Generations Of Care: Billings Clinic Broadwater Honors 120-year Journey
Author: Joe Salyer Communications Director for Billings Clinic
Generations of Care: Billings Clinic Broadwater Honors 120-year Journey
Joe Salyer
Communications Director for Billings Clinic
This year, Townsend’s health care facility – now known as Billings Clinic Broadwater-proudly marks 120 years of providing compassionate, high-quality care to Broadwater County and surrounding communities. The path to the present has not always been easy. Like many rural hospitals, the facility has faced its share of challenges. But today it stands strong, serving its neighbors with dedication and pride. Its 120-year history is truly remarkable.
Dr. J.L. Belcher set up the first hospital when he moved to the newly established town of Townsend in 1883 from Centerville. Four years later, Dr. G.W. Gilham, from the West Coast, partnered with Belcher to become Townsend’s first doctors. The building, a private residence at 112 No. Pine, became the first hospital. They staffed it with a registered nurse and called it Broadwater Hospital. Later, it became a nursing home administered by Mrs. Rufus (Edith) Vaughn.
Dr. Belcher set up the first doctor’s office at Cedar and Broadway in one of Townsend’s first buildings. It was moved in 1915 to the alley to make room for the new State Bank. The building was razed when the State Bank built its drive-up area in the 1970s. Other doctors followed, including Dr. C.W. Smith, who treated county residents during the l9l8 Influenza epidemic.
In 1935, Drs. R.G. and his wife, M.L. Bayles, and Frank P. Nash began the Tri-County Clinic. In 1939, the clinic began serving Meagher, Broadwater and Madison counties with Dr. Wm McElwee in White Sulphur Springs and, Dr. Ed Bertagnolli in Three Forks. A brick two-story building housing Broadwater Hospital was built behind the County Courthouse in 1938. WPA workers and people who needed to work off their medical bills completed the building. The community pitched in. Funds raised through an annual charity ball sponsored by the Broadwater County Federation of Women’s Clubs helped purchase equipment. Dr. McElwee moved to Townsend in 1939 to serve the hospital. D.J. McKillican, DDS, staffed a dentist’s office in the new building as well.
Clinton T. Holland became the first administrator of the hospital in 1946. He continued in the position until November 1982. Several of the registered nurses employed by the hospital included Myrtle Hooks, Mary Hargrove, Gloria Poole, Myrtle Geisser, Doreen Sautter, Pat Nelson, Mary Sue Griffith, Gen Walter and Fern Kirley. Kirley nursed from l938 until her retirement in l988. The hospital honored her with a lifetime award. Now, a volunteer is honored each year with the Fern Kirley award and plaque for his or her excellence in service to the hospital and nursing home.
Dr. Vernon Swenson and his wife, Jaque, a nurse, guided the community through the transition to tear down the Broadwater Hospital and build the new hospital at 110. No. Oak. Swensons came to Townsend in 1964. With their guidance and hard work, the Broadwater County Commissioners formed a hospital district to study alternatives for a new hospital. A resident survey showed support for building a new hospital. Instrumental in building support for the new hospital were Hubert and Hilma White, two of the owners of Neifert-White company. Voters passed a general obligation bond. A record turnout of voters approved the bond issue which included the new ten-bed acute care facility and 32 long-term care beds.
The medical staff included Drs. Nicholas M. Campbell, who moved to Townsend in 1986, and Dr. Earl Booke, Family Practice physicians. Many other physicians served during that time, also. The facility became Broadwater Health Center until February 2020, when it was sold to Billings Clinic, a regional hospital in Billings, MT.
Editor's Note: Mr. Salyer was assisted by Broadwater Museum Curator Linda Huth in writing this history.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Photos provided by Broadwater County Museum.
Image 1 Caption: Broadwater Health Center built in 1986 on the site of the old hospital at 110 N. Cedar Street.
Photo Provided by Broadwater County Museum
Image 2 Caption: Broadwater Hospital and Tri-County Clinic was built in 1938 by Drs. R.G. and M.L. Bayles and Frank P. Nash with the help of the community
Photo Provided by Broadwater County Museum
Image 3 Caption: The first hospital in Townsend was opened by Dr. J.L. Belcher at 112 No. Pine St. The building still stands.
Photo Provided by Broadwater County Museum
