This children's hospital was dedicated in 1955 and is located at 311 So. L St. circa 1955.

Taken in the early 1970s.

Ronald McDonald at Mary Bridge. Patients at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital had a special treat on December 17, 1970, as mop-top Ronald McDonald and "Fairy Godmother" Judy Warren paid a visit. Here the duo pose with hospital personnel and a little pig-tailed patient who is adorned with a McDonald's bib. The little girl is strapped into a red wagon as the hospital chose to use this child-friendly mode of transportation rather than typical wheelchairs. Photograph ordered by Ballard Cannon, Inc., Seattle. (TNT 12-18-70, p. 1, 2 - article)

Clowns; Warren, Judy; Nurses--Tacoma--1970-1980; Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Sick persons;

Ronald McDonald posed with a group of smiling nurses at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, 311 South L Street, on December 17, 1970. He had come to Tacoma specifically to visit Rhonda Street, age 4, who was severely burned when her nightgown caught fire from a dropped match. Bored with hospital food, Rhonda had discovered the joys of McDonalds cheeseburgers when a kindly doctor supplemented her bland diet. The burgers became her diet of choice. When news spread of the child's accident and the fact that no group had come forth to help with mounting hospital and physician costs, McDonald's offered a large donation with any coordinated fundraising. Ronald, along with "Fairy Godmother" Judy Warren, stopped by the hospital with Rhonda's favorite meal: a juicy cheeseburger, fries and strawberry milk shake. He stayed for a party with children who had healed enough to go home. (Photograph ordered by Ballard Cannon Inc., Seattle.) (TNT 12-18-70, p.1, 2- article)

Clowns; Nurses--Tacoma--1970-1980; Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma);

Cindy Rush enjoys a cup of tea with "visitors" Mrs. Marco Heidner and Mrs. Henry Agnew (l-r) as they discuss the open house and tea to be given at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital on May 16, 1962. Cindy was not really a patient at the hospital but graciously pretended to be one for publicity purposes. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rush.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rush, Cindy; Heidner, Marco--Family; Agnew, Henry--Family;

Mary Bridge Hospital, possibly a radiology lab. The technician is adjusting an X-ray machine. This was formerly the hydrotherapy room at Mary Bridge. All of the equipment in the hospital was specially designed for its pint sized patients, ranging from birth to age 14. Since its opening in 1955, the hospital had become overcrowded and rooms, such as the playroom, were taken over as wards due to the need for more beds. Here the hydrotherapy room has been converted to a much needed x-ray lab. A massive fund raising drive was underway to support enlargement of Mary Bridge and improvements at Tacoma General.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Radiography;

Three nurses are shown pushing juvenile beds and cribs through a corridor, at Mary Bridge Hospital in this photograph from May of 1959. The hospital, which opened in March of 1955, treated patients from birth to age 14 and served all of southwest Washington. When built, the hospital contained only 40 beds; it was built with the third floor unfinished to allow for future expansion. By 1959 the hospital was constantly overcrowded. A constant shifting of beds was neccessary to meet the needs of the children. Some infectious cases required isolation and boys and girls were always segregated. The hospital contained no single rooms; it had 10 two bed rooms and four 5 bed rooms. In 1959, plans were being made and funds raised to complete the third floor and to build an extension, adding 60 beds for a total of 100. (TNT 5/3/1959, pg. A-14, TNT 5/13/1959, pg. B-9)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma);

Occupational Therapy Ward at Mary Bridge Hospital. Small patients sit in wheelchairs while therapists and nurses try to interest them in toys and activities designed to strengthen muscles and range of movement. Murals decorate the walls, making the room more child friendly. With the increase of patients, the therapy room had become too small to allow for freedom of movement. The over 3,000 members of local Orthopedic Associations would soon take to the streets, collecting coins door to door in their annual drive to boost the operating fund of the hospital. The hospital opened in March of 1955, due to generous contributions from the Bridge and Rust estates and the Orthopedic Associations. Since its opening, the hospital had treated 8900 kids and performed 4400 surgeries. (TNT 5/3/1959, pg. A-14)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Physical therapy--Tacoma; Wheelchairs;

