History

Our Past...

Narrative portion of the booklet
is provided courtesy of the Village Historian,
Frederick L. Gifford

HENRY FOSTER'S VISION…(1850-1900)

It is difficult for many of us, who have lived here over the years, to believe that here we are in the year 2000, a new century, ready to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the present day, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic.

Dr. Henry Foster was born at Norwich, VT on January 18th, 1821. Henry attended the Milan Normal School in Ohio where he studied under his brother, Dr. Hubbard Foster and brother-in-law, Dr. Horner. He later entered the Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, an allopathic institution and a department of the Western Reserve University. He graduated from there in February of 1848, receiving the title of Doctor of Medicine.

Many of the Foster family were Methodists and early in young Henry's life he developed a strong religious outlook, which was to become the center of his work and legacy. We must remember that in this time the practice of medicine was in its infancy. Approved practice consisted of bleeding, purging, blistering, setons, sweatings and the like, along with the copious use of the then known drugs. Dr. Foster made an extensive study of hydrotherapy and homeopathy with noted results. He was indeed entering medicine at an exciting time and throughout his life always investigated the latest medical knowledge.

There were several others at the time that were experimenting with baths and Henry, anxious to step out on his own, heard of springs located on the line of the N. Y. Central & Hudson Railroad in the Finger Lakes Section of New York State. He investigated and arrived here in 1849 by train to see the spot. It was also at this time that he had a "visitation", much like St. Paul in the Bible. Remarking on the event in later years he said, "It was about 2 o'clock in the morning when the heavens seemed to open and the Glory of God filled my whole being. In spirit, I asked, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" I believed immediately that the Lord had a task for me and set about it." He purchased land in and around the springs and set to work to begin his own special Water Cure Facility. Here he would welcome the ill and weary to renew their bodies.

I wish that we had records to refer to in order to better view those early days. It must have been a struggle in this community of only a few houses, a little white church and few workmen to set forth on such a venture. His first buildings were of local wood. His company was begun February the 24th of 1850 and with his own funds, in the amount of about a thousand dollars, he convinced others to purchase shares in his venture, 20 shares at $500.

The Water Cure Facility was completed and opened for guests on September 13th, 1850. Guests were charged for board, room and medical care at the rate of $5 to $8 per week. The institution when completed came to a little over $23,000. This amount was soon liquidated and a dividend paid.

For the first 18 months, Dr. Foster was the only physician and spent time looking not only to his guests medical needs but their spiritual needs as well. Using the sulphur water from the nearby springs, he developed several types of baths for the use of his patients. In addition he stressed the need for good physical practices such as the control of diet and the benefit of walking and exercise. Wood was the only fuel to begin with and lights were candles. The doctor's early years were a continued worry about the possibility of fire. It was said at the time, that many a night he would be seen roaming the establishment checking to make sure his guests were safe and his buildings secure.

To go into the day by day accounts of how the institution grew, I refer you to the book on Dr. Foster's life by Samuel H. Adams, Chaplain from 1898 until 1915. (Copies are available at the local Clifton Springs Library.)

I want to touch lightly on the progress of the institution. As the popularity of the Water Cure increased, Dr. Foster began a second set of buildings made of brick in 1856, which were completed by 1871. This greatly enlarged the number of rooms. In 1871, the name was changed to the Clifton Springs Sanitarium Company. During those years he introduced new medical items including hand massage, Turkish and salt baths, the first steps in hygienic treatment, and provided for indoor exercise with the addition of a gymnasium. A center in this new set of buildings was a chapel where guests and staff alike were encouraged to seek spiritual healing and assistance on a daily basis.

By the year 1891, work had begun on a new rail line, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which ran just south of the village. This additional line made possible an increase in the influx of new patients to the doctor's ever enlarging facility. The doctor envisioned a final set of buildings and early in 1882 tore down the West half of his facility. This stately building was the crowning glory of his life. This new building was 244 feet long and five stores in height with a large glassed in area on its roof known as the Solarium. Of the finest red brick, it originally hadpeaked towers. These were later removed as a safety measure. In the new facility there were gas, electric lights and the latest of medical tools. The medical staff was increased and guests flocked to the Sanitarium (the San).

The doctor, weakened by the long hours of work, began in the 1880's to take winter vacations in Florida. Here he developed a home away from home and brought new life to the area of central Florida with his orange groves and spiritual outlook. This benefited an entirely new section of the country.

At Clifton Springs, the growth of Dr. Foster's facility had a direct effect on village growth. As patients flocked here, there arose in the village new stores to provide their every need. Food, hardware, clothing, shoes, jewelry, schools, churches and just about everything you can think of came into being. Most of the community was in some way connected with the institution. What the San wanted, the San got, and all benefited. Dr. Foster's dream had indeed been fulfilled!

…MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE BLOSSOMS…
(1900-1950)

Early in 1900, with the Sanitarium one of the most popular stopping off spots in the area, the health of its founder, Dr. Henry Foster, began to fail. He and his wife had in 1881 executed a special "Deed of Trust." The entire plant, its equipment and holdings were to be held in trust and overseen by a Board of thirteen Trustees. In this way, realizing his mortality, he envisioned that his facility would go forward when he was no longer here to attend to its daily leadership.

On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the institution, in 1900, Dr. Foster spoke briefly using as his text, "What Hath God Wrought?" It was indeed evident what he and the Good Lord had been able to accomplish. On January 15th,1901 the doctor passed away. His wife, Mary Foster, was able to carry on as superintendent until 1916 when she passed away and was laid to rest in the Foster plot in the cemetery on Pearl Street. That same year the Buck family, close friends of the Fosters, purchased a Tiffany mosaic and had it installed in the chapel of the 1896 building. Today, it remains a gem in our midst.

The Sanitarium continued to draw people from all over the country and the world at large. It was known for its fine medical doctors, the excellent nursing staff and the spacious facility in which to seek cures and revitalization. It continued to stress, as in Dr. Foster's day, that it was the mind and well as the whole body that needed healing and rebuilding from time to time.

The Board of Trustees, building upon the past, continued to look for all avenues of improved medicine. The entire sense of medical knowledge was expanding daily as things like germs, new drugs, x-rays and operating tools came into being. In the early 1900's, most doctors now graduated from medical schools with a specialty. They continued tolearn the basics of medicine but now one picked the heart to study further, another internal medicine, another vision, another the science of blood and what it could now tell us. One was good in bone injuries, one in damage to the brain, another in sight and still another in the testing of new equipment coming on line.

In the last years of Dr. Foster's life, he had begun a nursing school here in Clifton Springs. The first graduating class was in 1894 and the nursing school continued until the Class of 1934. By that time area colleges were giving courses in nursing and the cost to continue the training school here was too much. During the years of the 1st World War several of the nurses from here entered military service and performed their dedicated services to those fallen or injured in conflict.

One of the important changes in this first part of the 20th Century was the arrival of the automobile. Never before had the general public had the ability to move so far, so quickly. By the 1920's, the age of the horse, had for the most part, passed into history. In the early depression years, the San continued to serve the hundreds that came here for their medical care. As the field of medicine was changing, so also became the need for new additions to the old San of 1896. In 1926, the Trustees of the hospital decided to add a new medical wing naming it, the Woodbury Building, after Dr. Malcolm Woodbury, a noted doctor of the era. Now the doctors on staff would have a medical wing of their own. The main building would continue to house additional patient rooms, the administration, nursing facilities and staff.

The depression caused a slow down in hospital activities for due to lack of funds people put off many major medical operations for as long as they could. In the village, family doctors continued to receive an ever-increasing load. The hospital however, ran into a period when several floors had to be shut down. By the time of the early 1940's, with the country facing a 2nd World War, several on the staff left to perform their services in their country's time of need. At one time, it was even thought that the federal government might take over the facility as a Veterans Hospital. Fortunately public opinion fought for it to remain as it was.

Following the end of WWII, a new set of doctors flocked here to begin their service to the hospital and area. I mention here a few of the time who served with distinction. Dr. Bernard Watson was elected Medical Staff Director in 1946. Dr. Samuel Munford had been superintendent here at one time coming to Clifton Springs as early as 1916. Dr. James Blanton arrived here in 1946, a specialist first in pediatrics and later in rheumatic diseases. Dr. R. Willard Brand of Brooklyn arrived about the same time headed internal medicine and cardio-vascular diseases. Dr. George Brown served as a radiologist. Dr. Glenn Copeland headed the Department of pathology. Dr. Harry Kittell came as a dental surgeon. Dr. Stephen Brouwer arrived in 1947, skilled in gastroenterology and internal medicine. Dr. Raymond Maslyn was a chief surgical resident. Dr. William Eikner became one of our outstanding surgeons. Dr. William Ahroon headed the Department of Otolaryn gology. Dr. Robert Price arrived in 1937, left for war service and returned to serve in the surgical department for many years before retiring. Dr. Richard Platzer came in 1946 as a specialist in internal medicine. Other names of the era were doctors by the name of Schopbach, Schubmehl, and Gregory Sarr. I am sure that there were others but these come quickly to mind.

At the Centennial celebration of 1950, the hospital and village turned out for a special toast to the Clifton Springs Sanitarium and Clinic as they began a new century. Unendowed and supported by no public funds, the small Water Cure of 1850 had certainly come a long way in 100 years. The early sulphur baths and massage had expanded to bacteriological labs, an x-ray room, two operating rooms, a chemical lab, a blood count center, a pathological lab, and services in ophthalmology and otolaryngology. What would the next fifty years bring? We wondered and could only guess about the future!

