Timmins was incorporated Jan. 1, 1912, and grew quickly!
Train service was established by 1912, roads, waterworks, theatres, hotels, shops of all kinds, an emergency hospital, and a newspaper had all arrived soon after the incorporation.
In 1912, the Hollinger Hospital was established by the Hollinger Consolidated Golf Mines Ltd. to service its employees and was run by the Sisters of Providence from Montreal. By 1914, they opened 10 additional beds to the general public as the community was growing — there weren’t any public hospitals yet, according to Ontario: Local Health Integration Network.
It wasn’t until 1925 that Hollinger allowed the public to use the hospital services that had been built for its employees. Health coverage was not extended to family members of Hollinger employees. One would have to travel to Haileybury to seek medical help.
By 1923, a public hospital was built with 30 beds. This place was called Providence hospital but changed its name in 1927 to St. Mary’s hospital when 80 beds, a laboratory, and delivery rooms facilities were added.
Each week, the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre provides TimminsToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.
Find out more of what the Timmins museum has to offer here and read more Remember This columns here.