Mrs. America of 1957, Cleo Maletis of Portland, Oregon, paid a visit to the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital on May 17, 1958. Mrs. Maletis is pictured holding a Raggedy Ann doll in front of a young patient, Melanie Moholt (now Trondson). The little girl is sitting upright on a hospital bed and has one hand on the doll's black shoe. Mrs. Maletis, the mother of four boys, is flanked by Dr. William "Bill" Norton, a pediatrician who was very involved at Mary Bridge, and Ms. Lillian McDonald, then Mary Bridge Hospital's administrator. Mrs. Maletis also attended the grand opening of the "Blue Flame" home in Glenwood Acres where the 25 cent entrance fees collected were donated to Mary Bridge. Photograph ordered by Stromberg Construction. (TNT 5-18-58, B-11)

Maletis, Cleo; Sick children; Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Moholt, Melanie; Trondson, Melanie Moholt; Norton, William; Physicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; McDonald, Lillian;

Exterior--Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. The Mary Bridge Children's Hospital has served the area's ill children since March, 1955. Built of reinforced concrete faced with architectural concrete, it was designed by John W. Maloney & Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects. The hospital was named in honor of the mother of physician Albert W. Bridge. View of exterior of hospital; in 1957, only two floors of the three-story building were in use. The third was enclosed but not finished nor furnished. Plans were made to expand the hospital to finish the third floor but it would not be completed until 1964. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Nurse Marjorie Janeck shows a new piece of equipment to an unidentified visitor in early December of 1957. Nurse Janeck was the new director of nursing services at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. Mary Bridge opened in 1955 with much help from the Tacoma Orthopedic Association who had worked for years to establish a children's hospital in this city. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association.

Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Janeck, Marjorie; Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Medical equipment & supplies;

A nurse carefully feeds a bottle of formula to a tiny infant in an incubator in this December, 1957, photograph. For the protection of the baby, only her hands are allowed in the incubator. It is possible that this infant was born prematurely or perhaps was very ill. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital provided excellent newborn and pediatric services using the most up-to-date equipment and supplies. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association.

Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Infants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bottle feeding--Tacoma; Incubators; Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma);

A nurse checks on the comfort of her little patient as the small girl lies immobile with a cervical traction brace. The sling is attached to a bar behind the crib's railings. Four-year-old Nancy Mueller, daughter of the Kenneth Muellers, is wearing a brightly colored hospital gown and has her doll and a balloon nearby. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital tried to make hospital stays as comfortable as possible for their small patients. The nurse pictured above is Marjorie Janeck who was the new director of nursing services at Mary Bridge in 1957. She made it a point to pay daily visits to each patient at Mary Bridge. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association. (TNT 11-1-57, C-2, TNT 5-4-58, A-1)

Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sick children; Cribs (Children's beds); Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Janeck, Marjorie; Mueller, Nancy; Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital (Tacoma);

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital was furnished with the most technolgically advanced equipment, appropriately sized for children. Even in the X-ray room, it was not forgotten that this was a hospital for children; a whimsical mural of ducks in a pond is prominently displayed. Gloved and masked medical personnel are in the process of X-raying a patient. The X-ray apparatus is placed over the prone patient who is entirely covered in a colored sheet. Mary Bridge had recently opened a new cardiac laboratory; cardiac catheterization, a modern technique in the diagnosis of heart ailments, was performed in the hospital. This was one of the first services offered to adult patients in addition to children; adults would have procedures done on an out-patient basis without needing to stay overnight. Shown are Mrs. James Bramhall, R.N., holding a strain gauge, Dr. Dale Hadfield, anesthesiologist who is controlling the oxygenation of the patient, Dr. S.S. Sanderson, radiologist, and Mrs. Sam Hunter, R.N., who is standing by the electric heart stimulators. Sepia photograph ordered by Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. (TNT 2-16-58, A-10)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Radiography; Bramhall, James--Family; Hadfield, Dale; Sanderson, Stevens S.; Hunter, Sam--Family; Physicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

R.N. Lavina Christomos plays the role of patient as Mrs. Chester Burch, X-ray technician, demonstrates the use of the new cephalometer at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. The device secures the head for special x-ray pictures of the facial bones and part of the skull. The modern dental chair and cephalometer were donated by local orthodontists. The device is the first for Tacoma. It will later be used to monitor head growth. Sepia photograph ordered by Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. (TNT 2-23-58, A-6)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Radiography; Christomos, Lavina;

Two members of the Tacoma Orthopedic Association are shown with papers in hand at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital on February 11, 1957. One woman has her hand on the cover of a recording machine. The walls of the room are painted with a circus motif, including elephants, giraffe, and circus wagon. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association.

Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Tacoma Active Club presents a check payable to the Mary Bridge Childrens' Hospital. A young boy lies in a hospital bed holding a piece connected by hose to the machinery beside him. His father looks on. Mary Bridge had been open about a year.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma);

The unveiling of the painting of William R. Rust at the Mary Bridge Childrens' Hospital. The first anniversary of the hospital would be commemorated by the Board of Directors on April 4, 1956. The portrait honors the memory of the late Rust, whose estate provided the funds to build and partially maintain the Rust wing of the hospital. The portrait was hung on April 1st by Rust's granddaughter Mrs. Thomas Murphy (Billie Jean Rust), center, who was passing through enroute from Hawaii to her home in St. Paul, Minnesota.To Mrs. Murphy's left is Gersham Rowland, past administrator of the Rust Estate. To her right is her mother Mrs. Margaret Smith, past president of the Tacoma Orthopedic Society. The unveiling of the portrait was the highlight of the volunteer tea. Rust, who died in 1928, was prominent in Tacoma business, social and political affairs. He had business enterprises in Alaska and Tacoma, including the Tacoma Smelter. (TNT 4/1/1956, pg D-4)

Rust, Billie Jean; Portraits; Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital (Tacoma); Rust, William R.; Smith, Margaret;

In March of 1955, Mrs. Ruth Byers was captured as she painted a mural on the wall at the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, 311 So. L St.. Mrs. Byers, a noted Tacoma artist, was putting the finishing touches on one of the attractive scenes that was part of the Rose Fairy mural. The original designs, created especially to capture childrens' imaginations, were painted in the 9 most generally used rooms of the hospital. In the Rose Fairy mural, a good fairy watches over scenes of bugs, butterflies and flowers. The mural covered one entire wall of the Admitting Room. Mrs. Byers, who had a masters in art from Stanford University, was a member of Weenonah Orthopedic Guild of Tacoma. The Orthopedic Guilds were instrumental in the founding of the Children's Hospital. (TNT 3/13/1955, pg. D-10)

Byers, Ruth; Painting--Tacoma; Murals--Tacoma; Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma;

Mrs. Horace Fogg poses in front of mural in the hydrotherapy room of the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. The murals were sponsored by Mrs. Fogg and painted by Mrs. Ruth Byers, both noted Tacoma artists. Appropriately, the painting in the hydrotherapy room captures the nursery rhyme "Rub-a-dub-dub, Three men in a tub." The sleeping man is about to have his bait snatched by a wiley fish. The murals were all original designs created to capture the childrens' imaginations. The grand opening of the then 40 bed hospital was March 27, 1955, with 14 of those beds reserved for those who could not afford medical care. (TNT 3/13/1955, pg. D-10)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Murals--Tacoma; Hospitals--Tacoma;

On March 27, 1955, the huge doors of the main entrance to the new million dollar Mary Bridge Children's Hospital swung open to the public following the dedication ceremonies. Over 3,000 people attended to hear main speaker Governor Arthur B. Langlie and to view the new hospital. Built at a cost of $800,000, the building is of fireproof concrete construction faced with architectural concrete. The wall of the entrance is of Vermont red granite. The foliage in the planting boxes is bronze toned to blend with the color scheme. The hospital is named Mary Bridge, as a memorial to the mother of Dr. A.W. Bridge, whose estate is the major contributor. The W.R. Rust trust is the other main contributor. However, the erection of the hospital is due mainly to the persistence of the Orthopedic guilds that formulated the idea in 1937 and toiled 18 years to make it happen. The modern hospital will treat children from infancy through age 14.(TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13- A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma;

Mary Bridge Hospital; donation of surgery to hospital. Miss Virginia E. MacIvor, left, Director of Nursing, Miss Margaret Long, center, and Miss Helen Long, right, pose smiling in the surgery that was completely equipped with the generous monetary gift of the Longs. The large lamp at the top of the picture is a special low shadow type, enabling the surgeon to see more clearly. The surgery was the most modern available with all air coming into the room cleaned, heated and humidified. (TNT 3/25/1955, pg. 20)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); MacIvor, Virginia; Long, Margaret R.; Long, Helen;

