MORRIS MEMORIAL

[Susan Maslowski]

I'd heard it, but dismissed it as a rumor. There are a lot of things that prevent that bldg. from being in compliance w/state regulations regarding a nursing home. The former nursing home was grandfathered in under some of the rules and regulations. There would have to be a lot of work done to bring it up to standards for a nursing home. And, don't they have to get a certificate of need. As I recall, Mrs. Greene helped Diversicare get their certificate. It sounds like Tom just wants us to think he is actively doing something w/the property.

[Dr. Bob]

Adaptive reuse is the only way MM can survive. This could be a novel approach.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_netherlands_sunless_farming

[shortstuff]

How can they operate as a nursing home and not be certified? How many residents do they have?

[Susan Maslowski]

The nursing home at Morris Memorial is no longer in business. The number of patients they had dwindled over time, largely because they'd been grandfathered in when it came to various regulations. It is highly unlikely it could reopen as a nursing home without major renovations...I think even the width of the doors to allow for wheelchairs was an issue. Now that a certificate of need has been issued for Diversicare, it would be difficult for another nursing home to locate here. I drove by Diversicare today. It is going to be huge and should employ a large number of people, plus house a lot of patients. If it is annexed into the city as they hope, it will mean additional revenue for the town.

Dr. Bob, your idea is interesting. Why not invite the Dept. of Agriculture to come and tour the facility when the election is over? That would be a perfect adaptive reuse...plus the land could be used for agricultural endeavors and there could be public tours...maybe even the community gardens that the City of Charleston just got grants for.

[shortstuff]

OMG......Slap my face and call me stupid I did not know for some reason you were talking about MM. Talk about a Senior moment. Bob and I drove by there today also and I was surprised at how large it is and I hope this doesn't give Tom something else to add to his already shady list od accomplishments.

[Susan Maslowski]

No apology necessary. This is all very confusing.

Before one adds the new nursing home to Tom's list of accomplishments, let's not forget how Tom treated Mrs. Greene before the auction of equipment at Morris Memorial and regarding property taxes. He knew better than to add her name to his list of endorsements.

[Susan Maslowski]

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, Sally Holliday will be doing a book signing at the Putnam Farmers' Market at Hurricane Park. The book is about her sister, Betsy Rae, who was a polio patient at Morris Memorial and became the second patient of Sister Elizabeth Kenny, who brought her pioneering therapy methods to the U.S. from Australia. Sister Kenny actually visited Morris Memorial to train doctors in her methods and she stayed with the Fletchers (Sally and Betsy's family) in St. Albans. There was also a Hollywood movie made about her life.

The Polio Survivors group that meets at Putnam CAMC have been invited to the book signing by special request. They have been asked to bring in photos of the period when they were patients at Morris Memorial. The photos will be scanned on site and copies will be turned over to Archives and History for historical documentation.

At 1:30 Saturday, the survivors are invited to tour Morris Memorial and reflect on their stay there.

I know there are former patients in the Milton area, and I would like to extend an invitation for them to attend.

Here is an article about the book. If you haven't read it, you may want to pick up a copy. This is a very moving story. Sally Holliday is "Doc" Holliday's mother and this is his aunt whom the book is about.

http://www.putnamlive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1249:holliday-to-sign-book-at-farmers-market&catid=68:community-news

[Susan Maslowski]

The tour of MM was great. Thanks to Benita and the mayor for giving approval. Thanks to Paul Linville who graciously accommodated late arrivals. There was a lot of history to be gleaned from the polio survivors who'd been hospitalized there as children.

In three short years, the facility has deteriorated beyond one's imagination. I toured the hospital right before it closed and also with the folks from Brownfields. Almost every inch is covered with black mold and mildew and chunks of plaster are coming down. I understand the city would not want to keep the utilities on for no reason other than preservation, because that amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

The building is said to be structurally sound. The biggest problem is the roof leaks and that is causing a lot of the interior damage.

I hope the 3 councilmen who came to the tour realize the historical significance of MM. Maybe they can get the ball rolling to try to do something, if they hope to preserve the structure, before it is too late.

[miltonwv]

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[Susan Maslowski]

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wvcccfhr/history/morrismemorial.htm In case you haven't seen this on rootsweb, there are some very nice old photos of Morris Memorial. I especially like the ones of the farm.

[Susan Maslowski]

I spoke to someone last week who claims to have talked to the mayor regarding the condition of Morris Memorial and a proposal to develop the property, but he didn't seem much interested. What is the status on that land? Now that the city has gutted the place and shut off the heat until the insides have deteriorated to the point it would probably be impossible or too expensive to renovate, what is the city going to do? Just sit on a valuable resource?

[Susan Maslowski]

I heard there is to be a meeting regarding Morris Memorial tomorrow. Has anyone heard anything about it? Is it open to the public?