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JULY 31. 194?
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
FIVE
St, Joseph’s Hospital, Savannah
St. Joseph's Hospital. Savannah. Georgia, was founded in 1875, by Mother M. Cecilia of the Sisters
of Mercy of that city, when the Right Rev. W. H. G loss, D. D.. then Bishop of Savannah, realizing the
need of a hospital operated under Catholic auspices, took over what had formerly been a medical college',
and converted the property into a hospital. From the days soon after its establishment, when an epi
demic of yellow fever swept the city, through sixty-eight years, the Sisters of Mercy have ministered to
the sick at St. Joseph's. From time to time the hospital has been expanded 1 , and the demands upon the
hospital for its services became so heavy with the outbreak of war that it was necessary to construct
a four-story addition, which addition is now being made ready for occupancy. The new wing, which has
been erected just west of the main building, pictured above, was constructed from plans executed by
Clestus W. Bergen, Savannah architect, at a cost of more than $100,000.
New Addition to St. Joseph’s
Hospital in Savannah Will Be
Formally Opened in September
NAVAL CITATION FOR
COMMANDER CR0MBE OF
SUMTER, S. C., PARISH
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
SUMTER,—Commander Charles
E. Crombe, U. S. N., formerly of
St. Anne's parish here, has been
cited for “devotion to duty under
adverse conditions’’ according to
information received by his par
ents. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Crombe.
Sr. Their son is still with the
Pacific Fleet. His wife, the former
Miss Frances Meath of Norfolk.
Va.. and their young daughter,
Patricia Ann, live in California.
The citation, signed by Rear
Admiral T. S. Wilkinson. Deputy
Commander, South Pacific Area,
reads: “For devotion to duty under
adverse conditions while serving
on board a cruiser which was badly
damaged during the engagement
with Japanese Aircraft near Ren-
nell Island on January 29 and 30,
1943. Commander Crombe exercis
ed outstanding skill and profici
ency in meeting the tremendous
damage control problem imposed
by the enemy attack. His tireless
efforts contributed directly to the
success of keeping the ship afloat
and stable during the night of
January 29. and the day of Janu
ary 30. 1943. His conduct was in
keeping with the highest tradition
of the Naval Service.”
Commander Crombe was gradu
ated from the U. S. Naval Academy
in 1926. He was in Hawaii when
the attack was made on Pearl Har
bor.
K. OF C. IN AUGUSTA
HOSTS TO SOLDIERS
AUGUSTA, Ga.—Service men
stationed in Augusta and vicinity
were invited to attend a dance
given by Patrick Walsh Council.
Knights of Columbus at the K. of
C. Home on Greene Street on the
evening of July 22.
The affair was so successful that
similar dances are now being
planned by the committee which
includes Grand Knight J. P.
Price, J. Coleman Dempsey, John
T. Buckley, Bernard Doris and
Joseph M. Kinchley.
SUMMER VACATION
SCHOOL AT ROME
ROME, Ga. —Thirty-three child
ren attended the summer vacation
school conducted in St. Mary's
parish here by Sister Mary Alina
and Sister Mary Charles of the
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
from Atlanta. Classes were held
in the church for three weeks,
ending on June 25, and consisted
of catechetical instruction. Several
non-C^tholic children were regu
lar attendants at the classes. At the
close of the session a picnic for
the students was sponsored by the
altar society of St. Mary’s Church.
AN ASSISTANT PROVINCIAL
of the New Orleans Province of
the Society of Jesus, in the person
of the Rev. Harry L. Crane, has
been appointed by the Very Rev.
Thomas J. Shields, S. J., Provin
cial.
For the past year Father Crane
has been Assistant Dean and Dean
of Men of Loyola University of
the South. He is a native of New
Orleans and a graduate of Jesuit
High School. He entered the novi-
tate at Grand Coteau and studied
a Gonzaga University, Spokane,
Valkenburg, Holland, and St.
Mary’s College, Kansas.
