The History of OSF St. Francis Hospital
The Beginning
February 12, 1884: The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. agreed to care for the sick at the Delta County Hospital at the request of the mayor and attending physician, Dr. James H. Tracy, the Rev. Eugene Buttermann and the Bishop of the Diocese Sault Sainte Marie and Marquette.
1884: Sister M. Barbara Markford, O.S.F. served as the first superior/administrator of the Delta County Hospital.
1889: A fire destroyed a large portion of the Delta County Hospital.
1891: Gas lighting was installed; many prominent citizens were on hand to witness the illumination.
Early 1900s
1904: The heroism of the Sisters saved many patients during a fire at the Delta County Hospital.
1914: In exchange for $8,000, the formal deed and abstract for the Delta County Hospital was turned over to The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis by county officials.
1914: Construction began for the new St. Francis Hospital.
1915: A blessing and dedication ceremony was held for the new $70,000 St. Francis Hospital.
1915: A clinical laboratory was established.
1920s & 1930s
1924: Over 2,000 people attended the National Hospital Day festivities at St. Francis Hospital. The day included a program, tours and demonstrations.
1927: St. Francis Hospital opened the facilities first nursery.
1927: A blessing and dedication took place for two new wings at St. Francis Hospital.
1934:A two-day celebration was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sisters’ arriving in Escanaba. The festivities included a bazaar, musical entertainment, acrobats and speeches.
1937: St. Francis Hospital introduced a new Metric-Forgger gas machine, the only one of its kind in the Upper Peninsula. Unlike the old gas machine, this machine could be used to benefit all patients.
1940s
1943: The Home and Hospital Nursing Aide training program was established. Girls that were age 16 and over with at least an eighth grade education were eligible for the program.
1944: St. Francis Hospital was one of only 2,000 hospitals in the U.S. to receive penicillin for limited civilian distribution.
1948: Work began on a new children’s ward, complete with a playroom, separate nursery and an observation room.
1950s
1955: An auxiliary was formed by a group of 48 women, led by Sister M. Borromea Suplicka, O.S.F., to advance the work of the hospital.
1958: A groundbreaking was held for the new modernization/addition project.
1959: A three-day celebration ended with a plaque presentation by Delta County officials honoring the Sisters for 75 years of service to the Escanaba community.
1960s
1960: The new $1,399,542 addition was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Noa.
1965: The School of X-Ray Technology of St. Francis Hospital was accredited.
1968: St. Francis Hospital joined a shared communication network. A computer system linking the hospitals owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. This computer system is believed to be the first of its type in the United Stated.
1970s
1973: A coronary care special care unit and intensive care areas were opened.
1975: St. Francis Hospital celebrated the auxiliaries’ 20-year anniversary with a Hospital Auxiliary Day.
1975: A physical therapy program was formalized.
1977: During a special banquet, the medical staff of St. Francis Hospital presented The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis with medical equipment to commemorate the Sisters’ centennial.
1980s
1980: Plans were announced for a new two-story facility.
1981: An ultra safe X-ray machine was purchased, only the third of its kind in the U.S.
1984: A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new $19 million hospital, located on U.S. Hwy 2 and 41.
1986: The new St. Francis Hospital was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Schmidt.
1990s
1992: A home health care program was established at St. Francis Hospital.
1995: The new $5.9 million St. Francis Hospital Medical Office Building was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Garland.
1995: The new “OSF” corporate identity was introduced, with the facility now being called OSF St. Francis Hospital.
2000s & 2010s
2000: OSF St. Francis Hospital became one of the first hospitals in Michigan to use Biospectral Index Monitors (BIS) during surgical procedures.
2005: OSF St. Francis Hospital was the first hospital in the Upper Peninsula with electronic medical reports.
2010: Bishop Sample blessed the new John and Melissa Besse Emergency Department at OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group.
2011: A blessing, dedication and open house was held for the OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group Serenity Garden.
2014: The new John and Melissa Besse Physical Rehabilitation & Wellness Center was blessed.
2017: The $800,000 newly renovated oncology clinic was dedicated and blessed at OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group.
2017: Hospital name changed to OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group.
2017: The new $5 million OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group Gladstone clinic was blessed.
2018: The new $2.1 million laboratory was blessed and dedicated.
2020s
2024: An open house was held to celebrate the opening of the new OSF HealthCare Daniel J. Kobasic Cancer Clinic.
2025: A wound clinic opened in the John and Melissa Besse Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, offering specialized services to patients with acute and chronic wounds.