The History of OSF Saint Clare Medical Center
OSF HealthCare Saint Clare Medical Center has a long standing legacy of service that began with the early vision and generosity of Julia Rackley Perry, whose bequest set in motion the creation of a hospital for the Princeton community in the early 1900s. What opened in 1920 as a small, 28-bed public hospital has continually evolved to meet the needs of local families.
Over the decades, expansions, modernizations and new services have reflected a deep commitment to compassionate care. Today, as part of OSF HealthCare, OSF Saint Clare carries forward that Mission with the same spirit of community focused excellence.
The Beginning
1913: Julia Rackley Perry bequeathed $25,000 to the city of Princeton with the provision to establish a public hospital in Princeton within five years.
1915: Julia Rackley Perry’s husband died, leaving more than $50,000 for a hospital in Princeton.
1916: The Julia Rackley Perry Memorial Hospital was officially founded when an ordinance was passed by the city council for the establishment and maintenance of a public hospital in the city of Princeton.
1917: The public voted to purchase the former Princeton Hospital property on Park Avenue for the new hospital.
1920: The two-story Julia Rackley Perry Memorial Hospital opened with beds for 28 patients.
1920: The hospital was damaged by fire, affecting the roof and a few patient rooms.
1930s & 1940s
1931: The east wing was completed at an investment of $118,766, expanding the capacity to 41 beds and 12 bassinets.
1935: The Princeton Rotary Club decorated and refurbished the entrance reception room.
1937: A grant was secured to help fund a much-needed building expansion.
1937: The new west wing addition was started.
1938: The west wing addition opened and included the first automatic elevator for the hospital and the most modern sanitary operating room.
1948: Perry Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was organized.
1950s
1950: A fundraising campaign began for a $350,000 expansion project.
1952: The city council agreed to sell the Perry Memorial hospital to a new area-wide hospital district for $13,000.
1953: The hospital’s first gift shop opened.
1954: The center wing was remodeled, and a new east wing was added, bringing the capacity to 66 beds and 16 bassinets.
1959: An expansion project was completed bringing capacity to 95 beds at Perry Memorial Hospital.
1960s
1962: The auxiliary started a candy striper program.
1967: A groundbreaking was held for a $3.6 million expansion project.
1969: An intensive care unit was opened.
1969: The expansion project added a surgical suite, obstetrical department, laboratory, radiology department, emergency room and new mechanical facility.
1970s
1970: The new chapel was dedicated to the memory of Darlene Landis Giffin.
1973: The first patient to be airlifted from Perry Memorial was transported to the regional trauma center at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria.
1975: The University of Illinois authorized the Peoria School of Medicine to affiliate with Perry Memorial Hospital.
1976: Construction began with a groundbreaking for the new ambulatory care building.
1978: The new, $3.2 million Ambulatory Care Facility at Perry Memorial Hospital was dedicated.
1980s
1984: Outpatient services were established at Perry Memorial Hospital.
1985: A new entrance, along with renovations for the emergency, laboratory and X-ray departments were completed.
1987: The Temporary Living Center, a skilled nursing center to bridge the gap between acute care center and home, was opened.
1988: A cardiac rehabilitation department was established.
1988: CT services were added.
1990s
1991: A Medical Emergency Communications of Illinois radio was installed, allowing communication between the physicians in the Emergency Department and the emergency personnel in the field.
1991: The first laparoscopic procedure in the Princeton area was performed at Perry Memorial Hospital by Dr. L. J. Foley.
1992: Perry Memorial Hospital started providing 24-hour emergency services.
1992: A $50,000 rooftop helipad was added to Perry Memorial Hospital.
1993: The Bureau Valley Area Hospice was organized with offices located at Perry Memorial Hospital.
1994: A groundbreaking was held for a three-story expansion project.
1994: Weekly mobile MRI services were offered at Perry Memorial Hospital.
1995: A new, state-of-the-art $1.4 million surgical wing was opened.
1996: Perry Memorial Hospital joined with St. Margaret’s Health and Kewanee Hospital to form Spoon River Community Provider Network, providing quality, competitively priced health services to employers in and around the community.
1997: Perry Memorial Hospital joined the Stroke Network, coordinated through OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria.
1997: Perry Memorial Hospital became an independent affiliate of OSF HealthCare, to provide a more comprehensive integrated health care delivery system for the communities served by both organizations.
1997: The LaMoille Rural Health Clinic opened, joining Walnut Clinic and Mullin Memorial Rural Health Clinic as affiliates of Perry Memorial Hospital.
1999: Perry Memorial Hospital was the first hospital in the United States to have installed the state-of-the-art PrismAlix surgical lighting system.
2000s
2004: Perry Memorial Hospital became a Critical Access Hospital.
2005: A groundbreaking was held for a $6.5 million multiphase construction and renovation project.
2007: A new ER and an outpatient services wing was opened.
2009: The multiphase construction plan was completed with the addition of a new chapel and lobby renovation.
2010s
2014: The Princeton Family Physicians joined Perry Memorial Health Clinic.
2019: Perry Memorial Hospital began construction on a $4.5 million family health clinic. The new clinic was built across the street from the hospital on Park Avenue East.
2019: Partnership discussions began between Perry Memorial Hospital and OSF HealthCare.
2020s
2020: The newly completed Family Health Clinic was opened.
2020: Perry Memorial Hospital celebrated 100 years of service to Princeton and surrounding communities.
2021: A blessing and dedication were held for the new OSF HealthCare Saint Clare Medical Center, after Perry Memorial Hospital joined the OSF Family.
2023: An original painting created by artist Betty Jewel Wagner was unveiled to honor the care she received at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.