Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.
Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.
In 1907 the John Dunn property on Mississaga Street West was purchased for $3,500 to be used for a new hospital. The property contained a 10-room brick-clad dwelling facing Dunedin Street on 2.25 acres.
In May, 1908 the 20-bed Orillia General Hospital opened its doors after a further cost of $16,000 in renovations.
Behind this building the lawn sloped down a hill to a small spring fed stream that originated at the top end of Mary Street. The stream is still running today for several blocks between Mississaga and Mary Streets west of O’Brian Street.
A pathway with a bridge over the stream connected the hospital with the nurse’s residence on Mississaga Street..
The community outgrew this building shortly after it was opened and in 1922 the 'Soldiers Wing' opened and the name was changed to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital.
The original building became known as the Queen Mary Wing until it was torn down in 1962 to make way for the Harvie Wing.
