William Newton Memorial Hospital

Subject:  William Newton Memorial Hospital
Date:  Wed, 30 Apr 1997 08:41:11 -0700
From:  Ralph Decker
Organization:  Southwestern College

It was good to find your collection of Winfield history on The Web. In the late 1960's I was told a story by Ruby Mider Gary Banks concerning the origin of William Newton Memorial Hospital.

Ruby told me that Mrs. Newton had been quite ill and was in St. Mary's Hospital which was located at the corner of 9th and College (the present site of Village East Condominiums). The nuns were supposedly having a hard time financially and saw in the Newtons a way to balance the budget. When it came time for Mrs. Newton to check out a greatly inflated bill was presented. Mr. Newton protested but ws assured that the bill was correct. He paid the bill in full, but said, "You'll be sorry." Several years later he died and left the City of Winfield the money to build William Newton Memorial Hospital.

I have asked several people about this story and no one can either verify it or repute it. Have you heard it previously? I am afriad to retell it too many times or ask too many people as it could become "fact." In any case it seems like something that needs to be recorded in Winfield history or Winfield mythology, whichever might be appropriate.

--
Ralph W. Decker, Jr. Office
Coordinator of Donor Records
Southwestern College
100 College St
Winfield KS 67156-2499