Contents
Amy Utter's name to go on Eaton Building bench
Missouri Rehabilitation Center Centennial Celebration Sept. 8, 2007
MRC - The Hill at 100
Information about Vi Epperson's grandparents who were patients in the 1940s and 50s
A milestone is reached as Amy Utter's bench is emplaced
by Fred Edwards
Aug. 5, 2008 -- Mary Leyba of the Missouri Rehabilitation Center's Historical Preservation Committee has notified me that she and her committee succeeded! After months of networking and fundraising, they finally had a bench emplaced with Amy Utter's name on it. It sits where Amy could have seen it in 1930 from her room in the old Eaton Building, where she was dying of tuberculosis. In behalf of the Utter family and all of Amy's fellow patients, my wife, Pauline, and I thank Mary and her committee. The following was extracted from her e-mail."Finally, shortly before noon on a sweltering August day, the Eaton bench was placed under a shade tree on the south circle.
Somehow of all the benches, it seems to be the one that is the most welcoming, perhaps because it's between two of the huge trees that shade the south circle, or maybe it's because of the location, so close to where the Eaton building was located but so very far away from the time Amy Utter was a patient in Eaton. To me it will always be Amy's bench even though there are other names engraved on the back.
When the weather cools a bit, I can't wait to go sit on the bench and let my mind wander to the time so many years ago when life was not so complicated. Maybe it was a simpler time but it was a very difficult life for those who lived then, especially those who suffered from disease or illness. I think how the heat must have affected the patients on a day like today, the heat index way over 100 and nothing to cool the patients except an occasional breeze floating through the trees.
These people were tough, very tough, this was their oasis in a troubled time and thankfully this institution was here to serve them no matter the outcome of their disease. My hope is the benches remain long after we're gone, standing strong as a reminder of those who have passed through this facility all these many years.
Please see the attached pictures, I truly wish you could be here to see and touch the bench, I can honestly say, it's been an honor working on this bench project with the other dedicated members of the Historical Committee. Our intent was to honor those who have gone before us and I believe we have attained and surpassed that goal.
My best,
Mary
Amy Utter's Name to Go on Eaton Bench
by Fred Edwards
Amy Utter's name is scheduled to be engraved on a bench adjacent to the Eaton Building location, thanks to the efforts of Mary Leyba with help from Georgia Cooper, both with the Historical Preservation Committee at the Missouri Rehabilitation Center (MRC). Mary discussed the idea with me when I visited the MRC during its Centennial Celebration. She thought it would be fitting for Amy to have "her" bench near where she spent so much of the final months of her life suffering from tuberculosis in 1930.Here's Mary's update of November, 2007:
"I wanted to touch base to let you know that I've raised the funds to place Amy Utter's name on the Eaton bench.
We had an MRC Historical Committee basket auction yesterday and I entered two large plates of home made cookies complete with mugs, cocoa, and candy canes. I also had a beautiful Christmas wreath designed by my cousin who owns a shop at Cassville. With the donations already contributed to my cause, I've raised over the $100 required to place Amy's name on the bench.
It's my hope the bench with Amy's name will remain in place long after we're all gone since as much as she suffered, she surely deserves to be remembered."
And here's a follow-up message from Mary Leyba:
"Georgia Cooper, who is the treasurer of the MRC Historical Committee, also donated funds to place Amy Utter's name on the Eaton bench. Georgia felt Amy was especially deserving of this honor.
If we take advantage of the next fundraising option that has been suggested, I may be cleaning tables at Fudruckers in Joplin or Springfield. For anyone who would present a coupon, the Historical Committee would get 10 percent of the profit, plus if we clean tables we get the tips.
Don't be surprised if I let you know I've been mucking out cow barns, we take our fundraising very very seriously here at MRC."
It's heart-warming to learn that Mary and Georgia have gone the extra mile for Amy Utter's memory more than 77 years after Amy wrote the final words in her diary: "Nurses so good. Wait on me and feed me." The caring spirit of the old Missouri State Sanatorium lives on.
