Howard Young Health Care Celebrates 125th Anniversary of Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.  The date commemorates the visit the order's founder, Mother Frances Streitel, made to Rome to obtain recognition for the new congregation.  Ministry Health Care hospitals are commemorating this by hosting local events and recognizing the heritage of our founders.

In 1888 two sisters were sent to the United States to beg for alms to help support the work of the growing community and within a year were asked to assume responsibility for a small hospital in Wichita, Kansas.  Providing health care services to those in need has been a hallmark of the work of the Sisters since that time.

By 1893 the Sisters had established four hospitals in Wisconsin--Marshfield, Oshkosh, Rhinelander, and Tomahawk and these hospitals were the beginning of Ministry Health Care.

Howard Young Health Care traces it founding to the establishment of Lakeland Hospital in 1954.  Through the hard work and dedication of Dr. Kate Newcomb, a hospital was built with the support of the community and school children across the country in the famous "One Penny" campaign.  But even before the hospital was built, Dr. Kate worked closely with Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother who served as nurses in Tomahawk and Rhinelander.

As the community grew a new hospital was built through the generous support of S. Howard Young that opened in 1977.  In 1987 Eagle River Memorial Hospital affiliated with Howard Young to form Howard Young Health Care.  Originally built in 1961, Eagle River Memorial Hospital was the first critical access hospital in the state of Wisconsin.

In 2001 Howard Young Health Care affiliated with Ministry Health Care to strengthen and enhance health care services available in the Northwoods.  The establishment of Ministry Medical Group clinics in Woodruff and Eagle River further enhances the level of care and service available to local residents.

When Howard Young Health Care became part of Ministry it re-established the relationship formed so many years earlier when Dr. Kate worked so closely with the sisters to care for her patients.

On Monday, July 28, 2008 the leadership and staff at Howard Young, Eagle River Memorial Hospital and Ministry Medical Group celebrated the founding of the Congregation with special events highlighted by the presence of several sisters who continue their service to the needs of the community.