In 1905, the medical facilities in Heilwood consisted of a modest three-room shanty! In time, this gave way to a small house and then a seven-room home. Finally in 1909, the Penn Mary Coal Company spent $25,000 to build the first building in Indiana County erected solely as a public hospital - the Penn Mary Hospital.

The one-story, brick-encased building was entirely plastered on the inside and was outfitted with plain oak furniture. A very unique feature of the interior was that there were no corners - all right-angled corners were rounded off!

The hospital's furnishings were paid for through assessments by the coal company from the individual miners in their employ. The assessments began in 1905 at $.10 per month, then $.20 per month in 1906*, and finally $.40 per month in 1909. The first two assessments only covered the individual miner, but the final assessment covered not only the miner, but also his family. "Outsiders" would be charged $1 a day for ward services or $15 a week for a private room. All physician and nurse fees were extra!

The front entrance of the building opened into a large waiting room and a nurse's office. While the physician's room, nurse's office, dining room, and living room were fitted out with plain oak, the remainder of the building was furnished in sanitary steel-enameled furniture with nickel or brass fixtures.

There were two wards that could accomodate 24 patients total, and four private rooms that could accomodate eight patients.

The hospital was equipped with electricity, a modern hot water heating system, and a laundry that not only cleaned the material but also sterilized it. A well-lit operating room, etherizing room, and an X-ray machine made the facility "modern" in every aspect!

* A $.20 doctor deduction is also noted on some paystubs from that era, but it's unclear when this particular deduction went into effect.