| Additional Information: | Main building founded in 1924 by Mrs. D.L. Plumer, as a memorial for her late husband. Second wing designed by Oppenhamer & Obel in 1930.
2012-The concept of Wausau Memorial Hospital began in 1921 when Mary Plumer donated $500,000 for its construction in honor of her late husband, Daniel Longfellow Plumer. Seven lots a the corner of Grand Ave and Sturgeon Eddy Rd were purchased, and construction commenced in 1922. Perry Swern designed the building. Swern, a Chicago hospital architect, designed the building with obtuse angles to allow sunlight in every room. He also sited the building away from Grand Ave to reduce traffic noise. Wausau memorial Hospital officially opened in 1924. A 1929 addition by Oppenhamer and Obel added room presumably for the education of student nurses. Two more additions in 1947 and 1960 expanded the space and service capably of the hospital, and a 1967 addition, designed by Foster, Shaive and Murray, added a board room and gift shop. In 1970 Wausau Memorial was merged with St. Mary's Hospital. St. Mary's became known as Aspirus Wausau Hospital North and Wausau memorial was renamed Aspirus Wausau Hospital South. Following construction of a new hospital in 1979, Wausau Memorial was officially closed. It is now utilized as apartments.
2018 survey write-up: The former Wausau Memorial Hospital property consists of a largely four-story, Mediterranean Revival-inspired hospital block that was completed in 1924 (AHI#50965; with later additions) and Ross Hall, a four-story nurses’ school and dormitory (AHI#236689) that was built between 1929 and 1930. The original, brick-clad block is dominated by a five-story tower and the roof is covered with green tile. A water table delineates the ground/first floor from the second; a second line of tile separates the third and fourth floors. Windows throughout the building (including the additions) are rectangular examples; however, windows within the towers are round-arched examples. As well, fenestration along the fourth floor is topped with blind arches. A brickwork and green tile cornice runs immediately beneath the roofline. Ross Hall is similarly styled, including red brick sheathing, a green tile roof and a tile and brickwork cornice. At the time of the facility’s renovation for use as senior housing it is understood that the hospital’s original lobby was largely retained.
Following a $500,000 gift in early 1921 by Mrs. Mary Plumer for the construction of a hospital to be named the D.L. Plumer Hospital, the site for the facility—a total of seven lots--was selected by June of that same year. At the urging of Mrs. Plumber herself, the hospital name was changed to Wausau Memorial Hospital in order to reflect that the facility was for the city. With plans from Chicago architect Perry Swern, construction of the building began in 1922; its grand opening was held 1 July 1924. A total of 3,000 persons toured the facility, with Mrs. Plumer as the first to go through the doors. Mrs. Plumer died in 1928. The second floor of the hospital was completed with funding donated by John F. Ross, the same person who donated the funding for the construction of the nurses’ school and dormitory (Ross Hall) that was designed by Oppenhamer & Obel and completed in 1930. The school of nursing was, however, short-lived and closed in 1935. A 1948 addition to the hospital proper connected the main hospital block to Ross Hall; the four-story addition increased beds from 125 to 170. In 1960, a five-story addition was made to the north end of the main hospital block and, in 1965, a new one-story front entrance was added. In 1970, Wausau Memorial Hospital merged with St. Mary’s Hospital on the city’s north side. Each unit continued to function into the late 1970s, when a new, modern hospital was constructed on the city’s west side. Shortly thereafter, the complex was converted for residential use and included 103 one- and two-bedroom apartments for the elderly and physically handicapped. Today, the facility continues to serve as senior housing, known as Sturgeon Bluff Apartments. |
|---|
| Bibliographic References: | (A) Olive Graham, "Outline of History of Memorial Hospital, 1955."
WAUSAU DAILY HERALD 6/26/1996.
“Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct USH/Bus. 51 (Grand Ave.): Kent St. To Division St.” WHS project number 12-0992/MR. June 2012. Prepared by Rachel E. Bankowitz.
Citations for 2018 survey report: “Plumer Hospital Site is Selected,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 1 July 1921, 1/2; “New Hospital to Open Soon,” Wausau Pilot, 17 January 1924, clipping in Wausau Memorial Hospital file, Marathon County Historical Society Research Library; “Death Summons Mrs. D.L. Plumer; Wausau Pioneer,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 6 April 1928, “Few New Buildings During Past Year, Says Inspector,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 31 December 1929, 20/2; Olive M. Graham, “Thumbnail” Outline History of Wausau Memorial Hospital,” 10, 17, 32; in Wausau Memorial Hospital file; “Striking Useful Addition Opens at Memorial Hospital,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 3 April 1965, 16; Geri Nickolai, “Personal Commitment was Foundation, Support of Memorial Hospital,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 21 May 1970, 3/top. |
|---|
