The Hastings Gazette, October 9, 1953
The dedication including the laying of the corner stone into which were placed many valuable documents, including a record of the signing of the contract with the architects, the letting of the bids for the hospital itself and the account of the first spadeful of earth for the construction.
Showing some skill with the trowel, Archbishop John G. Murray, D. D. is here seen laying the corner stone of the new Salve Regina Memorial Hospital in ceremonies at 4:00 p.m. October 7, 1953. Left to right, Rev. H. B. Hacker of St Paul, Archbishop Murray, Rev. J. J. Quinlan, Chaplain at the Hastings State Hospital, Rev. George H. Galles of Miesville, Rev. Lambert Weckwerth of Hastings, and the Rev. Fr. Ferguson of Hastings.
The Hastings Star Gazette, August 8, 2002
While working on a project for the future, the staff at the Regina Medical Center uncovered a piece of its past in the form of a time capsule last month. The time capsule was apparently buried in the building in 1953, as there is a letter dated Oct. 7 from that year from the Sisters of Charity who helped raise money from the first facility. Maria Reis, public relations director said the most exciting items were a collection of 44 Catholic medals and a list of “Our Honored Dead,” featuring 44 names of soldiers from Hastings “who did not return from three great wars.”
The letter from the Sisters of Charity shows a mix of satisfaction about the completion of the hospital and concern about the military conflicts in other parts of the world.
“At last the big day has arrived for the Sisters of Charity and the people of Hastings after a most strenuous time to accumulate funds for a modern, up-to-date hospital. With all hands working together and also with the aid of government funds, success has been achieved.” The letter ends with this more grim statement: “The world seems to be in a turmoil with the Koran War and outbreaks in several counties.” The letter also provides a sense of how the hospital has changed several times through the years, as one of the sisters on the letter went on to witness seven groundbreakings in her lifetime.
