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« 150-Anniversary

Historic Timeline

150 years have passed since four Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis arrived in Springfield from Germany

HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1878 HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1878
Jacob Loose home

1875 | Four Sisters Arrive

On November 11, 1875, Sisters Ulrika Busch, Basilia Menting, Cyrilla Witte, and Crispina Topp arrived in Springfield, Illinois. They stayed at the Ursuline Convent on North 5th Street and attended class with the students at Sts. Peter and Paul Grade School to learn English.

On December 7, 1875, the Sisters moved to the Jacob Loose home (rendition shown on left) on South Seventh Street. They slept on the floor with their mantles as their only covering, while old boxes and crates served as a table and chairs. 

HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1878

1879 | St. John's Hospital Opened

In 1878, plans were announced to build St. John’s Hospital on Mason Street and the dedication was on June 22, 1879. 

The hospital consisted of 16 private rooms, four wards, a chapel, a dining room, a kitchen, and laundry. 

From 1878 to 1930, St. John’s Hospital was also the Motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis where the Sisters entered religious life, were educated, and worked. While some Sisters were stationed at St. John’s Hospital, others were assigned to their hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin and China. 

In 1930, the Motherhouse was located at 4849 LaVerna Road, Springfield. 

HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1887

1887 | A New Addition Completed

In 1887, an addition to the right of the building was completed to include patient rooms and a large chapel.

HSHS St. John's Hospital in the 1900s

1900s | Additional Structure

In the early 1900s, the structure to the left of the main building was completed.

HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1915

1915 | Continued Growth

A portion of the structure left of the main building was torn down and replaced in 1915 with a structure that wrapped around the corner of Mason and 7th Streets. In 1922, another structure (pictured in the left of photo) was built to care for Maternity and Pediatric patients.    

HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1938

1938 | New Construction

In July 1938, the original building constructed in 1878 was razed in preparation for the new twelve-story U-shaped structure, facing Mason Street, that opened on June 30, 1939. 

Six floors were devoted to patient rooms; private, semi-private, and four-bed wards. This was the largest privately owned institution of its kind in the United States.

In 1954, there were 150 Hospital Sisters, including Sister-nursing students, stationed at St. John’s Hospital.            

HSHS St. John's Hospital in 1973

1973 | New Main Entrance

On April 27, 1973, an addition was added to the back side of the hospital and now the main entrance faced Carpenter Street. The addition provided additional patient rooms and hospital departments.

HSHS St. John's Hospital Pavilion in 1988

1988 | The Pavilion Opens

In July 1988, the Pavilion opened and contained physician offices and out-patient services. The building was connected to the 1938 building and faces Jefferson Street. In 2014, an addition was made to the Pavilion to accommodate surgical services.

St. John's College of Nursing

1991 | St. John's College of Nursing

On October 4, 1886, St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing opened on 9th Street to educate the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis to become nurses and earn a diploma. 

In 1911, the school opened enrollment to women who were not considering religious life. 

Eventually, the school opened enrollment to men, offered degrees, and became St. John’s College of Nursing in 1991. It moved to 729 East Carpenter, across the Street from the main hospital, in the 1990s. 

St. John’s College is the oldest Catholic hospital-affiliated nursing program in the United States.

Carol Jo Vecchie Women & Children's Center

1997 | Women & Children's Center

In 1997, The Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children’s Center opened. It was the left side of the main building facing 9th Street.

Prairie Heart Institute in 1998

1998 | Prairie Heart Institute

In 1998, the Prairie Heart Institute building was dedicated. A covered walkway connected this building to the main hospital.

Women & Children's Clinic

2018 | Women & Children's Clinic

In 2018, HSHS St. John’s Hospital Women and Children Clinic was built on 9th Street and it houses physician offices and outpatient services. A walkway connected the Clinic to the Women and Children's Center.