Preface: Reading a post on the Facebook Page "Remember When in Lancaster" that was written by Dianna Danz. Very interesting account about how one of Lancaster, Pennsylvania's two major hospitals was conceived and constructed in the late 1800s. I had written a story about St. Joseph Hospital a few years ago that told about the hospital that was located on College Avenue in the city of Lancaster. The story that I had written told of the beginnings of the hospital, but not the background behind the start of the hospital. Ms. Danz took care of that part of the story with her very detailed story that I read today on the "Remember When in Lancaster" Facebook page. I would like to update and add to my original story that I had written and posted on December 14, 2018. The facts of my story today have been taken from Ms. Danz's Facebook post. I wish to thank her very much for her information and research.
It was an ordinary day. Reading the research done by Ms. Dianna Danz that tells the story of the beginning of St. Joseph's Hospital in the city of Lancaster. The story began on July 5, 1867 when Father Ignatius Sagerer arrived in the city of New York. Fr. Sagerer was a Bavarian Priest who lived in Rome before coming to the United States. He spoke only German so he sought a German parish after arriving in Lancaster. He found a home in the Saint Anthony of Padua parish whose Priest, Rev. Anthony Kaul spoke both German and English. Fr. Sagerer's mission in Lancaster was to start a combined hospital and orphanage for males. He first enlisted Father Kaul to help him find a rental residence which they found at 332 East Orange Street. The location was originally meant to be used as a hospital. This location became known as Saint Joseph's Hospital. The following year the hospital was moved to 130 North Duke Street while negotiations were taking place to find a location to build a more formal hospital in the city. It just so happened that on January 29th of that year, Mr. Francis Hiemenz, who was a member of St. Anthony Parish as well as a close friend of Fr. Kaul, bought a property located at the corner of College Ave. and Marietta Ave. for $6,500. When Mr. Hiemenz found out about the need for a property for a hospital, he transferred his property at College and Marieta to Fr. Sagerer for the price he had paid. May of that year saw ground broken for a new St. Joseph's Hospital. Architect Edwin F. Durang, the same architect that designed St. Anthony's Church, was used to design the new St. Joseph's Hospital. The hospital was to be a three-story building, but due to financial difficulties during 1877, funds for the hospital were hard to come by that year and it began to go under. Luckily Father Kaul stepped in and asked for help from Bishop Shanahan who approached the sisters of Saint Francis who were based in nearby Philadelphia. The Superior General of the Saint Francis Order came to Lancaster and agreed that an effort to acquire the land should be made. Mr. Michael Haberbush, a harness shop owner in Lancaster was asked to attend the sheriff sale of the property which he did. He purchased the property for $22,000 and was issued the deed on August 23, 1883. He they turned around and sold the property to Mother Mary Agnes of The Sisters of St. Francis for $26,500. Shortly after, five Sisters arrived in Lancaster to begin the restoration work. Finally, on October 18, 1883, the new St. Joseph Hospital was opened to both male and female patients. The story which I have written in the past begins with the opening of the building and the many problems they had when the hospital began to operate. If you care to read it, type St. Joseph Hospital in the white box at the top left of this page. Once again, I thank Ms. Danz for the information that I was not able to find in the past. She has helped me complete the story I began a few years ago. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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