospital, and then spoke in these words of his hope for what it would mean to Brantford:"My sincere hope is that the institution may be the source of alleviating much suffering. Its doors will be always open, free of charge, to the poor of the city, under the regulation of its management, and at a fair charge all its advantages can be obtained in private wards by those who are able to pay."This, to my wife and me, is as happy day - it is the consummation of a desire of years, on the part of both of us, to do this work and to see a hospital established here. "Kindly permit me, Mr. Mayor to take this opportunity of referring to the first condition of this gift, which reads as follows:"That the management of the Hospital shall be strictly non-sectarian in its character, and the institution be open to all citizens of this city, subject, of course, to the rules that may be laid down hereafter for its conduct." Turning to the lieutenant-governor and Mrs. Robinson, he bowed and smiled:"Again I thank Your Honour and Mrs. Robinson for being present here today, and beg your acceptance of this silver key to the door of the main entrance of this hospital as a souvenir of the occasion."

The silver key was taken by the lieutenant-governor and he passed it with a smile to Mrs. Robinson. "Mrs. Robinson put it away in her muff with an expression of pleasure," one observer wrote.The formalities proceeded as Mayor Scarfe read a reply on behalf of the city, and the lieutenant-governor replied to the addresses of welcome. Mayor Scarfe then asked His Honour to declare the hospital open; which he did. With this most important function performed, and the hospital officially opened, letters from friends and well-wishers were read, interspersed with remarks from other notables present.What appears to have been the final event of the afternoon was reported this way: "At the conclusion, a levee was held, and a very large number of those present, presented by His Worship the Mayor to His Honour and Mrs. Robinson."

Again quoting the Expositor: The attendance was very large, and comprised the elite of the city, which included with many others, the subscribers to the Furnishing Fund."Outside, the mercury in the thermometer was threatening to shrink itself into the little glass bulb at the bottom. The early dusk deepened perceptibly as people hurried to their sleighs or trudged off down the hill. (Brantford did not get its first four horse-drawn street cars until a year and a half later, although the first electric street lights were crackling and sputtering menacingly sometime during the summer of 1885.)

That night the thermometer would register 19 degrees below zero, and continue to record such cruel arctic weather for many nights. But the days were getting sunnier and a bit warmer. A few weeks, perhaps a month or so, and the deep snow would be gone. There would be only the occasional need to light the grates in the rooms of the John H. Stratford Hospital.

Crowning Terrace Hill, Brantford's first community hospital gleamed white and red in the bright sun, its gables and towers with their slim finials pointing prophetically upward, a symbol of hope and succor and healing to all the ill and injured regardless of their stations in life, their wealth or poverty.

This picture taken by the Walker Studio in 1937 shows the   corridor joining the main building with the surgical wing. It was removed with the original 1885 building when the Stratford Pavilion opened in 1959.

This was the Men's Public Ward in the Eastview Wing on the 2nd floor while waiting for visiting hours. The picture is from 1935. The third bed on the right is awaiting a patient from the Operating Room.