For many researchers, the medical history of our ancestors is just as important as their genealogy. I have been collecting bits and pieces of information about medical care in early Cowlitz County history - particularly the names of hospitals and doctors that treated early residents. This information is by no means complete and I will continue to update it as I come across new resources. If you can add to this information, please do not hesitate to contact Jenny Tenlen.

"Best of health care in Cowlitz County" - brief overview of medical services in Cowlitz County, written by Zack Hale for The Daily News (25 Mar 2018).

Hospitals

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview is the only comprehensive, acute care hospital currently serving Cowlitz County. Kaiser Permanente also oversees the Longview-Kelso Medical Office. In the early 1900s, Kelso was served by Kelso General Hospital.

Kelso General Hospital:

Longview hospitals:

Longview Memorial Hospital (1924-1943) ---> St. John's Hospital (1943-1999) ---> St. John Medical Center (1999-)

Longview General Hospital (1932-1935) ---> Cowlitz General Hospital (1935-1968) ---> Monticello Medical Center (1968-1987) ---> St. John Medical Center (1999-)

Cowlitz General Hospital: When Longview General Hospital moved into the old Longview train depot in 1935, it was renamed Cowlitz General Hospital, and remained there until a new hospital was built in the 1960s [source: HistoryLink.org].

Longview General Hospital: Longview General Hospital was orginally founded in late 1932 in the Willard Building [source: Robert D. West, Places: Kelso-Longview, Washington]. In 1935, it was renamed Cowlitz General Hospital when it moved into the old Longview train depot in 1935.

Longivew Memorial Hospital: Longview's first hospital, open from 1924-1943. Became St. John's Hospital in 1943. [source: Robert D. West, Places: Kelso-Longview, Washington]

Monticello Medical Center: After the new Cowlitz General Hospital was opened in 1968, it was renamed Monticello Medical Center [source: Robert D. West, Places: Kelso-Longview, Washington]. Monticello was purchased by PeaceHealth in 1987, and Monticello Medical Center became a campus of St. John Medical Center.

"The Clatskanie Chief" published two articles in the early 1950s about a fundraising campaign to build a new "Inter-Community Memorial Hospital" to replace Cowlitz General Hospital. I believe this campaign led to the building of Monticello Medical Center, but can't find confirmation of this.

St. John's Hospital: St. John's Hospital was formed in late 1943, when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace re-opened Longview Memorial Hospital. The hospital is now owned by PeaceHealth. After an expansion in 1999, the hospital was renamed PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center

Medical Professionals

BALLARD, Jeremiah: Physician, Kelso

BELL, Frank M.: Physician, Kelso

BIRD, Floyd Alvah: Physician and Surgeon, Kelso [biography]

CHAPMAN, Alice T. (Hall): Physician, Woodland [biography]

DARNELL, John C.: Physician, Kalama

JOHNSON, Robert F.: Dentist, Kelso

LOVERING, W. T.: Physician, Castle Rock

OSTRANDER, Nathaniel: First physician in Cowlitz County [biography]

SIMS, Luther M.: Physician, Kalama

WENDT, Samuel M.: Physician, Castle Rock

Cowlitz County Medical Society

1907

Source: "Northwest Medicine: The Journal of the Washington State Medical Association." Clarence A. Smith, Ed. Vol. V, January to December, 1907. Seattle: Washington Medical Library Association, 1907. p. 64.

President, F. M. Bell
Secretary, L. M. Sims
Bales, C. W., Kelso
Ballard, J., Kelso
Barkman, H. C., Stella
Bell, F. M., Kelso
Bird, F. A., Kelso
Campbell, T. C., Castle Rock
Chapman, A. H., Woodland
Persons, J. R., Castle Rock
Sims, L. M., Kalama
Wendt, S. M., Castle Rock

1912

Source: "Medical News." Journal of the American Medical Association. Volume LVIII, Number 7, 17 Feb 1912. p. 493.

"New Officers. - Cowlitz County Medical Society, at Woodland, January 10: president, Dr. Clement W. Bales, Kelso."

1917

Source: "Medical Societies." The Medical Sentinel. Volume 25, Number 7, July 1917. p. 3603.

"County Doctors Meet in Kalama"

"The annual meeting of the Cowlitz County Medical Association was held in Kalama, June 1, at the office of Dr. C. E. Stafrin.

During the business session Dr. H. A. Bird of Kelso was elected president and Dr. L. M. Sims, secretary-treasurer. Dr. H. A. Rue was elected delegate to represent the association in Spokane June 20-23.

The following members attended: Dr. H. A. Rue, of Stella; Dr. H. M. Page, of Cathlamet; Dr. C. H. Hoffman, of Woodland; Dr. E. W. White, of Castle Rock; Dr. H. A. Bird, of Kelso; Dr. C. W. Bales, of Kelso; Dr. L. M. Sims and Dr. C. E. Stafrin, of Kalama."