Matthew Fontana received a visit from two of his boyhood friends on January 5, 1956, Pat (left) and Mike McMurtry, while he was confined to his hospital bed at Pierce County Hospital. Fontana had contracted spino-bulbar polio, and had been at the hospital since Sept. of 1955. The McMurtry brothers were in town for the 8th Annual Tacoma Golden Gloves Tournament, scheduled to be held at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. Looking on are Frank Gillihan, Pierce County campaign director for the March of Dimes and co-chairman of the Golden Gloves, and Pat Steele (far right), sports chairman for the March of Dimes. Photograph ordered by the March of Dimes. (TNT 1-20-56, p. 20)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; March of Dimes (Tacoma); National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; McMurtry, Pat; McMurtry, Mike; Gillihan, Frank J.; Steele, Patrick;

In December of 1948, Barbara C. Japhet, 19, of Tacoma was suddenly stricken with infantile paralysis. By mid-January she had made remarkable progress. She was receiving physio-therapy treatment, five times per week; and although she was still confined to an iron lung, she was able to take her first four breaths by herself on Christmas day, and she was well on her way to breathing on her own. Barbara and her mother, Gwendolyn Page (at left), both thanked the March of Dimes for the support they had given them, and encouraged people throughout Tacoma to support the March of Dimes campaign. (T.N.T., 1/30/49, p. A-5).

Iron lungs; Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Mothers & children--Tacoma; March of Dimes (Tacoma); Sick persons; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Japhet, Barbara; Page, Gwendolyn;

Exterior view of Pierce County Hospital. The hospital was built in 1926 from a design by Hill & Mock, architects. As early as the late 30's, the hospital was under fire for dirty conditions, obsolete equipment and poor care. In 1958, the hospital underwent a name change to Mountain View General Hospital, after taking over the Mountain View Sanatorium. By 1969, the hospital was up on the auction block. After the sale, it was known as the Puget Sound General Hospital and the Northern Pacific Hospital relocated to this site. (T. Times)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma);

Pierce County Hospital (filed with Argentum)

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pierce County Hospital (filed with Argentum)

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Titus Motor's gift for the first born baby in Tacoma in 1941 was a ride home for mother and child in a 1941 Super Deluxe Ford. The 9 pound 3 ounce baby boy arrived at 12:08 a.m. at the County Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Parham of 6002 So. Mason making them winners of the Tacoma News Tribune Stork Derby for 1941.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford automobile; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Infants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parham, Herbert--Family;Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The winner of the Tacoma News Tribune Stork Derby for 1941, the first baby of the year, was a 9 pound, 3 ounce baby boy born to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Parham at 12:08a.m. on January 1, 1941. One of the prizes was a ride home from the County Hospital in a 1941 Super DeLuxe Ford for the new family. The vehicle was supplied by Titus Motors. (TNT 1/2/1941, pg. 1)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford automobile; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Infants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parham, Herbert--Family;Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On January 21, 1941, the Tacoma District Council presented two modern iron lungs to the staff of the Pierce County Hospital. The council is made up thirteen local Lumber & Sawmill workers unions from Tacoma and vicinity. Standing directly behind the lung, in the white jacket, is Dr. Burton Brown. (T. Times 1/22/1941, pg. 12)

Iron lungs; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma);

Mrs. Genevieve Houston tends to the hands of Betty Stell, in the iron lung. The pictured iron lung is one of two presented to the Pierce County Hospital by the local Lumber & Sawmill Workers unions. The new lungs were the first made with a new orthopedic head attachment which allows the patient's arms to be kept in a comfortable position. The improvement had been suggested by local physicians Dr. Burton Brown and Dr. Norman E. Magnussen. The two gift lungs were the first two manufactured with the new design. (T. Times 1/22/1941, pg. 12)

Iron lungs; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Houston, Genevieve; Stell, Betty;

The Tacoma District Council, Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union (AFL), made up of 13 local unions, presented two modern iron lungs to the Pierce County Hospital on January 21, 1941. The lungs were needed to help patients struck down by infantile paralysis, polio. The iron lungs take over the breathing duties for the incapacitated patients. Each machine cost $2,000, money which was raised by a $1 donation from each union member. Pictured left to right are Guy Melton, Dr. Burton Brown, Philip Garland, Earl Hartley, John H. Binns, Dr. Norman E. Magnussen and Mrs. Genevieve Houston. The names of the patients in the lung machines are given in the Tacoma Times. (T. Times 1/22/1941, pg. 12)

Iron lungs; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In the 1940s, poliomyelitis was very active in Tacoma. The disease attacks children and young people, sometimes resulting in paralysis. One of the treatments was physical therapy, stretching and exercising the atrophied muscles. Other muscles were also trained to perform some of the tasks of the paralyzed muscles. Before the development of the polio vaccine, poliomyelitis was the most dreaded disease to affect children and young people. In the summer of 1940, while polio was active in Tacoma, all pools and fresh water swimming holes were closed. All youth groups closed their day and overnight camps and parents kept their children inside in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma);

A young polio patient at the Pierce County Hospital is pictured in physical therapy. A nurse is stretching and moving muscles affected by the disease. In the early 20th century, before the vaccine developed in 1955 by Dr. Jonas Salk, the virus would attack children and young adults. In some cases, the victims would die or suffer permanent paralysis.

