I am beginning work on a book that will be about the old Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital – formerly located at 10th and South Streets in Lincoln. The hospital opened around 1905, and cared for hundreds of children (of which I was one) over the years until its eventual de-commission in the early seventies. NOH did yeoman duty for the children of Nebraska (all at no charge), especially during the various polio epidemics that periodically swept through the heartland, and its contributions and service deserve much more notice and celebration than has heretofore been the case – hence this book project
I am asking for any help/data/records/photos, etc., that anyone may be willing to share – including personal experiences whether as patient or staff at NOH, or any other information. I am not able to pay for such help, but I will promise a copy of the book to anyone who makes a material contribution to the project.
I was there during the 1940’s and 1950’s and I spent time in all four boys wards (C, D, E, and F) over the years. I recall the names of several kids I knew who were patients, as well as some staff members; I offer the following partial list just as a memory jogger:
Dale Walkinshaw – patient – 3 0r 4 yrs old in 1944
James Drummond – patient
Robert Bach (or Baulk?) – patient
Jerome Wilcox – patient – from Stromsburg
Gary Musil – patient
Sheryl Drake – patient – from Ansley
Richard Settgast – patient – from Omaha (?)
Karen Ericson – patient - from Comstock
There were many others but I recall only bits and pieces. There was a young man from Cozad named “Walt” who was injured in an auto shop accident. A boy, perhaps 10 or 12 years old, who was from Latvia. A little girl named “Della”, who was Native American, 3 or 4 years old in 1944. “Arlen”, a precocious little boy, badly crippled from multiple birth defects. “Bea”, a teenage girl in an iron lung (who, I think, did not survive her bout with polio).
Some of the nurses/doctors/staff I remember were:
Dr. H.W. Orr – founder and chief patron of NOH
Dr. Alcorn – superintendent/administrator during most of my time there
Dr. Fred Ferciot – orthopedic surgeon
Dr. Fritz Teal – orthopedic surgeon
Dr. Bartels – orthopedic surgeon
Dr. Hamsa – orthopedic surgeon
Mrs. Soldany (sp?) – Superintendent of nurses
Mrs. Van Cleve – RN supervisor
Mrs. Bogart – RN supervisor
Mrs. Boastrum – Ward E staff nurse
Mrs. Hitch – Ward D staff nurse
Mrs. Cook – Ward E staff nurse
Betty Lane – Ward E staff nurse
Mrs. Bishop – physical therapist
“Walter” – thick German accent, ran the brace shop
Mrs. Harris – teacher
Mrs. Kerwin (sp?) – teacher
Mrs. Folger – teacher
Grace Goddard – social worker
Nora DeCory (sp?) – social worker
Bear in mind that these names/facts are being remembered from nearly 60 years ago, so it is more than possible that they may be at least partially in error.
If you or someone you know has information/experience concerning Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital, please consider sharing it with me for possible inclusion in this project.
I can be reached at bookends@rcom-ne.com. Thanks in advance for your help.
Ed Stevens
Kearney, Nebraska
