Sometimes one finds the answer to questions in the oddest places. This time it was at the new Walgreen’s store located in Berwyn and the question came from Husband Joe.
Since he has reason to go to MacNeal Hospital at least twice a week, he became curious about how the hospital got its name. He asked people at the hospital and none seemed to know, so he came to me. And while I like to think I know a lot, this I did not know.
Determined as I was I couldn’t seem to find the answer until a trip to Walgreen’s where I spotted a book entitled Images of America: Berwyn. Thumbing through it before I decided to spend the $19.95 I came across the answer to the question complete with pictures. Now, unless you already knew all this no need to read on but it is interesting.
MacNeal Hospital is named after Dr. Arthur W. MacNeal, who came to Berwyn in 1892 at the age of 24. The Rush Medical School graduate opened his practice in his own home and, aside from patients visiting to his office, he would make house calls in his electric car.
The building housing Dr. MacNeal’s home and office became known as the Berwyn Medical Unit, the forerunner to today’s MacNeal Hospital. He also was very innovative as one of the earliest doctors to use a vaccine to combat diphtheria and in 1902 had one of the first X-ray machines in the country.
MacNeal passed away in 1932. Following his death, the Berwyn Medical Unit was renamed as MacNeal Hospital and by the 1940s it was to be the largest employer in Berwyn.
MacNeal Hospital continues to grow and serve not only Berwyn but the Chicagoland area with a fine reputation as a medical institution under the direction of CEO Brian Lemon.
It has come a long way since a young man named Dr. Arthur MacNeal hung out his shingle; I don’t think he ever could have envisioned what it would become.
Interesting note, the good doctor had an electric car. Now in 2009 we are again looking at electric cars – he really was ahead of his time.
And now the answer to another pressing question, the theme for Riverside’s July 4 festivities is “Saluting the People of Riverside.” Get to work with your neighbors on a float or decorated car, the more the merrier. Want to volunteer to help? You know how to find me.