(Special to The Bulletin)
SAVANNAH. Ga.—Formal open
ing of the new four-story and base
ment wing which has been added to
St. Joseph's Hospital here will be
held on the Feast of Our Lady of
Mercy, under whose patronage the
new addition to the hospital will
be dedicated to the honor and
glory of God.
The new building is practically
completed, but some delayed is
being occasioned by the difficulty
of obtaining prompt delivery of
some materials and equipment
needed.
Plans for the new addition were
executed under the direction of
Cletus Bergen, local architect, and
provided for construction of brick
to match those of the present
building, which it will adjoin to
the west on a lot that was former
ly a garden.
Administrative offices will be
located on the main floor of the
new addition, while the second
floor will have looms for patients
and nurses’ utility rooms. The
Obstetrical department, with a
formula room, isolation room, util
ity room and six patients’ rooms.
The fourth floor will be devoted to
the surgical division, with four
operating rooms, and an X-ray lab
oratory.
Space for iifty additional rooms
for patients will be provided in
the new annex, some of these
rooms to be with private baths.
The main entrance of the hos
pital wlil be proved from its pres
ent location to the new building,
where the administrative offices
will be, and the present offices
will be converted in rooms which
will provide fifteen or more beds
for patients.
Ground was broken for the new
addition last summer, at a cere
mony at which the Very Rev.
Monsignor James J- Grady,’ Chan
cellor of the Diocese of Savannah-
Atlanta. presided, in the absence
of.the Most Rev. Gerald P. O'Hara,
Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta.
Monsignor Grady blessed the
ground and turned the first shovel
of earth with a gilded spade, dec
orated with red, white and blue
ribbons.
In asking the blessing of God
on the new building. Monsignor
Grady pointed out that it would
do much to relieve the suffering
of mankind. “This is being erect
ed through charity and love”, he
said, “and if there were more
charity in the world today we
would not have war and other
afflications that beset mankind”.
He praised the work of Sister
Mary Gloria, of the Sisters of
Mercy, superintendent of St. Jo
seph’s, and many others whose
activity resulting in obtaining the
new $150,000 addition to the hos
pital.
Shovels o£ earth were also turn
ed at the ceremony by Judge
James ,P. Houlihan, chairman of
the Chatham County Board of
Commissioners: Dr. Michael Egan,
of the hospital staff: Miss Geral
dine Mew, presidqpt of St. Joseph's
Alumna Association and John
Huehy, FWA construction engi
neer.
Mrs. Kate Flannery Semmes,
donor of the hospital’s east wing,
who was to have participated in
the exercises, was prevented from
attending because of an injury
suffered just previous to the date
of the exercises.
Completion and occupancy of
the new building will greatly in
crease the efficiency of St. Jo
seph’s, and enable the Sisters of
Mercy to extend to a greater num
ber of sick and suffering people,
their tender ministrations.
SHIP WILL BE NAMED
FOR “WAVING GIRL” OF
SAVANNAH HARBOR
SAVANNAH, Ga. — The’name
of Miss Florence Martus, famed
"Waving Girl” of Elba Island, has
been approved for a Liberty ship
according to information received
from Admiral Emory S. Land,
chairman of. the United States
Maritime Commission by C. Wylie
Stalter, president of the local
Optimist Club.
Admiral Land’s assurance that
the name “Florence Martus” will
be assigned in the next list going
forward to the Southeastern. Ship
building Corporation successfully
concludes a campaign toward this
end which the Optimist Club be
gan last month.
Miss Martus, one of the most ro
mantic figures of the South, for
nearly half a century, waved a
handkerchief by day and a lantern
by night to vessels passing Elba
Island in the Savannah River at
the entrance of Savannah harbor.
In return she. would receive a sal
ute from whistles and sirens of
passing ships and from the hands
of passengers. Known the w’orld
over. Miss Martus lived with her
brother, George W. Martus. who
was keeper of the lighthouse at the
entrance of Savannah harbor.
