Our Beginnings
Even now, we thank Miss Anna Jaques for her vision and charitable spirit,
for it was her efforts that founded Anna Jaques Hospital in 1884. The original home of our
hospital was a federalist mansion on the corner of Broad and Munroe Streets, formerly known
as the Bagley Estate. At that time, hospital wards were arranged for 13 beds and the first
patient was admitted on May 7, 1884. Now, the hospital has 123 beds and in 2005 we treated
8,010 inpatients, had 701 births, 6,304 clinic visits, 8,237 surgical procedures and 29,189
emergency department visits.
In 1885 the third Sunday in January was observed as Hospital Sunday, an occasion which
netted $1400 from the 25 participating churches. This custom was continued for many years
and eventually led to the formation of the Hospital Aid Association in 1889. Today the
AJH Aid Association is a vibrant group of hardworking volunteers who in 2004 handed a
check for $100,000 to the hospital. Every cent was raised from their volunteer work on
behalf of the hospital.
By 1901 the hospital's original building had become inadequate. So three years later, in
1904, a new Georgian Revival style building was erected at 25 Highland Avenue. The
photograph on this page shows the graduating class of nurses in 1904 in front of that
building. It now serves as the centerpiece of our facility and a proud reminder of the
healthcare tradition begun by Miss Anna Jaques. Today this magnificent building houses
our administrative offices and one lucky person always sits in the office above the
beautiful front portico that is graced with the Georgian Revival crested window.
Women always had a special place for care at Anna Jaques Hospital. The Women's Ward Unit
was originally a large room in the main house. That room was later renovated in 1967 and
now serves as the Higgins Conference Room. The commitment to women's health that was
begun in the early 20th century continues today in the 21st century with a broad range
of women's health services complimented by the Women's Wellness Initiative outreach
program.
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