Greenwood's First Ambulance
BY: BG EDITOR
Vancouver General Hospital Ambulance, c. 1900
[ Photo: BC Archives Item #D-05583 ]
Mar 28, 2020 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
From its earliest days, there was always a need in Greenwood for emergency medical services. Our historic papers are full of reports of mining, forestry and travel accidents, and various episodes of disease. But it wasn't until January 1906 that Greenwood took delivery of its first ambulance.
The effort to acquire the new ambulance began as a grassroots funding effort, in the last days of 1904:[1]
"There is a movement on foot having for its object the purchase of an ambulance for service in this city and surrounding camps. The necessity for providing proper facilities for the transportation of wounded or otherwise injured individuals, has often been commented on.
Quite recently the matter has been informally discussed and now there is a likelihood of public spirited ladies and gentlemen co-operating to raise the funds required. The object, it is believed, could be accomplished by holding a series of entertainments during the winter months."
Quite recently the matter has been informally discussed and now there is a likelihood of public spirited ladies and gentlemen co-operating to raise the funds required. The object, it is believed, could be accomplished by holding a series of entertainments during the winter months."
Community fundraising kicked off in January 1905, with a dance at the Masonic hall:[2]
"A number of philanthropic ladies and gentlemen are endeavoring to provide the city and district with a new ambulance. Any object having in view the remedying of discomfort, or the alleviation of pain is well worthy of public support. In order to provide funds a dance will be given in the Masonic hall on Friday night. Everybody who can afford it should buy a ticket for the coming event. It matters little whether one is able to dance or not. Accidents are not infrequent in the surrounding camps and the consciousness that one has done something towards aiding an injured brother will bring its own reward."
One of the local ladies pushing forward to the Ambulance Fund was Mrs. George Williams of Kimberley Avenue, wife of the assistant manager at the smelter:[3]
"Mrs. Geo. Williams, who was instrumental initiating a movement having as its object the purchase of a public ambulance, has furnished us with a financial statement of the proceeds of the recent ball in the Masonic hall. The gross receipts were $103 and expenses $22.00, leaving a balance of $80.10.
The disbursements were as follows: Music $10; rent of piano $3; printing $3.50; Mrs. Lee $3.00; lemons, $2.00; wax, 65¢; pine apple, 75¢. The balance of $80.10 has been deposited with Mayor Naden who has kindly consented to act as treasurer pro term. His Worship has also agreed to ask the city council to contribute to the fund.
In the event of Mayor Naden calling a public meeting of the women of all denominations Dr. Foster has agreed to deliver an address respecting the wisdom of providing an ambulance service for the city and adjacent camp."
The disbursements were as follows: Music $10; rent of piano $3; printing $3.50; Mrs. Lee $3.00; lemons, $2.00; wax, 65¢; pine apple, 75¢. The balance of $80.10 has been deposited with Mayor Naden who has kindly consented to act as treasurer pro term. His Worship has also agreed to ask the city council to contribute to the fund.
In the event of Mayor Naden calling a public meeting of the women of all denominations Dr. Foster has agreed to deliver an address respecting the wisdom of providing an ambulance service for the city and adjacent camp."
A few days later the Mayor did call a meeting to discuss another public dance to aid the fund, and further public meetings followed:[4]
"A meeting to be held in Eagles' hall Monday will further consider the proposition of providing the city with a public ambulance. A start has already been made and the funds now available, we understand, exceed $l00.
The idea is a good one. It has for its object the providing of facilities, which will alleviate the sufferings of the sick or maimed in transit to their homes or the hospital. The matter is one that does not concern any particular creed or sect.
Under the circumstances and in view of the frequency of accidents in the local smelters and adjacent mining camps there should be a large attendance at Monday night's meeting and a generous response on the part of our citizens and especially on those most vitally interested, the miners and smeltermen. However, the proposition is equally deserving of the support of the mining companies and business men generally." [ ]
Steps will likely be taken to appoint a committee with authority to canvass for subscriptions throughout the district. The proposition is one well worthy of public support. Randolph Stuart, the acting secretary, has written the Vancouver City hospital enquiring for data respecting the cost of an ambulance, etc."
The idea is a good one. It has for its object the providing of facilities, which will alleviate the sufferings of the sick or maimed in transit to their homes or the hospital. The matter is one that does not concern any particular creed or sect.
Under the circumstances and in view of the frequency of accidents in the local smelters and adjacent mining camps there should be a large attendance at Monday night's meeting and a generous response on the part of our citizens and especially on those most vitally interested, the miners and smeltermen. However, the proposition is equally deserving of the support of the mining companies and business men generally." [ ]
Steps will likely be taken to appoint a committee with authority to canvass for subscriptions throughout the district. The proposition is one well worthy of public support. Randolph Stuart, the acting secretary, has written the Vancouver City hospital enquiring for data respecting the cost of an ambulance, etc."