Miss Martus was born on Cock-
spur Island, outside Fort Pulaski,
on August 7, 1869. On her seven
tieth birthday, Savannah and Chat
ham County had what was prob
ably the largest birthday celebra
tion in the city’s history. More than
3,000 attended the party given in
her honor.
A devout member of the Cathe
dral parish for many years, Miss
Martus died on February 8 of this
year. Funeral services were held
from the Cathedral with her
nephew, the Rev. Thomas A. Bren
nan, of Augusta, offering the Re
quiem Mass. The sermon was de
livered by the Rev. Robert Bren
nan, of Athens. ^
Mrs. Elizabeth Callahan
Funeral in Athens
ATHENS, Ga. — Mrs. Elizabeth
Callahan, mother of Mrs. Loretta
Costa, died here on June 28, fun
eral services being held from St.
Joseph’s Church with a .Solemn
High Mass of Requiem offered by
the Rev. James E. King, with the
Rev. Robert Brennan as deacon,
and the Rev. Mr. Jack Kirk, sub-
deason.
In addition to her daughter. Mrs.
Lawrence Costa. Mrs. Callahan is
survived by a son, Ralph Callahan,
Detroit, and several grandchildren,
Sister Loretta Joseph, of the Sis
ters of St. Joseph. Augusta; Miss
Theresa Costa. Miss Frances Costa
and Jerome Costa, Athens; Misses
Dorothy, Mary Jane, and Barbara
Callahan, all of Detroit; a niece,
Mrs. Stella Kent, Cincinnati, and
a nephew, W. Lester Schweninger,
Chicago.
Mrs. Callahan was 73 years old
and a native of Cincinnati, being
a member of a family long prom
inent in that city. For the past 27
years she has made her home with
her daughter here.
MRS. WILLIAM T. SMITH
FUNERAL IN CHARLESTON
CHARLESTON, S. C.—Funeral
services for Mrs. Catherine Agatha
Smith, widow of William T. Smith,
were held July 3 from the Secred
Heart Church, the Rev. Henry F.
Wolfe officiating.
A native of Charleston. Mrs.
Smith was the daughter of John
Sharkey and Mrs. Margaret Tynan
Sharkey, both of Ireland. She is
survived by a sister, Mrs. Margaret
Murray, and several nieces and
nephews.
JOHN DROPPERT~
DIES IN CHARLESTON
CHARLESTON, S. C. — Funeral
services for John Droppert, who
died June 22, were held from St.
Mary’s Church.
Mr. Droppert, a native of Hung
ary, is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Mary M. Droppert; a daughter,
Mrs. James Liberatos, five grand
children, and two great-grand
children.
MRS. JOHN BERNARDIN
FUNERAL IN COLUMBIA
COLUMBIA. S. C.—Funeral ser
vices for Mrs. Charlotte Ber-
nardin, who was killed in an auto
mobile wreck in North Carolina,
were held from St. Peter’s Church
on July 23, the Very Rev. Martin
C. Murphy officiating.
Mrs. Bernardin is survived by
her husband; two daughters, Mrs.
Nora Molinaroll and Miss Olga
Bernardin;a son, John Bernardin,
Jr.: a sister, Mrs. Mary Bernardin,
of Philadelphia, and two nephews.
-4ft
GREGOR M. McINTOSH
FUNERAL IN COLUMBIA
COLUMBIA. S. C. — Funeral
services for Gregor Mitchel Mc
Intosh, who died in Fresno, Cal.,
on July 8, were conducted from
St. Peter’s Church here, the Rev.
Charles J. Baum officiating.
Formerly of Columbia, and a
veteran ot the first World War.
St. Joseph’s Hospital -
Has Served Savannah
for Sixty-Eight Years
SAVANNAH, Ga. — In the year
1875. the Right Rev. W. H. Gross,
C. SS. R., D. D.. then Bishop of
Savannah, and later Bishop of
Oregon City, purchased the site
which was previously the old Med
ical College of Savannah. Thu
building was renovated and made
suitable for the care of the sick
of Savannah and of sailors from
ships docking at this port. The
Sisters of Mercy from St. Vincent's
Convent were placed in charge,
with Sister M. Cecilia Carroll as
superior.