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma);

Three year old Katherine Ann Clinton celebrates her birthday at the Pierce County Hospital where she is a polio patient. She lies in her crib surrounded by her toys. She lifts a new doll with her legs to admire it. Her arms are set with splints as part of the polio therapy. Her friends lie around her in iron lung respirators. (T. Times 9/10/1940, pg. 3)

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Clinton, Katherine Ann;

Birthday girl Katherine Ann Clinton fingers the ribbon on her new doll. She is celebrating her third birthday at a party in the Polio Ward of the Pierce County Hospital. She has a splint on one arm. This was a standard treatment for polio, to immobilize the paralyzed limbs. As the poliomyelitis virus stalked the youth of Tacoma, parents kept their children away from crowds. Swimming pools and freshwater lakes were closed for swimming, as the virus could live in both dirt and water. (T. Times 9/10/1940, pg. 3)

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Clinton, Katherine Ann;

Birthday party for three year old Katherine Ann Clinton, a polio patient at the Pierce County Hospital. She lies in her crib, surrounded by her new toys. Most of Katherine's friends and fellow patients are in the surrounding iron lungs. The nurses have placed one of her baby dolls in the infant iron lung. (T. Times 9/10/1940, pg. 3)

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Clinton, Katherine Ann;

Katherine Ann Clinton joyously celebrates her 3rd birthday. She is a polio patient at the Pierce County Hospital. Katherine lifts one of her toys with her legs to admire it. She is unable to use her arms, the paralyzed limbs have been immobilized in splints, the standard treatment at that time for polio. After 8 weeks in the hospital, Katherine Ann is improving and requires only part-time treatment in the iron lung. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clinton of Parkland. (T. Times 9/10/1940, pg. 3)

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Clinton, Katherine Ann;

Polio patient Katherine Ann Clinton smiles from her crib. A doctor and nurse are practicing the polio treatment of the time. They are immobilizing her affected limbs in splints. An Australian nurse named Elizabeth Kenny fought the medical establishment, arguing that this treatment weakened the muscles further. She advocated moist heat and limb mobilization, a treatment that is used today.

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Clinton, Katherine Ann;

In September of 1940, a young polio patient is being removed from her iron lung. One of the most dangerous complications of polio was the loss of the ability to breathe. In the early 1920s, American physician Philip Drinker developed the first artificial respirator. It was a large airtight cylinder. The patient laid inside the cylinder with only their head remaining on the outside. Motors attached to the cylinder rhythmically changed the air pressure inside, forcing air in and out of the patients� lungs. The contraption came to be called an "Iron Lung." The cumbersome machine has now been replaced with the portable ventilator.

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Iron lungs;

Iron lung polio patient at the Pierce County Hospital. In the summer of 1940, poliomyelitis stalked the young people of Tacoma. Its targets were children and young adults. By September of 1940, eleven patients remained in Pierce County Hospital in iron lungs, full time or part-time.

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Iron lungs;

Polio patients encased in iron lungs at the Pierce County Hospital. The infectious viral disease affected children and young adults, sometimes causing paralysis. One of the most dreaded complications was the loss of the ability to breathe. The iron respirator took over that responsibility, breathing for the child.

Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Iron lungs;

Nine of the poliomyelitis patients at Pierce County Hospital and seven of the wards staff posed for a Tacoma Times photographer in September of 1940. The patients and staff were celebrating the third birthday of Katherine Ann Clinton of Midland (not in photo) who had recovered enough from her infection that she only required part time treatment in a respirator. The patients in iron lungs at this time included (not in order) Mary Burns-7, Jesse James-2, Dean Loucks-10, Herbert Grabowsky- 23, Jake Wunders- 26, Bernard Vanderkinter- 14; in the iron lungs part-time were Leona Havens- 10, Mary Alice Hohensiner-7 and Glen Mohr - 10. The wards staff included Dr. Melvin Warren, Mrs. Genevieve Houston, Miss Elsie Strandness, Miss Gertrude Sydow and Miss Susan Felchlin. The nurse at the front left is standing beside a infant respirator with a toy doll in it. (T. Times 9/10/1940, pg. 3)

Iron lungs; Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma);

Birthday party at Pierce County Hospital for Katherine Ann Clinton in the Polio Ward. The majority of the children are in iron lungs, massive respirators that squeeze the chest to expand and contract the rib cage. Little Katherine Ann Clinton, celebrating her third birthday, rests in her crib, surrounded by her new toys. A baby doll resides in an infant iron lung next to her. Katherine Ann, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clinton of Midland, is improving after 8 weeks in the hospital and now only requires part-time treatment in the respirator. Pictured medical staff are, in no particular order, Dr. Melvin Warren, Mrs. Genevieve Houston, Miss Elsie Strandness, Miss Gertrude Sydow and Miss Susan Felchin. All of the 11 patient guests could not be pictured at one time. Until the discovery of the Salk vaccine for poliomyelitis in 1955, polio was the scourge of childhood. In the summer of 1940, as the virus swept Tacoma, pools and freshwater lakes were closed to swimming and parents kept their children away from crowds. The virus could live in both dirt and water and was spread by poor sanitation. (T. Times 9/10/1940, pg. 3)

