The relationship between St. Mary's and Green Bay dates back to 1900, when the Misericorde Sisters came to Green Bay to open a home for unwed mothers and their babies. In 1903 the hospital, as well as a nurse training school was opened in a building on the corner of Webster Avenue and Crooks Street. The hospital was originally sponsored by the Misericorde Sisters of Montreal, Canada. The first expansion included two additional stories and a new wing, and was finished in 1912. During the next thirty years the hospital grew to cover the block bounded by South Webster Avenue, Crooks, Clay and Chicago Streets. In 1960, responding to the request of the Bishop of Green Bay for a Catholic hospital in Green Bay's growing west side, the sisters relocated their entire campus to its current site on Shawano Avenue. The community greatly appreciated this move, especially having emergency services available west of the river.

As the economics of healthcare delivery were changing dramatically, the Misericorde Sisters made the difficult decision to end sponsorship of St. Mary's in 1973. The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, urged by Bishop Wycislo, assumed sponsorship in 1974. Since that time the Franciscans have worked diligently to maintain high quality care and improve the capital and equipment base of the facility.

In 1979, ground was broken for necessary new facilities. The new hospital opened as the first all private room hospital in Northeast Wisconsin in the fall of 1981. The Family Birthing Center was added in 1988 as well as an enlargement and renovation of St. Mary's Emergency Center. In July 1989, St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Hospital of Chippewa Falls opened Libertas, a 24-bed inpatient facility for chemically dependent adolescents. In 1992 a major ambulatory wing was added including outpatient surgery, advanced radiology and diagnostic services, respiratory care, pulmonary medicine and a new education center. Many doctors at St. Mary's enjoy the convenience of a connected office complex that features modern services, dedicated parking and a private entrance. This part of the campus was developed during the 1990's and currently is home to over 40 medical providers.

In 1996, St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center joined with St. Vincent Hospital, Beaumont-Webster Clinic and West Side Clinic to form Prevea Health Services, Inc., an integrated health care delivery system. Together, we provide the most advanced and comprehensive services available to people from all over Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With a partnership among our physicians, staff and the community, we are well positioned to keep pace with the changing health care needs of our community.

Today, St. Mary's provides for the care of patients in such areas as our orthopedic Bone and Joint Center, Center for Digestive Health, Emergency/First Care Center, Cardiac Care Center, A Woman's Place and our many other medical and surgical services.

Since 1900, St. Mary's has been recognized for its distinctive compassionate patient care and strong commitment to the community. Today, the hospital is continuing the tradition of the Sisters -- to care for the health needs of the community. St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center stands ready to live our values by treating patients with care, joy, respect, and competence.

Historical photos courtesy of Green Bay Press-Gazette Archives of the Neville Public Museum of Brown County.