Johnson Memorial Hospital colleagues celebrated Cornerstone Day with a barbeque lunch where they enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, potato salad, cold drinks and dessert.
Johnson Memorial Hospital colleagues celebrate Cornerstone Day
Johnson Memorial Hospital colleagues share talents at Cornerstone Day event.
The annual event marks June 17, 1911, the day Johnson founders Cyril and Julia Johnson laid the cornerstone for the hospital. According to a newspaper account at the time, the dedication drew quite a crowd, “throngs of visitors, many of whom were from out of town, were shown over the splendidly equipped institution. The corridors were equipped with beautiful cut flowers… and the private rooms were sweet with dainty blossoms sent by those furnishing the rooms.”
The newspaper also noted the generosity of the hospital founders, “the cost of the hospital and equipment is about $75,000 and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have endowed it with $200,000, which ensures its success from the start.” It’s interesting to note that the Johnsons’ initial $75,000 investment would be valued at almost $2.7 million today and the $200,000 endowment would now be worth more than $7 million.