100 Years Ago This Week: July 11-18

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, July 15, 1914: Beech Grove’s new St. Francis Hospital is open and receiving patients.  Built through the efforts of the Sisters of St. Francis, it was believed that a hospital was necessary in that section of the city because the Big Four Railroad shops are located there. The hospital combines the most-up-to-date principles of sanitation with comfort. The public wards contain only four beds because, the sisters believe, four sick persons are as many as should be in one room.  Semi-public wards have two beds, and there are private rooms. The two fourth floor operating rooms have the latest sterilizing equipment and large skylights admit an abundance of natural light supplemented by hospital bracket lights.The first operation has been successfully competed on Mrs. Joseph Gold of Beech Grove.