1900 advertisement for the Electro-Medical Institute at 10 Broadway. Was this more dangerous to the patient or the doctor?

 

The first hospital in Fargo (for which I have no picture and little information) was the Cass County Hospital founded by Dr. E.M. Darrow in 1882. It first appeared in the Fargo city directory in 1891 run by J.C. Probert, Superintendent, and located on Front Street west of the city limits. Roy Johnson reports that a Mrs. Mary Weible said that the first Cass County hospital was built near Hawthorne School and Daniel C. Darrow helped with construction which led him to go back home for medical education. She said that the hospital later moved to the southwest corner of Front Street and 20th Street. In 1899, the hospital was moved to the grounds to the county poor farm north of Fargo (about where Trollwood now stands). I think the hospital was closed in the early 1950's but I am not sure.

The Spence-Magill Hospital was founded in about 1897. I believe that the hospital was only open for a few years.

Another early hospital was St. Olaf's, founded by Dr. Tannes Thams in about 1897. St. Olaf's was located at 411 8th Avenue South. The hospital was formerly a private residence and could accommodate about 10 patients. In addition to Dr. Thams and his partner Doctor Nils Tronnes, two graduate nurses and three students comprised the staff. It is believed that this was the successor to the Spence-Magill Hospital [see below] and was closed when Dr. Thams moved to Maddock, ND.

Dr. Nils Tronnes, together with Dr. Olaf Sand, opened the a medical practice over the over the old Christianson Drugstore at No. 10 Broadway. The two doctors opened the Sand-Tronnes Hospital at 623 Seventh Street South. This address is listed in the Fargo City directory in 1905 as St. Olaf's Hospital. The hospital closed when the two doctors moved their practice to St. Luke's Hospital.

Also around 1897, the Florence Crittenton Home, at 13th Street and 8th Avenue South, first appears in the city directory.

St. John's Hospital was opened on April 17, 1900 near Island Park. It has undergone many changes in the last 100 years and is now the Heartland Medical Center.

Also in 1900, the city directory lists a Fargo Hospital at 61 8th Street South. I don't know anything about it but I suspect that it was a private sanitarium. The hospital does appear in subsequent city directories. Similarly the Vidal Hospital at 416 8th Street South appears in 1902 and is gone in 1904.

The Norgaard Hospital was located at 1505 Fifth Street South. It was in operation from 1909 to 1922.

St. Luke's Hospital was completed in February 1908 and was located on north Broadway at Eighth Avenue. It too has gone through many changes in the last century. St. Luke's and the associated Fargo Clinic are now part of Meritcare Health Systems.

In 1913, the Detention Hospital is first mentioned at First Street and 11th Avenue North.. In 1919 it is referred to as the City Detention Hospital. In 1922 the hospital is listed at Elm Street and 11th Avenue North.

A Maternity Hospital is mentioned in only the 1922 city directory at 901 Tenth Street South.

The Veterans Administration opened a 59-bed Veterans Hospital in June, 1929 with Dr. Nils Tronnes as first chief surgeon.

Dakota Clinic opened in 1925 or 1926 at 700 First Avenue South. In 1957, the Dakota Clinic group built a new building located at 1702 University Drive South and on November 2, 1965, the Dakota Clinic group opened Dakota Hospital, located on Fargo's south side at 1720 South University Drive.