Marion Hospital 1915-1920

On December 10, 1906, the “Thorne Club Place” was certified as a legally organized corporation by the State of Illinois. The club consisted of five men who created the club as a social gentlemen’s club. The Club was constructed in 1907 and used as a social club and residence by the five men.  The Club was located at 601 E. Thorn St.

When one of the men, Dr. Dausa D. Hartwell, later became President of Thorne Place Club he used the building as a hospital from about 1915 to 1920. It was then called the Marion Hospital.

On February 2, 1920 the Thorne Place Club (Marion Hospital) , D.D. Hartwell, President and Rita D. Hartwell, Secretary sold the property to O.A. Morgan and it was used as a residence from then on.

This hospital was the first known hospital that Marion had and it would be over 30 years and into the 1950’s before Marion would have the Marion Memorial Hospital. I did run across a directory listing from around 1925 indicating the presence of a hospital operating at 307 E. Main Street, but it appears its life was short. This same large two story house has been used as a hotel, funeral home and apartment building as well, that I know of.

(Data extracted from 1989 Sesquicentennial History, WCHS)