Missouri Rehabilitation Center Centennial Celebration
by Fred Edwards
Aug. 30, 2007 -- The following is a news release concerning the Missouri Rehabilitation Center's (MRC) centennial celebration on Sept. 8, 2007. The MRC is where Amy Utter spent the final months of her life, which are covered in detail in my book, Amy Utter's Journeys: TB and Other Tragedies in Rural America's Heartland. I am scheduled to participate in the parade and to give a presentation during the ceremonies. Pauline and I hope to see you there!News Release
Contact: Jill Finney, Information Specialist 417-461-5459
Aug. 28, 2007
For immediate release
MISSOURI REHABILITATION CENTER TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE
It's time to party! Missouri Rehabilitation Center (MRC) is celebrating 100 years of service to Missouri and the world. On Saturday, Sept. 8, MRC will host a daylong event commemorating this centennial milestone. The day features an array of speakers, food, games, historical tours, entertainment and more.
The event will kick off with a parade around campus at 10 a.m., followed by an official welcome from MRC Director of Operations Steve Patterson. The morning will feature speakers from University of Missouri Health Care, as well as keynote speaker Floretta Woodson, who will share her 34 years of experience as director of nursing at MRC.
At noon, food lines open, along with games and tours of the grounds. The afternoon features a host of speakers with connections to MRC, including former patients and retirees. Rep. Don Ruzicka and Sen. Jack Goodman will both present resolutions to MRC beginning at 2 p.m.
The event will wrap up with the Wise Guise, a local folk rock band, taking the stage at 3 p.m.
Jones Memorial Chapel and Museum in Mount Vernon will also hold a special exhibit that day showcasing MRC's 100-year history. The display will feature historical pictures of patients and staff over the years as well as historical artifacts. A shuttle will be available to take event guests to and from the museum from noon to 4 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public.
"Without Mount Vernon's support and the wonderful care our staff provides, MRC wouldn't have been able to reach this milestone anniversary," Patterson said.
Today, MRC is part of the University of Missouri Health Care system and serves patients from all over Missouri and around the globe. The 124-bed hospital serves the needs of patients who are medically complex or who have sustained catastrophic injuries requiring long-term, acute care hospitalization. MRC specializes in pulmonary rehabilitation, comprehensive rehabilitation and brain injury rehabilitation.
The hospital operates one of the largest and most successful ventilator-weaning programs in Missouri with a 79 percent ventilator-weaning success rate compared to a national average of 51 percent.
MRC prides itself on assisting patients to achieve their highest level of independence, affording them the opportunity to return home.
For 100 years now, MRC has been a leader in advancing health care. In 1907, the hospital opened as the Missouri State Sanatorium with the mission of minimizing the spread of tuberculosis. In 1971, tuberculosis was declining but other lung diseases were on the rise. The mission was expanded to include all types of cardiac and pulmonary problems, and the name was changed to the Missouri State Chest Hospital.
The Missouri Rehabilitation Center was born in 1985 as services were expanded to include physical rehabilitation and the Traumatic Brain Injury program was opened. In 1996, ownership of MRC was transferred from the Missouri Department of Health to the University of Missouri.
MRC -- The Hill at 100
by Fred Edwards
The following is an updated history of the center which appeared in the Sept. 5, 2007, issue of the Lawrence County Record.The Hill at 100, 1907-2007; A legacy of hope
When the Missouri State Sanatorium opened in Mt. Vernon in 1907, it offered people suffering from tuberculosis something they had never had before.
Hope.
Hope that they might survive the dreaded "White Plague" that was killing tens of thousands of Americans each year.
Hope that they could keep from passing the disease to their loved ones. Hope that the months and years they spent in treatment might enable them to return to a more normal life.
Hope.
And in many cases, success.
As the years unfolded and treatments improved, the Sanatorium and its staff brought health to thousands of Missourians.
"The Hill," as it came to be known, at one point cared for over 600 patients and had nearly that many employees.
