Two towns, two hospitals St. Mary's Hospital St. Mary’s was the first of two hospitals established in Lewiston. As the area grew in population, it was clear that a hospital was needed to serve the community. In 1889, St Mary’s was dedicated. It was a modest 30-bed hospital founded in a house that had been owned by a Mrs. Sarah Golder. The hospital housed not only patients but also forty nuns from the Sisters of Charity Order from St. Hyacinthe.
In its earliest time, St. Mary’s was known by a variety of names. It was called: The Sister’s Hospital, the French Hospital, and the Catholic Hospital. It was not until 1908 that the name officially became St. Mary’s General Hospital. The hospital saw its first major expansion in 1902 when a separate hospital building was constructed. This new building held 150 beds. Since its establishment, St Mary’s has gone through several expansions, all geared to providing improved medical service to the community. In 1908, the nursing school was founded and continues training students today. The 1960s saw a two-wing expansion that included new surgical suites. The 1980s saw the introduction of laser surgery and CT scanners to the medical center. In 1991, the name was changed to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. While the name changed, the level of care has not. The staff at St. Mary’s is still dedicated to providing the best possible care available. St. Mary’s has come a long way since the 30-bed facility. Today, St Mary’s is a 233-bed acute care facility capable of serving patients of all ages. From its neonatal unit to eldercare facilities, St. Mary’s is one of the leading providers of health care in the area. Central Maine Medical Center Central Maine Medical Center was the dream of Dr. Edward H. Hill. Hill, a graduate of Bates College and Harvard Medical School saw the need for hospital care within the Twin Cities. By the late 1880’s the population of Lewiston and Auburn was growing in response to the growth of the textile industry. The area was in desperate need of a hospital. In 1891, Central Maine General Hospital was created. It was a 30-bed hospital with one operating room, located on the third floor. Access to the operating room for patients was via a hand-powered elevator with illumination from a bare light bulb. The hospital grew with the addition of the East Wing of the hospital. The wing opened on April 25, 1898. For the students of history, this was the day America declared war on Spain. The East Wing was followed by the West Wing in 1931.
Renamed CMMC, the hospital continued to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Today CMMC offers health care over the broad spectrum of ages and ailments. The most recent improvement was the addition of the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute. Until its creation, patients in need of cardio vascular treatments in the Lewiston/Auburn area had two choices. They could go to Portland or Bangor. While closer, the trip to Portland placed a burden on the families of the patient. Now heart patients can receive treatment in familiar surroundings while being attended to by a team of skilled physicians. As a continued dedication to the community, CMMC utilizes LifeFlight helicopters to speed patients to the hospital. Flying Augusta A1009 helicopters, the flight crews can respond to emergencies or fly patients to other medical facilities for further treatment. |
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