Mary Bridge Hospital; donation of surgery to hospital. Miss Helen Long (center) and Miss Margaret Long (right) are listening to the description of the surgery that was completely outfitted by their monetary gift to the hospital. The description is being read by Miss Virginia E. MacIvor, R.N., Director of Nursing for the new hospital. Hundreds of donations were made to the hospital, some large such as that of the Long sisters and others smaller. They provided for items as varied as trees for the landscaping, equipment and funds for maintenance. The people of Tacoma's generosity helped make the hospital possible, a fact commemorated by plaques on site. (TNT 3/25/1955, pg. 20)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Long, Margaret R.; Long, Helen; MacIvor, Virginia; Gifts;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital; Radiology. The Xray room had an adjoining darkroom. Bright gilt stars on the ceiling and ducklings in the pond on the wall were painted by Tacoma artist Mrs. Ruth Byers to help the children relax and allay their fears of the strange place. All equipment was designed specifically for children and some of it was previously unavailable in Tacoma. TPL-6519 (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13-A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's main lobby. The benches and chairs and the child size table and chairs at center are made of blonde wood with parchment colored upholstery. Colorful fiberglass draperies with a modernistic pattern hang at the rear of the room. The floor is of terrazzo. The admitting desk is to the right, out of picture range. When the hospital opens in the middle of the week, the television will be on helping to keep families' minds off of their problems. Original drawings on the wall by Tacoma artist Ruth Byers help keep the mood cheerful. (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13- A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's main surgery. The surgery contained all the most technologically advanced equipment, sized for children. The large lamp over the table is a shadow proof lamp for more clarity of vision for the surgeon. A xray illuminator board was also available. The floor in and near the surgery was nonconductive; eliminating the hazards from chance sparks near anesthesia. All air in the surgery was first washed, heated and humidified. (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13-A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital; Hubbard tank in physical therapy room. The $800,000 hospital was designed specifically for its child patients with all equipment sized accordingly and cheerful colors and fantastical wall paintings. A basement tunnel connected the hospital with the nurses' quarters and Tacoma General Hospital, which supplied laundry facilities. The hospital opened with 40 beds. Organizers realized that this would soon be inadequate. To help cut future costs, a third floor was built but the interior left unfinished. It would be completed as more space was needed and more funds were available. The 3rd floor would bring the hospital to an expected 100 bed capacity. (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13-A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's main kitchen area. All patient and staff meals are prepared in this gleaming new room with polished stainless steel fixtures. Across from the kitchen is a dining room for staff. To the left are the carts for delivering the meals and a triple width commercial refrigerator. To the right is a rolling cart with the burners to heat foods and bins to keep heated foods warm. A silverware and dish cart is in front of the left hand counter with sink. The oven and grill are at the rear of the room. Counters and a sink line the right hand side. A central work island has pots hanging above.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's central supply room and sterilizing equipment. The room is pristine, white, almost glossy with its stainless steel sterilizing equipment and terrazzo floor. The hospital contained the most modern equipment available, all sized to treat children. The $800,000 hospital was made possible through donations from the W.R. Rust trust and the estate of Dr. A.W. Bridge. The hospital would not have been built without the dedicated volunteer time and persistence of the Tacoma Orthopedic Association and its guilds. Countless monetary donations from the generous citizens of Pierce County made possible all the latest technological equipment and the thoughtful extras that made it a welcoming place for children. The guild members also hand sewed most fabric items used by the children. (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13- A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital opened in March of 1955, serving as a general hospital for children ages infancy through 14 years. The hospital was built with the combined funds of the Dr. A.W. Bridge estate, the Tacoma Orthopedic Association and the William R. Rust trust. It was named after Mary Bridge, mother of medical pioneer Dr. Albert W. Bridge and designed by John W. Maloney, Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. Mary Bridge began with 40 beds but was designed and built with an eye toward growth, allowing for a 100-bed capacity with three stories. In 1955, only 2 floors were in use with the third enclosed but not finished or furnished until it was needed. The hospital was of modern concrete fireproof construction with three sections of parking, two modern surgeries and a guest room for out of town mothers. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. (TNT 1-20-1955, pg. B-3)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;