The Road to the Almonte General

Rosamond Memorial Hospital

Local businessman Bennett Rosamond, head of the Rosamond Woolen Company, became interested in the local hospital. In 1907, Mr. Rosamond decided to take it upon himself to fund the building of a new hospital in Almonte. The existing Victorian Hospital had only five beds, and the town of Almonte was continuing to grow. The hospital was also seeing patients from all around Ramsay Township and Lanark County.

Rosamond Memorial Hospital, 1909

It cost Mr. Rosamond $7,825 to hire a contractor to build the building. He bought the land at a discount: $200 for three lots in Almonte. The hospital was officially opened in May 1909 by Governor General Lord Grey.

As the town grew, so too did its medical needs. By 1950, the hospital had grown to a general hospital and had 24 beds. However, it was becoming clear that Almonte needed a bigger hospital.

Excerpt from the Rosamond Memorial Hospital annual report detailing how admissions to the hospital had increased over the years due to changing public opinion of hospitals.

Rosamond Memorial was rich in experience, holding memories that covered the story of nursing in Almonte for fifty-three years. For thirty-eight of those years it had been the only hospital in an area bounded by Ottawa, Smiths Falls, and Renfrew.

– Almonte: Faces and Places 1880-1980

Almonte General Hospital

A memorial to Dr. James Naismith was at the heart of the first campaign to build a modern hospital. The Ramsay-born physician, educator, and inventor of basketball was an inspirational figure in his hometown. Today, a plaque to commemorate this effort can be found in the lobby of the Almonte General Hospital.

Clipping from the Almonte Gazette in January 1954 highlighting the hospital campaign and memorial to Dr. James Naismith

“There was a period when it was considered essential that hospitals could only be established in centres of some size—large towns and cities. People requiring hospital care had to be taken often some distance to hospital at considerable expense. This placed hospital care beyond the reach of many deserving people.

Today the trend is away from larger centres and toward the creation of smaller units. Only cases requiring specialist care are sent to the larger centres. In other words, we are bringing hospital care within easy reach of the people. It means that we ourselves are providing a service and controlling such facilities. Democracy at its best.”

– Dr. John R. Fraser, former Dean of Medicine at McGill University and member of Almonte’s Naismith Memorial Hospital Fund Committee, Almonte Gazette, 14 January 1954

Funding the new hospital was no easy task. The town of Almonte contributed funds, and so did the surrounding municipalities. The townships of Ramsay, Pakenham, Huntley, and Darling would all benefit from the new hospital. The provincial and federal governments also gave $349,000 in grants.

Clipping from the Almonte Gazette advertising the Almonte Hospital Hoopla, 1959

The citizens of Almonte were also encouraged to take part in the funding of the new hospital. In May of 1959, the Almonte Women’s Hospital Auxiliary sponsored the “Almonte Hospital Hoopla.” The event was held at the community centre and was, as reported in the Almonte Gazette, “the largest community project of this nature ever undertaken in Almonte.” The Hoopla was very successful, and the event raised $3,465.35 for the Almonte General Hospital building fund ($35,458.36 in 2023).

Patients from the Rosamond Memorial Hospital were moved into the new Almonte General Hospital on May 4, 1961. Almonte General was officially opened on May 31, 1961 by the Minister of Health for Ontario, Hon. Dr. M.B. Dymond.

Almonte General Hospital, 1961

Program for the opening ceremonies of the Almonte General Hospital, 1961

The new hospital was everything that Almonte needed. The two-storey building made of sturdy brick and structural steel was a testament to the power of the people of Almonte. Where the Rosamond Memorial lacked space and beds, the new Almonte General had been built with an expanding town in mind.

The ground floor featured administrative offices, a kitchen, laundry facilities, x-ray room, a central supply, and a dining room. The second floor housed 35 adult and 6 pediatric beds. It also featured a maternity delivery suite along with a 10-bassinet nursery. The doctors had a changing room on the second floor, and a multipurpose room acted as a space for doctors, clergy, and relatives to wait and gather.

The new hospital exceeded expectations in all aspects. The healthcare of Almonte’s citizens was in good hands.