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Monadnock Community Hospital: A Century of Excellence – Explore Our Growth

Banner for 100th anniversary celebrating a century of care
Monadnock Community Hospital: A Century of Excellence - Explore Our Growth
Explore MCH's Journey

From Humble Beginnings to a State-of-the-Art Facility

From its beginnings as The Peterborough Hospital to today’s state-of-the-art facility, see how MCH has grown and evolved.

 

A hand-colored vintage photograph of The Peterboro Hospital in Peterboro, New Hampshire. The building is a two-story brick structure with a symmetrical facade, featuring a central entrance with a white portico and cupola on the roof. The hospital is surrounded by a grassy area and trees. The photo has a nostalgic feel, highlighting the hospital's historical significance. An aerial view of Monadnock Community Hospital surrounded by a lush forest with autumn foliage. The hospital complex consists of multiple interconnected brick buildings with parking lots and landscaped areas. Cars are parked in the lots, and the main entrance is marked by a curved driveway and canopy. The backdrop features rolling hills covered in vibrant fall colors, creating a picturesque and serene setting.

THE PETERBOROUGH HOSPITAL 1923
In the autumn of 1919, Robert Parmelee donated his recently constructed summer residence to the town of Peterborough for use as a community hospital. Over the next few years, as the Hospital staff and administration was organized, the property was thoroughly renovated to serve its new purpose.

MONADNOCK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 2023
MCH is now a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical services. We are committed to caring for our community by providing innovative programs and care for our patients. MCH’s strong leadership and dedicated medical staff enable us to meet the ever-changing requirements of today’s healthcare environment.

A black-and-white photograph of a nursery room with a fireplace, a chair, and several cribs along the wall. The room has a simple, yet cozy, appearance, reflecting the care environment for newborns in a historical hospital setting. A color photograph of a birthing room featuring a birthing tub, comfortable chair, and medical equipment. The room is designed to provide a comfortable and soothing environment for childbirth, with soft lighting and modern amenities.

MATERNITY WARD 1923
The first baby, a healthy boy from Nashua, was born at 3 AM on July 1, 1923, by cesarean section.

BIRTHING SUITE 2023
Today, mom and baby stay together following birth, bonding in a bright, comfortable private room in the Birthing Suite, which features a large labor tub, birthing balls, and other comfort options during labor.

1958 - Participating in a Disaster Nursing Training program in 1958 were Minnie Hayden, Catherine L "Hodgie" Hodgen, Rachel Towle, Hazel Cadwell, unknown, Lillian Mahoney Group of Monadnock Community Hospital healthcare professionals standing together outside in front of a brick building, all wearing blue uniforms and smiling at the camera.

NURSE TRAINING 1923
From the start, nurses were instrumental to the success of the Hospital. In the early days, our nurses were housed in a hospital wing!

TRAINING IN THE SIM LAB 2023
Simulation Training at MCH allows hospital staff and community partners to practice skills that enhance patient care without any risk of patient harm.

1923 - Operating room A black-and-white photograph of an early operating room with a surgical table, various medical instruments, oxygen tanks, and equipment. The room has tiled walls and a sterile appearance, highlighting the medical practices of the time. A color photograph of an operating room featuring a large monitor displaying medical imaging, along with various surgical equipment and instruments. The room is ready for a surgical procedure, reflecting the advanced technology used in modern healthcare.

OPERATING ROOM 1923
A 1923 surgeon describes the two operating rooms as, “Both tiled from floor to ceiling, are the latest in size, arrangement, regulation of temperature, ventilation, and light. There are none better, but few as good.”

OPERATING ROOM 2023
The surgical services department was renovated in 2011 with 6,000 additional square feet added on, which allowed two state-of-the-art Operating Rooms to be included, providing surgical capabilities for 15 surgeons and over 1,000 surgeries per year.

1933 - The Hospital’s first X-ray machine was purchased in 1926, representing a scientific leap forward in diagnosis A color photograph of a modern X-ray room with advanced imaging equipment, including a large X-ray machine and a patient table. The room is clean and well-organized, reflecting current medical imaging technology.

X-RAY ROOM 1933
The Hospital’s first X-ray machine was purchased in 1926, representing a scientific leap forward in diagnosis. In 1933, on our tenth anniversary, Mrs. Carl Kaufmann donated the money needed to buy the latest, state-of-the-art X-ray equipment.

X-RAY ROOM 2023
Today’s X-ray equipment produces instant, low-dose images that are immediately available to interpreting radiologists to expedite diagnosis and treatment. The radiology department at MCH has expanded from a single X-ray machine to multiple X-ray suites, CT, Ultrasound, Mammography, MRI, and more.

1961 - The early Hospital was made to look as much like a cheerful home as possible, with a small kitchen on each floor. As the Hospital grew, so did its dietary needs, leading to expansions. Marjorie Haselton was a MCH dietician from 1935-1974. A color photograph of a modern hospital kitchen with two staff members working. One is smiling at the camera while opening an oven, and the other is preparing food in the background. The kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances and cooking utensils, reflecting a contemporary and well-equipped culinary environment.

KITCHEN 1961
The early Hospital was made to look as much like a cheerful home as possible, with a small kitchen on each floor. As the Hospital grew, so did its dietary needs, leading to expansions.

KITCHEN 2023
The MCH Cafeteria, now known as “Our Town Café,” was renovated in 2015. The dietary team is comprised of 28 employees and serves up to 80 patient meals and 450 cafeteria transactions on any given day.

A black-and-white photograph of Dr. Chandler sitting beside a piece of medical equipment. He is dressed in a suit and appears focused on the device, reflecting the medical technology and professional attire of the period. A color photograph of a modern surgical room with a medical professional in blue scrubs and a surgical mask seated next to an anesthesia machine and various monitors. The equipment includes a Philips monitor and a Datex-Ohmeda anesthesia machine, highlighting the advanced medical technology used during surgeries.

ANESTHESIA 1963
The early years of the Hospital saw significant advances in the science of anesthesia, from the introduction of anesthesia machines in the 1930s to new, safer anesthetic drugs, devices that made intubation safer and more effective, and the introduction of the first intravenous anesthetics.

ANESTHESIA 2023
The team consists of four board-certified anesthesiologists that have the ability to provide ultrasound-guided nerve block and video capability for difficult intubation. They perform over 1,800 procedures in the OR each year.

 

As we celebrate 100 years of service, Monadnock Community Hospital stands as a testament to the power of community, innovation, and dedication. From the generous donation that established The Peterborough Hospital in 1919 to our current status as a leading healthcare provider, we have consistently evolved to meet the needs of our community. Our journey reflects the unwavering commitment to excellence and compassion that defines us. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to advancing healthcare and improving the well-being of every individual we serve. Here’s to the next century of care, innovation, and community at MCH!

1917 - Robert M. Parmelee donated his newly built summer home which would become a community hospital

Learn more about the history of Monadnock Community Hospital

View our slideshow with historical photos –
Celebrating 100 years at Monadnock Community Hospital

2023 Community Report

MCH 2023 Annual Report

MCH 2023 Annual Report