RUMFORD — More than 200 people gathered under a pair of tents around midday Oct. 2 to celebrate Rumford Hospital’s 100 years of healthcare.

With the hospital in view under cloudy skies and sprinkles, onlookers heard from current and former staff and volunteers who spoke of the history of the hospital and how proud they are to have been part of it.

Among the speakers was retired operating room staff nurse Becky Hall. Her 37 years there included managing the operating room, directing the primary care practices and serving as vice president of Nursing and Patient Care Services. She shared some of the history of Rumford Hospital, formerly Rumford Community Hospital.

She began by noting that at one point, her office was in the room she was born in.

“I didn’t go far in life,” she joked. “There’s something really special about working in a small community hospital, in a community that you grew up in, taking care of your family, your neighbors, your friends. It truly is rewarding.”

In her research, Hall said that early in the 1900s there were actually two hospitals in Rumford, both in private homes. One was run by Dr. McCarty, the other by Dr. Noyes. They were just down the hill near Strathglass Park, she said.

Then, in June 1924, there was a community movement to actually bring a modern hospital to Rumford. The River Valley was growing. The mill was booming. By September of that year, a fundraising campaign was organized with a goal to raise $200,000. In four days, the committee reported that they had raised half of the money. And six days later, they had surpassed their goal with $267,000.

Groundbreaking took place in May 1925, and 18 months later the hospital construction was complete, a 57-bed hospital with a modern maternity unit. The day after it opened, the first baby, a boy, was born there.

“I’m especially proud of the work that we did for this community and beyond during the pandemic,” Hall said.

Current President Stephany Jacques said Rumford Hospital is already looking ahead to one of the most exciting investments in Rumford Hospital’s future — the renovation and expansion of our emergency department. Sen. Susan Collins secured $6.4 million in federal funding for this project and Prime Healthcare Foundation has committed to at least $1 million more as a match to that grant.

“The renovations will provide additional treatment space for ambulance and walk-in patients and allow our caregivers to work in a more modern and efficient environment. There is something especially meaningful about that investment during our centennial year. One hundred years ago, this community invested in building a hospital because people believed that local healthcare mattered. A century later, we’re continuing that work, investing in Rumford Hospital so it can serve this community for generations to come,” she said.

The hospital came under the umbrella of Central Maine Health Care, which includes Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and Bridgton Hospital, in 1999 and the word community was dropped from its name.

Barbara Belanger, president of the Rumford Hospital Auxiliary and lead volunteer currently in her 51st year of service to the hospital, said the auxiliary was established in July 1926 to bring goodwill to the Rumford Community Hospital by means of community service and fundraising.

Also present was John Welsh, who served as president and chief executive officer of Rumford Hospital for 23 years, from 1988 until his retirement on July 1, 2011. During his tenure, Welsh oversaw the hospital’s merger with Central Maine Healthcare, the transition to electronic medical records and the construction of the new patient wing, called the John H. Welsh Building.

Conducting the blessing of the hospital and the staff was the Rev. Aaron Damboise, pastor of the Parish of the Holy Savior in Rumford.

Later this month, the hospital will put together a time capsule, donated by the Thibault Remembrance Center in Rumford.

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