Recently, the Colorado Historical Newspapers website published the Salida Mountain Mail newspapers from the early 1960's. In these newspapers, there are two pictures that were published showing the nurses who graduated from the Red Cross Hospital Nurses School in 1920. In each of these pictures, one of the nurses is identified as Bernice Newitt (her name is also spelled Berenice Newitt). The newspaper images that are published on the Colorado Historical Newspapers website are indiscernible. I reached out to the Salida Library, and they provided me with these two images, which are discernible.
Salida Mountain Mail, April 27, 1960
Salida Mountain Mail, November 27, 1961
The first image, published in the Salida Mountain Mail in April 27, 1960, the nurse identified as Bernice Newitt is on the second row, third from the right. However, it is hard to see her face as it is a side view of her face. The second image, published in the Salida Mountain Mail on November 27, 1961, Bernice Newitt is sitting on the front row on the right. It is a very clear image and easy to see her face.
An article published in the Salida Mountain Mail on November 27, 1961 indicates that the Red Cross Hospital was built in 1910. Here is a postcard of the Red Cross Hospital in Salida, Colorado. the article reads: 'the first floor of the hospital building was given over to medical cases, and emergency room and Z-ray facilities. Surgical and obstetrical cases were quartered on the second floor, as was the operating room...On the third floor of the hospital were 24 rooms serving as the nurses' quarters.' The newspaper articles continues: 'A very vital part of the hospital was the nurses' training school which graduated from two to eight nurses in each class.' Bernice was one of eight nurses who graduated from the Red Cross Hospital's Nurses School in 1920. Below is a postcard showing the Red Cross Hospital building during the 1910's.
The hospital closed in 1941, and the building was renovated and turned into the Salida Masonic Temple, which opened in 1942. The article indicates that the second floor of the building was not sufficiently buttressed, which caused the upper walls of the building to buckle. It was decided that the second floor of the building would be removed. The building was once again renovated, and the now single-floor Masonic lodge opened in 1962. Below is a picture of the building today.
Looking at the pictures that were published in the Salida Mountain Mail newspapers, it makes me wonder if the original photos of Bernice and the other nurses she worked, studied and graduated with still exist. I also reached out to the Salida Museum, but they didn't have records for Bernice in their holdings. I wonder if these pictures would be hanging in one of the halls of waiting rooms of the local hospital or clinics in or around Salida.
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