It was a community unto itself, with its own power station, water supply and post office. There was an award-winning dairy herd to provide fresh milk for patients and a greenhouse that provided bouquets of flowers for birthdays and to each new admission.
But that is just the beginning of the story for the facility now known as the Missouri Rehabilitation Center.
When antibiotics were developed and people could be treated effectively closer to their homes, the need for tuberculosis sanatoriums diminished.
But while other sanatoriums were falling by the wayside, The Hill continued to grow.
Old buildings were bulldozed away, and new, more modern facilities took their place.
Emphasis turned to the treatment of chest diseases. There were still TB patients, to be sure. But the staff honed their skills in the care of patients suffering from histoplasmosis and other diseases.
They developed expertise in weaning patients who had been dependent on ventilators.
They trained their own nurses, operating an LPN school on the premises.
But, again, the story doesn't end there.
Despite The Hill's success with individual patients, its admissions fell to the point that in the 1980s, the Legislature considered closing it.
This time, it was the community, former patients and employees who offered the hospital hope.
They rallied support and enlisted help from across the state. Veterans joined in and helped secure the hospital's future.
The Veterans' Administration opened a satellite outpatient clinic in one wing of the hospital. The state opened a veterans' home in another wing. (The Missouri Veterans' Home/Mt. Vernon has since moved to its own facility.)
Meanwhile, the hospital again adapted, expanding its mission to include rehabilitation. In 1996, it became a part of the University of Missouri Health System.
Today, as a long-term acute care hospital, the Missouri Rehabilitation Center is still in the business of offering patients hope for a better life.
It still treats patients suffering from tuberculosis - but not many.
Patients today are more likely to be trying to regain skills they lost to a brain injury, stroke or debilitating illness.
The hospital is known for its work with medically complex patients - those suffering from multiple serious health problems. And it continues to be known for its success in weaning ventilator patients. It continues to house the Missouri Department of Health's State TB Lab. And it operates a world class sleep lab, provides telemedicine capabilities so that patients and doctors can consult long distance, and uses adaptive technology to enable people with disabilities to better navigate day-to-day life.
With the start of its second century of service comes hope for an even brighter future.
Missouri Rehabilitation Center -- The Hill at 100
by Fred Edwards
The following is an updated history of the center which appeared in the Sept. 5, 2007, issue of the Lawrence County Record.The Hill at 100, 1907-2007; A legacy of hope
When the Missouri State Sanatorium opened in Mt. Vernon in 1907, it offered people suffering from tuberculosis something they had never had before.
Hope.
Hope that they might survive the dreaded "White Plague" that was killing tens of thousands of Americans each year.
Hope that they could keep from passing the disease to their loved ones. Hope that the months and years they spent in treatment might enable them to return to a more normal life.
Hope.
And in many cases, success.
As the years unfolded and treatments improved, the Sanatorium and its staff brought health to thousands of Missourians.
"The Hill," as it came to be known, at one point cared for over 600 patients and had nearly that many employees.
It was a community unto itself, with its own power station, water supply and post office. There was an award-winning dairy herd to provide fresh milk for patients and a greenhouse that provided bouquets of flowers for birthdays and to each new admission.
But that is just the beginning of the story for the facility now known as the Missouri Rehabilitation Center.
When antibiotics were developed and people could be treated effectively closer to their homes, the need for tuberculosis sanatoriums diminished.
But while other sanatoriums were falling by the wayside, The Hill continued to grow.
Old buildings were bulldozed away, and new, more modern facilities took their place.
Emphasis turned to the treatment of chest diseases. There were still TB patients, to be sure. But the staff honed their skills in the care of patients suffering from histoplasmosis and other diseases.
They developed expertise in weaning patients who had been dependent on ventilators.
They trained their own nurses, operating an LPN school on the premises.
But, again, the story doesn't end there.
Despite The Hill's success with individual patients, its admissions fell to the point that in the 1980s, the Legislature considered closing it.
This time, it was the community, former patients and employees who offered the hospital hope.
