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Vintage Postcards of Indiana Health FacilitiesSt. John%u2019s Hospital in Anderson got its start when John Hickey deeded his family%u2019s 10-acre homestead to the Sisters of the Holy Cross on March 31, 1894. Almost immediately, the old wood-framed residence was remodeled and transformed into a hospital. During its first year, seven Sisters cared for about 80 patients, many of whom brought their own beds. Besides providing patient care, the Sisters cooked, cleaned, milked cows, and grew their own food. Prior to establishing St. John%u2019s Hospital, the order had been both teachers and Army nurses during the Civil War. In 1895, a new two-story brick building, 65 by 95 feet, was erected on the property and equipped with %u201cevery modern hospital appliance for the treatment of diseases or the performance of surgical operations.%u201d It was further improved and enlarged in 1900, making it one of the finest hospitals in the state of Indiana. Although the institution was under control of the Catholic Sisters, all manner of public-spirited citizens have contributed to St. John%u2019s building funds over the years, confident the hospital would be impartially managed. Their hope has been realized, with its doors open to the %u201cafflicted, without regard to race, social condition or religious affiliation.%u201d Hickey was a native of Ireland, who came to Anderson in 1853. He could have stipulated that his hospital be named Hickey Memorial Hospital, but he chose not to. He simply gave his family%u2019s house, and the land it stood on, to his church%u2014without instructions, or restrictions of any kind. As a result, %u201cUncle John%u201d Hickey, as he was affectionately known by his friends, has been honored with an essential and much appreciated community hospital%u2014a lasting and fitting monument to his unselfish and charitable nature.St. John%u00b4s Hospital%u2014%u2014Anderson, Indiana%u2014%u2014Established 1894In the 1940%u2019s and 50%u2019s, it was renamed St. John%u2019s Hickey Memorial Hospital,quite some time after its benefactor%u2019s death. In 2013, it merged with St. Vincent Hospitalto become St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital.Hospitals