…RENEWAL…
(1950-2000)

The time of celebration in 1950 had just settled down when we all realized that many new changes were coming! The old Water Cure of Foster's day had changed to the busy time of the Sanitarium era. Now, in this age of ever new developments in the medical fields, we knew that the old ways were coming to an end. This was to become a time of renewal. People now came here, not to rest and relax, but when in truth they needed medical attention or had a pressing medical need.
The Board of Trustees and the administration of the hospital knew that they had to begin to update their facility. What course should they follow? Should they try and do over the San building of 1896 or should they build for the next century and raise an entirely new facility. How would the costs compare? Where would the funds come from? Could they really continue this excellent hospital in the face of the changes being made around us or would Dr. Foster's dream come to an end? With faith in what they were doing and with the rich history of their past as a basis, they decided to build anew!

By the mid-1960's the Trustees had put into play what the cost of a new facility would be with the thought to tear down the old 1896 building when the new building was completed. Plans were approved, funds projected and building begun. It was decided to locate the new facility behind the old San taking up more than three-quarters of the lovely park of Dr. Fosters era. The land was there, why not use it and prepare to meet the next generation with the best in advancing medical know how? The new construction was centered around a two-floor lobby with two story medical wings running off it to the west, north and east. To the south, would run a new, one story medical wing with multiple doctors offices and treatment centers. A bit of the old park was even rescued and is still a bright spot outside the hospital today complete with duck pond and walking lanes.

At the same time the new hospital was being built, a decision had to be made regarding the old 1896 building. Why would you destroy such a fine building if it could be put to some use? It was estimated that it would cost in excess of $100,000 to tear it down. Concerned citizens, backed by assemblywoman, Mildred Taylor of Lyons and Albert Kamm of the Baptist Church (Chaplain at the hospital) went to work to see if it could be saved. Financing for the renovations was obtained through government sources. The NY State Division of Housing and Community Renewal served as the supervisory agency. The name of the facility was changed to the Spa Apartments and is owned by several NY investors calling themselves, Clifton Springs Associates.

The building, with an address of 11 East Main Street in Clifton Springs, was turned into a new independent living facility and converted from top to bottom into 119 apartments for senior citizens. This meant doing over all 5 floors of the building, and putting in all new wiring, electric, and equipment. There are three 2-bedroom apartments, fifty-five 1-bedroom apartments and 61 efficiencies. Ovid Randall, who helped lead the renovations, was selected to become the manager of the new facility. Spa Apartments opened for business in the spring of 1974 and has been filled almost to capacity since that time.

The new hospital buildings were dedicated on January 30, 1972 by the administration headed by Gerald Duffner, MD, clinical doctors and many of the hospital staff to say nothing of a large community following. The building had the latest in medical equipment, private rooms for acute patients, even a monorail system (which was later found to be less than successful.) In 1981, a Cardiology Department was established which provided the first rehabilitation program in the area. That same year it was sad to see the maternity ward closed for henceforth we would have no new Cliftonians by birth. In 1982, the new hospital was given a 3-year accreditation. In 1984, ours was the first hospital in the area to offer Neurology services. By 1985, Radiation Oncology was offered. In 1995, a new two story medical wing was added to the clinic area. Since that time they have added a third story to the patient wings enlarging the capacity offered to senior citizens confined due to disabilities.

Over the period from 1950 to 2000 we have seen a complete changeover of our entire medical staff and most of the earlier Sanitarium employees. The specialty practitioners in today's hospital include cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, endocrinology, ear, nose & throat, emergency medicine, family practice, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, nephrology, neurology, oncology/hematology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, pulmonary diseases, reconstructive surgery, psychiatry, psychology, radiation oncology, radiology, thoracic surgery, urology, and vascular surgery. And don't close the list. We do not know what new fields of medical endeavor may come to light.

As we enter this 21st century, the field of medicine continues to expand and develop. Imagine the ills that have been cured and the suffering that today can be relieved because of these able and skilled hands. Our lives today grant us a life span of over seventy years, if we're lucky. Who would have thought in the days of Dr. Foster that in our major hospitals of today we are able to replace body parts and even put in new hearts? Through the developments of research we may still be only at the beginning of what might one day be realized.

Thankful that we have this valued facility within our small village and looking forward to tomorrow, we salute their 150 years of service to us all!

…THIS YEAR 2000 AND BEYOND!…

In this year 2000, the Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic is proud of its past record and looks forward to this new century wherein we will continue to provide the best health care services to all who enter our doors seeking help in time of need.

