1

Ethel MacLeod moved to Sundre with her husband John in 1934.
1926
Sundre, Alberta, Canada

2

Rockwood Story
By Mrs. Johnson

When we stand and look at our new Hospital with pride, it will doubtless bring back memories of June 14, 1940, when a team of nurses and Doctors came to the James River Community Hall.
The Provincial Government in an attempt to give young rural residents some health protection, sent out teams of doctors and nurses with portable medical equipment to outlying areas throughout Alberta. Usually a hall or community centred building was rented and here, after preparations, youngsters were brought by their parents for examinations. Tonsils and adnoid operations and dental care were given under extremely crude conditions.

3

James River Community Hall, built in 1921
1921
Sundre, Alberta, Canada

4

The ladies and men of Rockwood district will recall the preparation of the Hall for this event. They did not think of it as work, but made a social day of it. The women scrubbing and disinfecting the ceiling, walls, and floors; the men carried the water from the nearby James River.
Many people were up at 5 am the day of "Operation Tonsils" hauling cots and sheets by team and wagon to the Hall.
The ladies provided a scrumptious hot meal for the team of Nurses and Doctors and helpers. This was served at the home of Mrs. J. Elliott, which is now the Don Belt farm.
There were many anxious parents that day, some 28 years ago, as they drove home by team, over rough roads with a small son or daughter on a cot in a wagon, just after an operation.
Our Sundre General Hospital will be a dream come true to those women, who so many years ago fought to get at least a District Nurse and all efforts were in vain. They were told that our Municipal District of Waterloo would have to revert to an Improvement District, and at that time this seemed to be two steps backward to one forward.
There are many residents in our area who will have nostalgic memories, when they view our hospital.