The History of OSF Saint Luke Medical Center
Our legacy started back in 1899 when a committee of the Women's Federated Clubs went before the city council with the proposal to build a hospital to meet the emergency accident needs of the city’s 5,000 working men. After much time, the Kewanee Public Hospital building finally opened on April 16, 1919, with the first patient admitted the following day.
On April 1, 2014, Kewanee Hospital affiliated with OSF HealthCare and became OSF Saint Luke Medical Center. While health care continues to change, the goal remains the same, providing local access to excellent health care services while serving with the greatest care and love.
The Beginning
1902: The Kewanee Public Hospital Association was incorporated.
1917: A fundraising campaign for the construction of Kewanee Public Hospital began.
1917: A groundbreaking program with a basket picnic, was held for the new Kewanee Public Hospital on the corner of Elliot and Division streets.
1919: The first meeting of the Kewanee Public Hospital Auxiliary was held.
1919: The first patient was admitted to Kewanee Public Hospital.
1920s
1922: The Mattie Currier Training School for Nurses was opened.
1928: The Ruby Leora Waller Memorial Nurses’ Home was dedicated. P.A. Waller, democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Illinois, donated $50,000 toward the new home as a memorial to his daughter.
1940s & 1950s
1943: The last class graduated from Kewanee Public Hospital Nurses Training School. The training school graduated a total of 92 nurses prior to its closure.
1951: A $100,000 Kewanee Public Hospital building fund drive got underway to modernize the hospital.
1955: The Kewanee Public Hospital School of X-Ray Technology was accredited.
1958: Kewanee Public Hospital added a physical therapy department.
1959: Over 2,500 people attended an open house at Kewanee Public Hospital to celebrate the completion of an expansion project.
1960s
1965: A Kewanee Public Hospital teen volunteer program (TLC) was organized.
1965: A groundbreaking was held for Kewanee Public Hospital’s $1.4 million expansion project.
1966: An obstetrical wing was officially opened.
1966: The Spoon River Residence, a skilled nursing home, was officially opened.
1969: Kewanee Public Hospital opened a coronary care unit, first of its kind in the area.
1970s
1971: A formal opening of The Alcove gift shop was held.
1973: The new heliport was used for the first time when the Saint Francis Regional Trauma Center team came to Kewanee to discuss trauma service.
1980s
1980: A community fund drive began for a $4.3 million expansion project.
1983: An official opening of the Kewanee Public Hospital expansion project was held.
1983: Kewanee Public Hospital purchased a CT scanner.
1985: A new home care service was introduced.
1990s
1991: An occupational therapy department was established.
1993: A hospice care program began.
1996: A Care-A-Van was purchased by the Kewanee Hospital employees through the M*A*S*H (Medical Advocates Supporting Healthcare) employee-giving campaign.
2000s & 2010s
2006: A groundbreaking was held for the new hospital facility on South Street and Midland Road.
2008: A grand opening was held for the new Kewanee Hospital.
2014: Bishop Jenky blessed and dedicated OSF Saint Luke Medical Center.
2019: OSF Saint Luke Medical Center celebrated 100 years of service to the community.
2019: The OSF King Care-A-Van was blessed.
2020s
2021: A new free transportation program was established to help meet the needs of the community.
2023: A blessing box was installed, blessed and filled with food to serve the community.
2024: Emergency Department Mission Partners donated a bench in the Healing Garden in memory of Father Jerry Rafalko.