One cannot understand the history of Hamilton County Public Hospital without including its predecessor, Mercy Hospital. At the turn of the century, Jacob M. Funk began to think about what he could do to create a gift to his city. In 1902 he came up with the idea of building the first hospital for Webster City. He donated 3 acres of land at the southwest corner of Ohio and Des Moines Streets and arranged for the construction of a $25,000 hospital there. The building was a two-story brick structure with a full basement. It had 25 beds for the accommodation of its patients. An article in the Freeman Journal stated that it had a most modern and fully equipped operating room. The building had electric lighting and a steam heating plant. Funk set up a board of directors which included himself, L. A. McMurray, and Cyrus Smith. McMurray was president of the Hamilton County State Bank, and Smith was the cashier.

To operate this fine hospital Funk searched widely and found the Northwest Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church willing to take it on. Funk conveyed the hospital and grounds to the Methodists with a deed that provided that "…the grantees should equip, use, operate, and maintain the hospital for the care and treatment of people requiring medical or surgical aid, without regard to sex, color, nationality, or religion." It further stated, that "… one-fourth of the privileges and accommodations of said hospital, to be designated by the management, to provide free care for those unable to pay." This deed was dated Feb. 23, 1903. Mr. Funk died unexpectedly on November 29, 1903.

The Methodists found they could not continue the operation and gave it up at the end of 1903. Mercy Hospital sat empty until the Sisters of St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Dubuque agreed to take over the operation. Six Catholic sisters moved into the hospital on October 30, 1905. They provided an invaluable service to the community. They received no pay for their services. It was a constant struggle to continue with the operation due to lack of finances. In 1927, the Sisters informed the community that they could no longer continue. They agreed to stay until some solution could be found.

The Webster City Kiwanis Club spearheaded a drive for the county to hold an election for raising $100,000 for the establishment of a new county hospital in 1928. The literature about the election indicated that the cost to the patient would be from $10 per week less, the hospital would be built adjacent to the old hospital, and it would be connected via a tunnel. The old building would house the furnace, the laundry, storerooms, and furnish quarters for the nurses. The new hospital would be fireproofed, have a maternity ward, and be equipped with x-ray capabilities and a laboratory. It was further stated that a new hospital would ensure the services of a surgeon in Hamilton County.

Those leading the opposition were Dr. E. W. Slater, O. L. Luglan, and Claude V. Campbell of Jewell and Rep. Irving H Knudson of Ellsworth. The bond issue passed in November, 1928, by 841 votes. The greatest opposition came from the towns of Ellsworth, Jewell, Williams, and Stratford.

In December, 1928, the Hamilton County supervisors announced the membership of the board of trustees of the County Hospital, who would serve until the next general election. State law required that three board members could come from Webster City. The remaining four must come from elsewhere in the county. Those appointed were: R. E. Jones, F. G. Snyder, and Max Hemingway of Webster City. The other board members were: L. E. Pound of Williams, Gilbert Knudson of Jewell, Thomas Johnson of Ellsworth, and Edward Peterson of Stratford. The last four mentioned all came from towns that voted against the bond issue. Hemingway was elected chairman of the board; Snyder was elected secretary.

It was expected that the county would make an outright purchase of the old Mercy Hospital building. It was discovered, however, that the title rested with the Funk heirs, all of whom lived some distance from Webster City. Funk had never married and their were no immediate heirs. After much discussion, the board purchased three acres west of Mercy and made plans to build.

The Sisters of Mercy continued to operate Mercy until 1929. Local doctors made an effort to keep it open until the new hospital was constructed. The old building was used until 1933 for laundry, nursing quarters, and storage. After the building was abandoned, it provided free housing for homeless families until 1939 when the city condemned it.

The firm of Rawson, Proudfoot, Somers and Thomas of Des Moines drew up plans for the new hospital. The board and architects met at the office of Dr. W. W. Wyatt and continued discussion over dinner at the Willson Hotel. Dr. E. W. Slater, of Jewell, announced that he would furnish the first room. At this meeting, it was determined the hospital would have a capacity of 30 beds. The first floor was to contain a reception room, kitchen, dining room, and administration offices. The beds were to occupy the second floor. The third floor was to hold the x-ray room, maternity room, and a laboratory. Zitterell-Mills was the general contractor.

The cornerstone for the new hospital was laid on August 30, 1930. Inside is an airtight and waterproof copper box containing copies of all issues of the Freeman-Journal that reported any aspect of the construction, copies of the architect plans, general contract, and plumbing contract awarded to L. V. Mills. Abstracts of the wiring, proceedings of the board of supervisors, an original Nov. 6, 1928, ballot were also included. Mr. Zitterell sealed the box. The hospital was completed in 1931 at a final cost of $150,000.

Jane Belknap was hired as Superintendent of the hospital. She reported the hiring of eight nurses and seven other employees. The hospital was opened to the public in February of 1931. Miss Russell, the only remaining nurse of Mercy Hospital, was employed as a nurse. At the official opening it was announced that the last remaining room of the hospital was furnished by H. E. Forrester as a tribute to his sister, Mrs. Smith. Miss Cecile Ruark, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was employed as a technician and laboratory nurse.

