History of Oyen’s hospital

The history of Oyen’s hospitals is captured in Oyen’s history book “Many Trails Crossed Here.” Dr. H.C. Swartzlander came to homestead in Oyen in 1913. One pioneer noted that although he was not well off, he managed to put himself through college and was a good doctor.

His office was located on Main Street, but there was no official hospital. A midwife helped with deliveries while the doctor made house calls. In 1924, he bought a house on 1st Avenue and added a space for an operating room with a skylight and a large ward, which served as the Oyen General Hospital.

Oyen’s first municipal hospital opened in 1947, located on the present hospital grounds.

In 1924 Dr. Swartzlander bought this house, which was located on First Avenue East. It served as the Oyen General Hospital.

Both Dr. Swartzlander, along with Dr. McGregor, had offices in a building just west of the hospital. Many babies were born in the little hospital, but unfortunately, it closed in the 1930s, and by 1935 both doctors left Oyen. The building was again used as a dwelling and was later moved to a farm.

From 1935 until 1947, the area from Youngstown east to the Saskatchewan border, south to the river, and thirty miles north of Oyen was served by a small six-bed hospital in Cereal. In about 1940, the Alberta government brought out a plan where districts were able to build and operate municipal hospitals primarily paid for by the province.

Consequently, in 1945 a board was formed in Oyen, and a hospital was built in 1947 on the present hospital grounds. Upon opening, the nursing staff consisted of two registered nurses and a matron, who worked 12-hour shifts and were paid $75/month. Arthur and Cora Gullekson served as cook and janitor.

In December 1967, a hospital emergency meeting was called by the Oyen and District Chamber of Commerce. Representatives attended from eleven districts, developing a plan of action to petition the government for a better hospital. Finally, in August of 1969, construction of the 34-bed Big Country Hospital and a nurses’ residence began.