This is a lovely photograph of the original Morton Hospital around 1910. It was posted on the Litchfield Historical Society website, believe it or not. Possibly,
because Marcus Morton went to the Litchfield Law School.
When it became our hospital in the 40's and 50's , there was much of that wonderful building left
with its sheen of elegance. In 1960, the mansion was demolished for renovation
and later the Thayer Medical Building project also altered its appearance.
and later the Thayer Medical Building project also altered its appearance.
The mansion had been donated by Susan Kimball Morton, daughter of Marcus Morton, an illustrious figure, not just in Taunton but in the state of Massachusetts and beyond in the 1800's. Marcus Morton could trace his roots back to the Mayflower on his mother's side:
he was born in Freetown,MA
he was born in Freetown,MA
in 1784. He was homeschooled and later was accepted to Brown University
and then on to the Litchfield School of Law in Massachusetts. He practiced law
in Taunton before going to to his long and illustrious political career. As well as the positions below his photo, he was elected to the 15th and 16th congresses as a Republican and then later was a Democrat. He was Lt. Gov of Massachusetts from 1840-1841 and 1843 to 1844. In his judicial career he was known for a famous case. He was the lone dissenter the last time
anyone in the U.S. was convicted of blasphemy.
and then on to the Litchfield School of Law in Massachusetts. He practiced law
in Taunton before going to to his long and illustrious political career. As well as the positions below his photo, he was elected to the 15th and 16th congresses as a Republican and then later was a Democrat. He was Lt. Gov of Massachusetts from 1840-1841 and 1843 to 1844. In his judicial career he was known for a famous case. He was the lone dissenter the last time
anyone in the U.S. was convicted of blasphemy.
Marcus Morton was the only governor to ever come from Taunton, MA.
He married Charlotte Hodges and they had 12 children, ten of which survived. His son, Marcus would become a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice as well, following in his father's footsteps.
One of ten remaining children at her father's death, Susan Morton Kimball attained the rights of all of the other children and the family mansion on Washington St. was donated for the first
hospital in Taunton, MA. The dedication took place Jan. 3, 1889. (Old Colony Historical Society)
First incorporated as The Taunton Hospital Corporation in June of 1888, its name was
later changed to The Morton Hospital.
In the 20th century, Morton Hospital had its own School of Nursing, a three year program.
I do not recall, but perhaps there was a photograph of Marcus Morton hanging in the
lovely foyer of the old hospital we knew. Times have so changed and in the recent past, the hospital has been acquired by a for-profit hospital chain and is
now Morton Hospital- a Steward Hospital.
A friend told me this morning that those amazing historical pictures of the hospital that
line the corridors when are going to all be removed.
If that is true, there go the last vestiges of
the history of Taunton's first hospital.
But, as we knew it it was an elegant, quiet hospital next door to a primary parochial school where children's laughter could be heard to cheer patients as they recovered. I always remember the front entrance, the black and white tiles floors, the beautiful spiral staircase, the fireplace in the waiting area, the switchboard operator who gave you one of two visitors permits
(you often sneaked in otherwise).
I was never a patient there, but my parents were in those years, though not often.
We never frequented the E.R. when we were young, either.
For further interesting reading try
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