They rallied support and enlisted help from across the state. Veterans joined in and helped secure the hospital's future.
The Veterans' Administration opened a satellite outpatient clinic in one wing of the hospital. The state opened a veterans' home in another wing. (The Missouri Veterans' Home/Mt. Vernon has since moved to its own facility.)
Meanwhile, the hospital again adapted, expanding its mission to include rehabilitation. In 1996, it became a part of the University of Missouri Health System.
Today, as a long-term acute care hospital, the Missouri Rehabilitation Center is still in the business of offering patients hope for a better life.
It still treats patients suffering from tuberculosis - but not many.
Patients today are more likely to be trying to regain skills they lost to a brain injury, stroke or debilitating illness.
The hospital is known for its work with medically complex patients - those suffering from multiple serious health problems. And it continues to be known for its success in weaning ventilator patients. It continues to house the Missouri Department of Health's State TB Lab. And it operates a world class sleep lab, provides telemedicine capabilities so that patients and doctors can consult long distance, and uses adaptive technology to enable people with disabilities to better navigate day-to-day life.
With the start of its second century of service comes hope for an even brighter future.
Information about Vi Epperson's grandparents who were patients in the 1940s and 50s
This is a summary of two e-mails (below) from a correspondent named Vi Epperson about her family members who were TB patients at Mt. Vernon. The e-mails reveal that:1. Her grandmother, Bessie V. Johnson, lived to the age of 83 after being treated for TB at the sanatorium in 1939 or '40, and having part of a lung removed. Perhaps it derived from one of the three treatments described in Amy Utter's Journeys - TB and Other Tragedies in Rural America's Heartland.
2. Her grandmother's two sisters, Mamie and Dessie, who also had TB, elected to remain with their husbands, and succumbed to the Great White Plague.
3. As late as 1939 or '40, TB patients were being taken outside to sleep in falling snow at Mt. Vernon, something that Amy Utter never described in her diary in 1930.
4. In the late 1950s, Vi Epperson's paternal grandfather, Dale Carson Murdy, became a patient at Mt. Vernon. A doctor advised Vi's mother to burn his mattresses and bed clothing.
If you have genealogical information about Dale Carson Murdy, please contact Vi Epperson at vimurdy@yahoo.com.
Below are the e-mails.
March 12, 2007
Hello, I was surfing the internet, and I came across your site. My Grandmother (the late Bessie V. Johnson) was admitted to the Mt. Vernon Sanatorium in either 1939 or 1940. She did survive and lived until 83 years of age! However, her sisters Mamie (17) and Dessie (22) both died from TB at young ages (back in the early 30's), because they didn't want to leave their new husbands, and go to the Sanatorium. I just thought I would share this piece of my family history with you.
Have A Great Day, Vi Epperson
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March 12, 2007
For Vi Epperson: Thanks for sharing the information about your family. Two more cases of tragedy.
I'd like to post your message on the Web site if it's OK with you.
Thanks. Fred Edwards
* * * * * * * * * *
March 13, 2007
Fred, Thank you so much. That would be just fine, if you wanted to put my email on there. My Maternal Grandmother's name at that time was Bessie. V. Ruble. My Grandmother had just had a baby girl before she had to go to the Sanatorium.
Grandmother always laughed about how the nurses would come in every morning during the winter, and would take brooms and sweep the snow off of their covers (as they were outside). They did have to take part of her lung off, but like I said before, she lived to a ripe old age. She did have a lot of lung problems, but nevertheless she survived.
I am currently researching information my Paternal Grandfather, Dale Carson Murdy who was a patient for TB as well at the Mt. Vernon Facility. I believe he was there in the late 50's. My father was in the Navy at that time, and was released on a hardship discharge, because he had to take care of the family while my Granddad was in the hospital. The Doctor told my Dad's mother to go home, and burn all the mattresses, and bed clothing. I just found this all out this morning. Amazing how TB affected everyone.
Thank you for allowing me to share this history.
Have a nice day. Vi Epperson
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