By September of 1905, the fundraising effort was being led by Dr. Spankie, who gave a report to the Boundary Creek Times of all the subscriptions received to date by the Ambulance Fund.[5] Included on the list were the B. C. Copper Co., the Miners at Mother Lode, the Greenwood Miners Union, and local fraternal organizations including the Odd Fellows, Eagles, Knights of Pythias and the Masons. Local businessmen Duncan Ross, Russell-Law Caulfield Co., Rendell & Co., T. M. Gulley & Co., Smith & McRae, the Greenwood Liquor Co., A. L. White & Co., the Pacific Hotel, and Dr. Spankie himself were on the list, along with many others. The announcement went on to say:
"The cost of the ambulance at Philadelphia was $645.00. A reduced freight rate was secured over the Great Northern railway, and through the efforts of Duncan Ross, M. P., the ambulance was allowed in free of duty. The ambulance is expected here in a few days and will be the property of the city.
Dr. Spankie deserves the thanks of the community for his efforts in raising the funds for this very necessary conveyance, where the work is of a dangerous nature and injuries of frequent occurrence. The city donates the cost in excess of $500."
Dr. Spankie deserves the thanks of the community for his efforts in raising the funds for this very necessary conveyance, where the work is of a dangerous nature and injuries of frequent occurrence. The city donates the cost in excess of $500."
In the weeks that followed that report, several other Greenwood residents contributed to the fund, bringing it up to $525.00
News that the ambulance was making its way towards Greenwood came in mid January, 1906:[6]
"The new ambulance which was ordered from St. Paul has arrived at Phoenix over the Great Northern. It is being held there, however, pending an adjustment of freight charges, the railway having charged more than the agreement called for."
And good news of the ambulance's arrival was shared on January 19th:[7]
THE NEW AMBULANCE
A Long Felt Want at Last Supplied
"The hospital ambulance for which the people of Greenwood have been looking for some time has arrived and is being kept at the Palace stables, Copper street. It is a handsome vehicle complete in every particular and as up-to-date as those used in the large cities. It has heavy rubber tires and the wheels are fitted with brakes. The sides are marked with the usual red cross. The interior is roomy and well furnished. Two sliding stretchers are fitted to the floor on which patients can be carried from the ambulance into the hospital. A folding seat is attached to the inside for the use of attendants. Several large windows supply plenty of light.
The new ambulance has cost in all $809.50, of which $164.50 was for freight, the balance of $645 being the cost at the factory in Philedelphia. The total cost is much less than it would have been had not the Great Northern railway charged only half rate from St. Paul and the customs authorities considerately thrown off all duty charges.
The movement to secure this necessary public conveyance was first inaugurated when the ladies of Greenwood gave a ball last year and donated the receipts, amounting to about $100, to start an ambulance fund. Later on subscriptions to the extent of $500 were secured from the people of the city through the efforts of the city physicians. The balance of the cost will be borne by the city council. The city officials and all those interested are well pleased with the appearance and usefulness of the vehicle and it is believed that a long-felt want has been satisfactorily filled."
A Long Felt Want at Last Supplied
"The hospital ambulance for which the people of Greenwood have been looking for some time has arrived and is being kept at the Palace stables, Copper street. It is a handsome vehicle complete in every particular and as up-to-date as those used in the large cities. It has heavy rubber tires and the wheels are fitted with brakes. The sides are marked with the usual red cross. The interior is roomy and well furnished. Two sliding stretchers are fitted to the floor on which patients can be carried from the ambulance into the hospital. A folding seat is attached to the inside for the use of attendants. Several large windows supply plenty of light.
The new ambulance has cost in all $809.50, of which $164.50 was for freight, the balance of $645 being the cost at the factory in Philedelphia. The total cost is much less than it would have been had not the Great Northern railway charged only half rate from St. Paul and the customs authorities considerately thrown off all duty charges.
The movement to secure this necessary public conveyance was first inaugurated when the ladies of Greenwood gave a ball last year and donated the receipts, amounting to about $100, to start an ambulance fund. Later on subscriptions to the extent of $500 were secured from the people of the city through the efforts of the city physicians. The balance of the cost will be borne by the city council. The city officials and all those interested are well pleased with the appearance and usefulness of the vehicle and it is believed that a long-felt want has been satisfactorily filled."
It was less than a month later that the ambulance was first called into service:[8]
"The ambulance had its first call Wednesday morning when it was used to convey John Cavanaugh from the Norden hotel to the hospital. Mr. Cavanaugh came to Greenwood from Butte, Mont., and here he contracted pneumonia. His condition is not considered serious."
In an odd coincidence, one of those who had led early efforts with the Ambulance Fund hailed from the same city as its first customer — Mr. & Mrs. George Williams came to Greenwood from Butte.
While the first patient to ride in the Greenwood ambulance was a 'civilian', many of those to follow were mining men. But it was not until 1909 that legislation was introduced in British Columbia to require that ambulance service be close at hand for workmen engaged in industrial operation. The Ambulance Act was offered up by Parker Williams, MLA for Newcastle/Nanaimo. Mr. Williams was a Welsh-born coal miner, and was B.C.'s first Socialist MLA.[9-10]
First Aid Ambulance Car at Mine Entrance, c. 1915
[ Photo: BC Archives Item #E-01187 ]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Boundary Creek Times — Dec 30, 1904, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171026
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 13, 1905, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171829
[3] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 27, 1905, p. 3
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172467
[4] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 10, 1905, pp. 2 & 5
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172406
[5] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 08, 1905, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171625
[6] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 19, 1906, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172503
[7] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 26, 1906, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171822
[8] Boundary Creek Times — Feb 09, 1906, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171835
[9] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 26, 1909, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171263
[10] Parker Williams, M.L.A.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Williams