For thirty years the Sisters car
ed for the marine patients, until
their removal to the Marine Hos
pital.
The original building was torn
down and replaced by the present
St. Joseph's Hospital.
In 1902 the school for student
nurses was opened with Sister
Dominica as superior, and gradu
ates of the school have rendered,
and are still rendering a splendid
account of themselves in their pro
fession. In 1930, a student nurses'
home, convenient to the hospital
was acquired.
Several of the graduates of St.
Joseph’s Hospital School of Nurs
ing are now on duty overseas, serv
ing with the armed forces on the
nation’s far flung line of battle.
Sister Cecilia, under whom the
Sisters of Mercy assumed charge
of the hospital, died in Atlanta in
1928, at the age of ninety-five. She
was widely known and beloved for
her zeal for the care of the sick
and neglected, particularly in time
of war and epidemic, and her far
reaching charity, and her heroic
services during the yellow fever
plague, endeared her to all Geor
gia.
St. Joseph’s Hospital has long
been recognized as one of the
outstanding instiutions of its kind
in the South, and with the com
pletion of its new addition. St. Jo
seph's should be able to offer in
the future an increased efficiency
in the care of the sick.
Spartanburg Grocers
Hosts at US0-NCCS Club
(Special to The Bulletin)
SPARTANBURG. S. Q. — The
Retail Merchants Association,
through the Retail Grocers of
Spartanburg, was host to some 200
men of the 35th Battalion at the
USO Club operated here by the
National Catholic Community Ser
vice. some hundred members of
local grocery firms being on hand
to extend real Southern hospitali
ty to the service men.
Private Donald Brynes of * the
Special Service Unit at Camp Croft
was in charge oti the program, and
Harold Miller, of the Miller Fruit
Company, w>as chairman of the
committee on arrangements, which
included Williard Little john. Com
munity Cash Stores, and W. H.
Turner, of A & P Stores. The grand
march was led by Lt. Col. and
Mrs. R. W. Copeland. Other offi
cers present included Major G. B.
Robertson, Executive Officer. 35th
Battalion; Capt. R. T. Dunn, Plans
and Training Officer; Lieutenant
Jabbo. Adjutant and Special. . offi
cer; Capt. Richard M. Levy, Com
mander of Company D: Chaplain
J. R. Newton, of the 3oth, and Lt.
M. R. Paul. .
Prizes we.e awarded winners of
waltz and “jitterbug” contests. A
feature of the program was the pre
sentation of Private Byrnes and
his dancing partner. Miss Agnes
Swanson. Miss. Marie Simon, as
sisted by the Grocers Association
served refreshments on the terrace.
The next event in this series
will be on September 23rd. when
the Dry Cleaners of Spartanburg
will be hosts.
VARIETY SHOW GIVEN
AT MACON USO CLUB
MACON. Ga. — Soldiers and
civilian talent joined in present
ing a variety show at the USO
Club operated by the National
Catholic Community Service here,
those appearing on the program
being Pvt. Walter Burke. Camp
Wheeler; Pvt. James J. O'Connell,
Camp Wheeler, Pfc. Raymond Ex
cell, Robins Field; Miss Margaret
Hinton, Miss Barbara Johnson.
Mrs. Winnie Hogan. Macon: Mrs.
Dorothy Lwin. Mrs. Lavinia Allen,
Mrs. S. A. Giglio. Macon: E. B. Col
lins, Hawkinsville; Sgt. Salvador
Canelli and Glenn Bacon. One of
the numbers sung by the Macon
trio was a song composed by Sgt.
Howard Gustafsen of Camp Wheel
er.
Mr. McIntosh is survived by his
wife, a daughter, his mother’ Mrs.
G. M. McIntosh, two sisters, Mrs.
Hugh Clinkscales and Miss Bessie
McIntosh, and two brothers,
Claude H. McIntosh and John S.
McIntosh. .