The West Wing of John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital marked a significant milestone in the hospital’s history when it opened on December 21, 1958. The addition, described as “Y-shaped,” connected to the former main entrance and extended toward Gordon Avenue, changing both the appearance and functionality of the hospital.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion, Frank V. Eidson, Ed Jerger, and Elisabeth Ireland Poe participated by turning over the first shovels of dirt at the site. The new wing added three floors and increased the hospital’s bed count by more than fifty percent with 64 additional beds.
The expansion included updates to several departments. Improvements were made to surgery, delivery rooms, and nursery facilities. The x-ray department was enlarged, and new amenities such as a cafeteria for staff and patients and a pharmacy were introduced.
While earlier buildings at Archbold reflected Mediterranean Revival architecture popular in the 1920s—evident in features like terra-cotta roof tiles—the West Wing adopted a style typical of its era: white walls, uniform windows, and metal accents. According to research by C.L. Bragg, initial plans for metal paneling on the building were ultimately not implemented.
Growth continued after this major expansion. In 1976, two more stories were added to the West Wing. Today it houses important services including parts of Archbold Memorial’s Maternity Center and serves as home to the Graduate Medical Education Department overseeing residency programs.
In 1989, an Outpatient Surgery Center—now called Same Day Surgery Center—was built as an addition to the West Wing. This newer structure reflects design elements closer to those of Archbold’s original building style.
This article concludes a series highlighting milestones in Archbold’s history published by its Marketing & Public Relations Department throughout this year. More information about past articles can be found at https://archbold.org/history. Details about “A Century of Healing,” a centennial history book written by C.L. Bragg about Archbold Hospital’s legacy, are available at https://archbold.org/book.
“Thank you for your interest in Archbold’s history and the story of community-driven, patient-focused healthcare in our region.”
