These women held, in September 1874, a "hospital bazaar", from which, together with sundry donations, was realized a sum of approximately US$6,000, which was sufficient to enable them to furnish a building, and to invest the remainder, the interest of which was reserved for rent.

They then effected an organization, obtained a charter, rented a pleasantly situated two-storey dwelling house, furnished it appropriately, obtained the services of an experienced nurse who was made the matron, and invited the physicians of the town to give their services to the institution.

[3] The building rented for the hospital was a neatly furnished two story frame dwelling house which had recently been enlarged, so that the front part was quite new.

[3] As no sewer had been laid in the street in which the hospital was situated, it was necessary to remedy certain sanitary imperfections which the house had in common with the majority of village dwellings; and this was accomplished at small expense.

Its working force consisted of the matron, and a woman in the kitchen, such help as was requisite having been obtained from convalescents, and additional nurses having been provided by the ladies' committee when necessary.

To prevent the house becoming too much of a home for chronic invalids, the women made a rule that no patient shall remain more than three months, unless by a vote of the Board of Control.

The house had no dispensary, but an arrangement has been made with the druggists, by which medicines were provided at a reduction from their usual charges, and prescriptions were sent to each, in rotation, for two months at a time.

[3] The income of the institution was derived, in part, from the interest on the fund, which was just enough to pay the rent of the house, while the remainder was raised by the persistent efforts of the women.

The sources of income, apart from the fund, were life memberships, annual subscriptions, donations, "Hospital Sunday," various entertainments, and patients' payments.

[3] Early in 1877, the women became convinced that the house they rented was unsuitable for their purpose, being on clay soil, which rendered the cellar damp in spite of attempted drainage, having imperfect ventilation, and being without many essential conveniences.

On account of the triangular shape of the site, these two buildings were placed obliquely to each other, so as to make them parallel with the two streets upon which they respectively fronted.

[3] The walls of the whole building were back plastered to add to their warmth, and were further protected by builder's paper placed beneath the clapboards; the most exposed parts having, in place of the paper, large sheets of heavy pasteboard, similar to binder's board.

The fireplaces were made with pressed brick, surmounted with wooden mantles, and were provided with flat iron grates for burning wood.

[3] All the soil-pipes were ventilated by means of a vertical six-inch iron pipe, which entered one of the chimneys just below the roof.

The high roof afforded a large, light, and well-ventilated attic, which, having a good floor, could easily be utilized as a ward if necessary.

[3] The exterior walls were painted gray with buff trimmings, and the shingled roof and window caps were of slate color.

[3] The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on September 1, 1877, and the building was first occupied on the January 15, 1878, just three years from the opening of the temporary house.

The money used every year came from annual subscriptions and other donations, from bequests, and entertainments given in benefit, conducted by the officers of the institution.

The late gift of a fine mortuary chapel to the hospital was a notable act of charity by Rebecca F. Coffing, of Van Deusenville, Massachusetts.

[1] The Henry W. Bishop, 3rd, Memorial Training School for Nurses was constructed in 1889, as an adjunct of the House of Mercy.

[9] In 1902 the hospital treated patients form a tram crash involving president Theodore Roosevelt.