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People Counting Pennies
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People counting pennies that came in the mail for the Dr. Kate Million Penny fundraiser. Country doctor Kate Pelham Newcomb -- known as "the angel on snowshoes" for her willingness to go wherever she was needed during harsh northern winters -- spearheaded a movement in 1953 to build a much-needed hospital in Woodruff, encouraging local children to collect a million pennies. The effort captured everyone's imagination, and coins came in the mail from every state and many foreign nations. Her dream came true in 1954 when the Lakeland Memorial Hospital opened its doors.A giant penny was created to commemorate this event, and "The World's Largest Penny" still sits in the city park of this picturesque northern Wisconsin town.In 2003, the community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Million Penny Parade, with a parade featuring those who participated in the original parade and "Dr. Kate Babies" - those who had been delivered by Dr. Newcomb. The hospital is now the Howard Young Medical Center (which they proudly proclaim started with "just one penny"), and in 1988 the community created the Dr. Kate Newcomb Museum.The WHS Press has published a children's book on her life called "Dr. Kate: Angel on Snowshoes."
March 22, 1954
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W012B23
WHi 56206
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Dr. Kate
Friday, March 20, 2009
Pioneering North Woods doctor Kate Pelham Newcomb comes to life in this biography for young readers, who will warm to Kate's spirit of compassion and never-say-never attitude.
HEMLOCK, .3 MI N OF COUNTY HIGHWAY J
21249
Located in Woodruff, Oneida County
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb
1931
Waist-up portrait of Dr. Kate Newcomb. This photograph was submitted with her application to the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board when she applied for her physicians license in Wisconsin.
Dr. Kate Newcomb
Dr. Kate Newcomb standing outside in her coat holding a Doctors bag.