We have a present bed complement of 262 beds of which 100 are medical/surgical, 6 intensive care, 30 addiction recovery, 18 mental health and 108 in our nursing home. In the 108 nursing home beds there is a 25 bed dementia unit, a 4 bed unit for ventilator care and the remaining 79 beds for skilled nursing care and short term rehabilitation. Acute inpatient admissions for 1999 were approximately 3,000; emergency department visits were approximately 9,000; and inpatient/outpatient surgeries exceeded 3,000 with over 95,000 outpatient visits.

The Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, through the Charity Care Policy, provides to patients who meet certain criteria, medical services without charge or at a lower cost. During 1999 the total cost of these services to the institution was some $667,633.

We are providing education in preventative care and educational seminars to the community at large.

An Auxiliary was formed in 1959 with 33 charter members. In 1999, several of these members were still serving. We currently have some 120 Volunteers, 60 of which belong to the Auxiliary. These volunteers donate from two hours a month to 30 hours a week and serve in areas such as the lobby shop, the library, the emergency department, the operating room, health services, the information desk, in the nursing home, at physical therapy, the cancer center, food services and the new spiritual care unit.

In 1999, a Volunteer Greeters Program was formed which presently numbers 12. These persons welcome early arrivals and direct them through the admission and registration process.
During this past year, the emergency department volume increased by 14% and a new and enlarged emergency department was constructed. The Finger Lakes Community Cancer Center in the same period provided 5,195 treatments to cancer patients which reflected a 28% increase over the previous year. Information systems were updated and the laboratory added the Troponin assay to the lab's testing menu.

The nursing home operated at 98% capacity with patients ranging from 30 to 100 in age. This enlarged facility has made possible the treatment of almost double its original number.

The surgical department acquired a new Holmium laser for Urology cases. Presently, we are the only area hospital to have a laser of this caliber. The department also acquired a microwave therapy device for prostate treatment.

Other unique additions to hospital programs included molecular coincidence detection and dual head PET scanning, stereotactic core needle biopsy for breast care, full body densitometry for diagnosing osteoporosis and a Hospitalist or physician to take care of inpatients to the hospital.

In 2000, the hospital has embarked upon a new program under the name of "The Springs of Clifton". This represents Integrated Health Care for the mind, body and spirit where complementary therapies will be offered. The goal is to support the maintenance of health and well being and the process of healing. The services offered are massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and hydrotherapy.
The Medical Staff is composed of primary care physicians as well as many different specialists to meet the demands of health care in our community and surrounding area. As we enter this new century we have 56 active physicians, of which 88% are board certified. Our "courtesy physicians" total 78, allied health 28 and consultants 2, bringing our staff members to a total of 164.
And, What of Tomorrow?

Tomorrow is anyone's guess! Who knows what new fields of medicine might open up? Who knows if our Clifton Springs Hospital Board of Trustees, the Medical Staff and Administrative Staff will again seek to enlarge the facility, add new services or convert existing space and services to other programs. Much will depend upon the cost, the need and laws, which govern hospitals and their operations.

One thing is a given, that Clifton Springs Hospital will continue its traditional care, traditional values and commitment to modern technology. Services will continue to be offered at its main campus and off site locations in the communities served. Emphasis will remain focused on such programs as cancer care, behavioral health, primary care, cardiac/vascular diseases, elderly care and the specialty and sub-specialty services for which Clifton is known. The organization will adapt to changing times with a pledge to maximize its strengths and resources while recognizing the benefits of affiliation.

Questions arise. Today, parking at the hospital is almost at capacity. Should a concrete multi-floor parking building be erected in the rear of the institution to help solve this problem? This would certainly free up area to the west of the present buildings for future expansion should it be warranted. As long as we are only projecting guesses, maybe it could even include a helicopter landing spot on its roof.

So many things are possible but they all depend on the outlook of the time. What will the financial status be? Will funds still be there from Medicare, Medicaid and managed care organizations? How will future insurance coverage effect expansion and further development?

We are fortunate that we find the institution itself today in good health as we enter the dawn of a new era. The Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic Board of Trustees and Management Team is determined to see that we have the finest in physicians, modern facilities, caring nurses and staff with which to provide the needed medical needs of all those who come here as patients. It's a big job but one filled with rewards. What better business could we be in than that of healing and putting worn and torn bodies back together to face a new day.

With thankfulness to all those who have gone before and with trust in our abilities to meet the task of a new century, we look forward with pleasure to the years ahead. If we can continue to carry forward the vision of Dr. Henry Foster, who began this enterprise 150 years ago, we will indeed have fulfilled the goal he then sought to bring about. As he said, there is a HIGHER POWER who is overlooking this enterprise! Indeed, the age of miracles has not passed!