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This is the second year of the three-year project to delve into the history of the region's institutions and practices, some of them virtually forgotten.
The two Sackville Memorial Hospitals and their auxiliaries, along with the local VON chapter, are well-known. However, not so well-known is the marine hospital near Wood Point, the maternity homes and cottage hospitals that existed before the first large hospital as well as the medical knowledge practised by aboriginals and Acadians. There may well be a rich resource of documents to be uncovered.
Such a project could provide a picture of how medical care developed in the Sackville area over the past 150 years as well as elsewhere in the region.
"We are happy to have local student Natasha Niles back for a second year, and while we have a list of people to contact for interviews, we would be happy for others to come forward for interviews or to loan or donate documents," sais Geoff Martin, Heritage Trust president.
Significant research into archives and newspapers was conducted last year and turned up lots of interesting information.
"We see the importance of maternity homes and cottage hospitals, local fallout from the 1919 influenza epidemic and the creation of New Brunswick's Department of Health, and recognition of the need to build a hospital, which was realized in 1946," said Martin.
The research project is being funded by a three-year commitment from local resident Pauline Spatz as well as a grant this year from the Crake Foundation.
Martin says the Trust is also seeking the donation or loan of health-related documents, such as correspondence, medical bills, doctors' books of account, and other items.
"Like memories, more of this material is disappearing every year and this is our chance to collect and protect what we can."
Spatz, a retired nurse and widow of a medical doctor as well as a long-time trust supporter, felt the history of medicine and hospitals in the Sackville area was being neglected and suggested that this has the makings of a good book.
Anyone seeking further information or able to provide information and/or documents can call 364-2289
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