In February, 1911, Dr. W. Ross Thompson set up a private practice on West Buffalo Street in a private home purchased from the Ketchum family. The first operation was successfully completed in a room of his home. Soon after, five beds for patients who needed hospitalization were installed.

Miss May O'Brien began her career here at 15 and received her nurses training at Dr. Thompson's private hospital. At that time there were two nurses - a day and night nurse. Sometimes, they were required to work 20 hours a day.

To get patients upstairs, they had to use an old elevator which was operated by pulling a rope. To keep the rooms warm for patients, an oil stove was carried from one room to the other. Sterilization was done on the kitchen stove and the laundry was done in a small washing machine in the barn.

In 1925 an extensive building plan was in progress. The old house was removed and a new modern hospital built. In 1938 more additions were added to the hospital. By this time the Supervisors had purhased the private hospital. It then became known as the Wyoming County Community Hospital. Between 1939 and 1942, 15 nurses were trained in the hospital. Click here to see the trained nurses.

By 1950 there was no more land on which to expand and it could not accommodate the number of patients needing care.

In 1953 a new hospital on North Main Street was opened with 177 beds and 20 nursery bassinets and a nursing school for 34 students. In 1964, an addition to the hospital was made which was called the Peet Pavilion for long term patients.

Click here to see Warsaw's first health care facility. It was called the Warsaw Sanitarium and was located above the present Village Park. Established by Dr. John G. Fisher, it was the first salt bath sanitarium in the United States and Canada. In 1891, it opened and burned to the ground in 1897.