The board minutes of December 28, 1931, set the room rates. Room 201 was set at $3.00 per day or $20.00 per week. The most expensive room was Room 205 which had a daily rate of $5.50 with a weekly rate of $35.00. The hospital purchased its first refrigerator in 1934. In 1935 the WPA paved the parking lots at a cost of $500 for materials. The first wheel chair was purchased for $22.50 in 1936.

In 1941, problems arose when Jane Belknap was indicted for forgery and embezzlement. On May 28th the board asked for her resignation which she gave effective June 1, 1941. The board advertised for applications on June 5, 1941, and they received three, including John T. Erickson of Des Moines; Florence Weaver of Pekin, Illinois; and Margaret Kruger, New Wilmingon, Minnesota. Miss Weaver was hired on June 23, 1941, at a salary of $150 per month, plus room and board. Weaver resigned after one year and was replaced by Miss Gela Schulte. Nurses Aides' salaries were set at $35 a month for the first six months, and $40 per month thereafter.

Belknap's charges of forgery and embezzlement were separated. In a November, 1941, trial Judge H. E. Fry upheld a directed verdict of not guilty on the forgery charges. The trial on the embezzlement charges was held on January12, 1942, with Judge O. J. Henderson presiding. County Attorney Lloyd Karr represented the state, and Attorneys Sterling Alexander and Frank J. Lund served as defense counsel. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, heard the testimony over many days. Finally on January 21, 1942, the case went to the jury. The jury deliberated for 48 hours and reported to the judge they could not reach agreement. There were 11 votes for acquittal and one for guilty. Judge Henderson declared a mistrial. Immediately after the mistrial was announced, Karr declared the case would again be called to trial in the April term. On April 21, 1942, Karr requested a change of venue in a re-trial of Jane Belknap. Judge Sherwood A. Clock, district judge for that term of court, denied the request. The case was never re-tried and Belknap left the area.

The problem with the Mercy Hospital building was finally brought to conclusion when the lone existing trustee, J. E. Burnstedt, resigned his position. The deed given by Jacob M. Funk stipulated that if there were no existing board members, the District Court could appoint new trustees. Judge O. J. Henderson then appointed the current Hamilton County Board of Trustees as the Mercy Hospital board. Then a quit claim deed was issued to the board members, giving them title to the building and the lands. The Hamilton County Hospital board accepted the Mercy Hospital on March 4, 1943. Finding that bringing the old building up to date was going to cost an estimated $75, 000, the board decided to have the old building torn down. The board accepted a $1,111 bid from Ted Hall of Des Moines on April 26, 1946, with the understanding that he complete the destruction within 60 days and remove all materials from the site.

The first expansion of the hospital was in July, 1951, when residents approved a $763,090.07 project, of which the federal share was $254,363.35. Two weeks before the project was let, it was discovered that the bids were $115,000 greater than the funds available. Fearing the loss of the federal funds, it was decided to raise the required amount locally. It was reported that the fund was $67,500 short with just five days to go when an added burst of support brought the total needed to $90,000. The plumbing contractor lowered his bid by $30,000 which allowed the project to be completed. The addition, including a full basement, was constructed to the south of the existing building. This allowed the bed capacity to be increased to 72. It created a new kitchen, laundry, and storage area. The addition was completed on December 31, 1952. An ambulance entrance was constructed near the emergency rooms.

On November 6, 1962, the board of supervisors held an election for a bond issue of $395,000 to construct a nursing home of 60 beds to be added to the existing building. The final vote was 2,771 in favor and 2,377 against. The plan required 60% of the vote, so it fell short by about 300 votes.

In March, 1977, another expansion was completed on an ancillary wing to the hospital. This provided for a Radiology department, a Laboratory, and Emergency Services. An ambulance entrance was located on the east side near the emergency rooms.

On December 2, 1980, tragedy struck as a Life Flight helicopter attempted a landing in the west parking lot to pick up a patient, Lois Munson. The helicopter apparently struck a tree and the helicopter crashed just short of the parking lot. Rick Roetner, pilot, and flight nurse, Hallie Burns, both of Des Moines, were instantly killed. Maurine Griffin, another flight nurse from Des Moines. was pulled from the wreckage and was then rushed by ambulance to Des Moines where she died. Three memorial pine trees were planted on the north side of the east driveway in their memory.

Groundbreaking for a new $3.27 million, 30,000 square-foot expansion was held on May 5, 1989. This three-story project included a receiving dock and engineering shop, space for a pharmacy on the first floor, surgical services on the first floor, and 20 private rooms on the second floor, each with its own bathroom. A nursing station was constructed to connect the old and the new parts. This addition was built using reserve funds. Peterson Construction was the general contractor, and completion was scheduled for the end of 1990.

Present hospital board members are: Chairman Wil Groves, Don Bottorff, Nancy Dermand, Steve Mourlam, John Hemingway, Kim Stoakes, and Henry Witt. Roger Lenz is the hospital administrator; Roberta Knutson is director of nursing; and Palmer Schneider is director of finance. The current hospital budget is $14,445,000 of which about 5% comes from county funding. The hospital owns about 30 acres of land near the courthouse which may someday be the possible site of a health care complex.