Celebrating 120 Years
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City
This year, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City celebrates its 120 year anniversary of providing exceptional health care services to our patients in the Jefferson City community and surrounding regions. As Jefferson City's first hospital, we take a look back at our rich history.
Our History Begins
1902-1905: Humble beginnings
Two Catholic nuns arrived in Jefferson City by train from St. Louis, as a request from Rev. Hoog of St. Peters Church. Their mission from the Franciscan Sisters of Mary was simple, yet bold: establish the first hospital in Missouri’s capital city, serving people of all faiths without regard to their financial or social standing. On April 22, 1904, the sisters opened an improvised hospital in the house on Elm Street. On Oct. 18, 1905, the city celebrated the dedication of the new St. Mary’s Hospital, a four-story stone structure with 38 patient rooms built on land donated for $1 by the Jacob Moerschel family, which was to become a cornerstone of the community.
1905-1930s: Early challenges
The hospital overcame tough challenges in its early years.
During a citywide smallpox epidemic in 1907, the sisters set up a quarantine house at Washington Park on the edge of town, to care for dozens of victims of the highly contagious disease.
When a worldwide flu epidemic hit in 1918, eventually claiming the lives of more than half a million Americans, the sisters turned the hospital annex into a temporary ward and cared for 145 flu patients.
A major setback came in 1919 when a devastating fire gutted the hospital. All patients were evacuated without harm. The community then rallied with socials, picnics, plays, dances and baseball games to raise money to rebuild the hospital.
Even as a new hospital having faced so many challenges, St. Mary’s received a Class A Rank from the American College of Surgeons in 1921. The hardships of the Great Depression of the 1930s were reflected at St. Mary’s, with greater demand for services amid meager resources.
1930-1970: Years of expansion
After surviving early challenges with strong public support, St. Mary’s began expanding to meet the needs of its growing community. The first major expansion was in 1932, a four-story south wing that more than doubled capacity to 100 beds, including the first pediatric department. Further remodeling and expansion in the 1940s included a new convent and chapel.
In the 1950’s, St. Mary’s opened a Cerebral Palsy clinic that grew to become the Goshorn Handicap Center. They also opened the Cole County Cerebral Palsy Training Center and the Cerebral Palsy Clinic of Central Missouri. In the mid-1960s, a six-story addition expanded the hospital to 200 beds, improved the emergency and surgical areas and created one of the first intensive care units in Missouri.
1970-2000: Medical progress
Remarkable advances in medical science began to offer new hope for many people suffering devastating illnesses. With its tradition of forging new frontiers in health care, St. Mary’s continually expanded services to offer the latest proven medical treatments. And in 1991, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation was established to provide critical support for sustaining the Mission of caring for all who come to us for care.
2002-2014: Building for the future
St. Mary’s is proud to be a part of SSM Health, which in 2002 was the first health system to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The following year, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation purchased land for the future replacement hospital and by 2008, the State of Missouri had approved the hospital’s certificate of need. Visioning plans for the new replacement hospital began immediately and just four years later a groundbreaking ceremony was held.
On November 16, 2014, patients, services and staff transitioned from the location of the first hospital in Jefferson City to the new state-of-the-art replacement hospital, which features an evidence-based design that focuses on healing environments and patient safety.
2020-2023: Overcoming pandemic challenges and forming partnerships
Throughout the pandemic, SSM Health experienced numerous challenges and witnessed the strength found within its community. Heroic team members followed in the footsteps of SSM Health’s five founding sisters who arrived in St. Louis amid a devastating smallpox epidemic. Due to perseverance, dedication and compassion of our team, in 2020, St. Mary’s Hospital was selected by the State of Missouri as one of a few preposition vaccination sites to receive and redistribute the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to other hospitals and health care providers. During the pandemic, SSM Health forged a partnership with Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri’s Health and Nutrition Services to alleviate barriers to health care services and provide access to proper nutrition.
In 2023, leaders at St. Mary’s Hospital collaborated with area health care providers and United Way of Central Missouri to introduce HealthTran, a community-based program that offers transportation to medical appointments free of charge to patients with financial challenges. The program is supported by volunteer drivers and is funded by the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.
2024-2025: Renewed Mission of healing
Through concerted growth in access to providers and health care services, strengthening relationships in the communities we serve, offering the latest technology, and a dedication to excellence – St. Mary’s Hospital carries on the tradition of caring established by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary 120 years ago.
On October 18, 1905, the first hospital in Jefferson City was dedicated and today St. Mary’s renews its commitment to the Jefferson City area community with its Mission: Through exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.
As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to be a part of our future. Your donation to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation helps us to enhance patient care, provide state-of-the-art facilities, and build a healthier tomorrow for our community.