Iron lungs; Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Sick children; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Clinton, Katherine Ann; Children's parties; Birthday parties;

This aerial view of the Pierce County Hospital and its surrounding neighborhood was taken in July of 1941. The hospital's new north wing and new west wing were nearing completion. An extra three-mil tax levy was passed in March of 1940 to fund the expansion of the hospital. At the upper left corner is the excavation for the Lincoln Bowl, which was not completed until after WWII. Pierce County took over ownership of the hospital in 2000. (T.Times 7/31/1941 p.5)

Aerial photographs; Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On January 22, 1942, the March of Dimes dedicated the recently completed therapy pool at the Pierce County Hospital. The pool was used in the treatment of infantile paralysis (polio) patients. The dedication was attended by county officials, hospital employees and members of the Pierce County Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Posed around the pool are, left to right, Mike O'Connell, Dr. Norman Magnusson, George M.V. Brown, Dr. Burton Brown, John Fishburne, Freeman Cochran, John Binns, Mrs. Genevieve Houston, William McIntosh, Mrs. Myrak T. Thayer and Miss Florence West. In the pool are Paul Curran and nurse Loretta Botto. The chair Curran is seated in was donated by the auxiliary of the Lumber and Sawmill workers, Local 284. The $15,000 pool was located in a sun room off the main floor and had an adjacent heated locker room. (T. Times 1/24/1942, pg. 5; TNT 1/23/1942, pg. 1)

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; March of Dimes (Tacoma); National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Physical therapy--Tacoma;

On January 20, 1942, the nurses feed doughnuts to one of the hospital officials as they get ready to dedicate the new wing of the Pierce County Hospital. On the left is nurse Genevieve Houston.

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Houston, Genevieve; Doughnuts; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pierce County Hospital for March of Dimes, Pierce County Chapter, National Infantile Paralysis Assoc., Emily Walker. A man is adding his weight to his legs while walking with the aid of a metal walker on wheels. A nurse is by his side as he makes his first steps.

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; March of Dimes (Tacoma); National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Physical therapy--Tacoma;

Pierce County Hospital for March of Dimes, Pierce County Chapter, National Infantile Paralysis Assoc., Emily Walker. A nurse is showing a girl with polio her posture in a full-length mirror. There may be adjustments that can be made through therapy to help her. The Pierce County chapter of the National Fund for Infantile Paralysis had helped families by paying a portion of the care provided by Pierce County Hospital. (T.Times, 1/19/1948, p.2)

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; March of Dimes (Tacoma); National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Physical therapy--Tacoma;

Pierce County Hospital for March of Dimes, Pierce County Chapter, National Infantile Paralysis Assoc., Emily Walker. A young boy is ready to be lowered into a warm water pool by hospital staff. He is lying on a board which is raised and lowered by straps connected to a moving overhead system. A girl is already enjoying the warm water. The annual fund raising March of Dimes drive started January 15, 1948. One-half of the funds raised would be forwarded to the National Fund for Infantile Paralysis for education, research and epidemic aid. (T.Times, 1/14/1948, p.1)

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; March of Dimes (Tacoma); National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Physical therapy--Tacoma;

Pierce County Hospital for March of Dimes, Pierce County Chapter, National Infantile Paralysis Assoc., Emily Walker. Therapist Gladys H. Morris is in the warm water pool with five-year old Lisla Mae Schaeffer providing physical therapy to strengthen Lisla's leg and abdominal muscles affected by infantile paralysis. Lisla is lying on a board that can be raised and lowered from the water. The National Fund for Infantile Paralysis helped buy necessary equipment such as wheel chairs for victims of the disease as well as pay for transportation for therapy treatments and child care for healthy siblings when parents took their children for their treatments. All children in the polio wards received full or partial financial aid from the Pierce County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. (T.Times, 1/19/1948, p.2; 1/24/1948, p.1))

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; March of Dimes (Tacoma); National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Physical therapy--Tacoma;

Pierce County Hospital for March of Dimes, Pierce County Chapter, National Infantile Paralysis Assoc., Emily Walker. A nurse will provide a weekly therapy session for two-year old Mickey McCann. He is with his father, chief petty officer T.W. McCann. Pierce County Hospital. Mickey had been hospitalized for one month when his family lived in Fresno, California. Funds raised through the National Fund for Infantile Paralysis are also used to advance research into prevention and cure of polio. (T.Times, 1/19/1948; p.2; 1/24/1948, p.1))

Pierce County Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; March of Dimes (Tacoma); Poliomyelitis--Tacoma; Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Physical therapy--Tacoma; McCann, Mickey;