Old St. Mary's Hospital Cornerstones Opened

Oh, If these walls could talk. The old St. Mary's Hospital on hospital hill in Kansas City has seen a lot of amazing things and a lot of heartache. "So many people did so much good over the years," says Tom Hoenig, president of Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank.

In an event hosted by the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, the contents of the copper box, tucked inside the cornerstone of old St. Mary's Hospital since October 13, 1907, once again saw the light of day. Inside they found copies, brown with age but legible, of Kansas City's German language newspaper, the diocesan newspaper, and the Kansas City Star dated October 11, 1907. There were coins and medals, a small statue of St. Joseph, and a Catholic Ladies Aid Society pamphlet.

The opening was held in the lobby of the Federal Reserve's headquarters. downtown. The past, present and future came together for the opening. Hoenig was joined by Sister Marylu Stueber, FSM, archivist for the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, founders of the old St. Mary's Hospital. The contents of the copper box from the cornerstone of the 1948 addition to the hospital, opened earlier by the bank, were on display and included a broad array of objects: photographs, pamphlets, medals, statues, coins, stamps, newspapers, letters, all in remarkably good condition. All of the material has been turned over to the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and will be housed in their archives in St. Louis.

The old hospital is being demolished to clear the way for the new headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank. The bank is planning on creating a memorial to St. Mary's Hospital incorporating the two cornerstones and the hospital's chapel bell. It is hoped that a selection of the contents of the two boxes, once it has been processed, can be put on display in an exhibit at St. Mary's of Blue Springs.