NO Reproduction in Whole or in Part, on ANY, and ALL of my Pages,
 Including Text and Pictures,
 May be made, without the express Written Permission
 of Web Editor, Doug Gent © 2016

Want to add a link to my pages?
see my Copyright Information Page
for the only Authorized Picture Link allowed.
All Pictures on all my web pages, are now Visibly Watermarked,
All my pages are now Right Click, copy and paste, disabled.
I ask everyone that enjoys free history sites,
to start policing these violations.
If we don't stop this, no one will donate pictures to me or anyone,
and we all loose.
If you see one of my pictures on facebook, etc.
tell them to remove it.

The Bienfait Hospital
(Written in 1955)
page 29, History of Bienfait
The first Hospital in Bienfait was a frame building with only two wards.
There was no running water so conditions were poor at all times.
But the community of Bienfait was growing and it was soon found
that the small hospital was not large enough.  A number of private rooms
a new operating room, and a second story were added to the hospital.
the location of the first Hospital was where the "Old Hospital" now stands.
It was built in 1930.
(note- this was in 1955 this article was written)

The present day Health Centre was opened on Dec 15th, 1946

Coalfields Union Hospital

Taken in 1992, It was a Boarding House/Hotel at the time.

Taken in 2005

Found an Aug 31, 1946 article saying the contract
 for erection of the new hospital was awarded to
Hillsden and Smith Company of Regina
Cost $50,000.00
supposed to have been 15 bed hospital
Described as modern and brick veneer.
Cost was covered by SK government grants,
assets of the Miner's Hospital,
which operated in Bienfait  for 13 years prior to 1946.
balance of the cost, $30,000.00
was to be raised by the Municipalities concerned,
with the RM of Coalfields being the biggest contributor.
they held a poll of the taxpayers in April 1946 which passed.

The new hospital is a very fine building with wards, privates, semi-privates,
excellent operating and case rooms, with up to date X-Ray
machines, incubator, and sun lamps.  A great improvement in the hospital
is the hot and cold running water.
The first hospital was sponsored by the miners and was called
Coalfields Union Hospital.
The first doctor was a French Doctor,
 having had his office situated where the Chinese Novelty Store is located.
I still think this was Dr. French, not a French doctor!

The first Matron was Muriel Malarky. 
She was also the only nurse in the hospital.
I show a Muriel Joan Mularkey, who was a nurse,
b- Sept 17, 1905 in Bienfait SK
d- Dec 19, 1979, in Surrey, BC, age 74
daughter of William Henry Mularkey and Ruth Mooney
as the wife of Fred Ernewein, who was a brother
to the Calgary Kid, aka Allen Erwin.
Wouldn't doubt if spelling is wrong on Malarky!
Thanks to Diane Earle for spotting the connection.

Muriel and Fred Ernewein
photo courtesy Diane Earle with thanks

Strange but SK vital records show a Agnes Mularkey
born on this day to William and Ruth, not Muriel?
a sister Alice Rose Mularkey was born Aug 23, 1907
both born on sec 28, tsp 4, rge 7, W2
William Henry Mularkey was buried in Bienfait in 1948

Picture of pictures in the Bienfait Museum
so quality is a little poor
 

Picture of the First Hospital, 318 Main st.
(now a residence)
Lorne Frank, (in picture) was born there
picture taken by Bonnie Frank (nee Thompson)

Community Hospital ca 1940's
sign is a warning to park properly, no U turns in front.
part of Alex Wilson Collection, sent by Margaret Cuddington

1908- Creighton Brothers, (William and James)
(In my Estevan Doctor page, I have their history)
1911- George Hutchinson,
b- Mar 1884 in ON,
 lived on lot 13?, in block 2,
next to Charles Carroll's place,
shown as a Doctor in 1911 census, age 27.

1913- Dr. Edgar Moses Brundage
 (shown as Dr in 1916 article below)

During this period there were many
 graduate doctors who served part time
1917- Creighton Brothers, (Bill and Jim)
1930- 45- Dr. Scott
1945-46- Dr. Buston
1946-47- Dr. B. A. Cates

1947- After Apr. 1951- Dr. Grant McPhail 
His daughter contacted me, and corrected his surname, and time period.
Dr. McPhail, wife, and family, moved to Calgary AB, ca 1951
then went on to Edmonton in 1958, where he passed away in 1986.

1951-52- Dr. Milletts
1952-55- Dr. P. H. Barnes

Dr. P. H. Barnes was made Overseer of Bienfait,  Oct 1956.
living in Winnipeg in 1958.
The Board of Trade took up the Water and Sewer Project
in Bienfait, and Dr. Barnes was President.

Newer List below from the Reunion 2005 book,
 compiled by Helen Kingdon, with thanks.

1957-1962- Dr. Rubin & Dr. Danchuk
1962-1963- Drs. Richard Rennie, Weber,
 Meraphyl, Bowers, & Sweeting
1963-1969-   Dr. Richard Rennie, (see Bienfait Post Office History)
Dr. Miller,
Dr. Philip Benjamin Samuel
 (b-1913- Died- Dec 30, 1964,
 buried in Souris Valley Cemetery, Estevan),
Drs. Murphy, Alkatib, & Mezra
1969-1974- Dr. Patricia Hannon (Mrs. Lorne Bradley)
1974-1979- Dr. Galal

The Hospital voluntarily closed it's doors in 1992

Dr. E. M. Brundage, May 4, 1916 article
in the Estevan Progress newspaper
re: setting up bee hives on Mr. Ballison's farm in Pinto area.

from NB records
Father- Dr. Edgar Moses Brundage
Mother- Margaret Young Jordan
married July 11, 1888 in Charlotte County, NB
Bertha Brundage- May 24, 1898, at Long Creek, Queens County, NB
Cora Mildred Brundage- Oct 8, 1893, at Fairville, Saint John County, NB
Thomas Medley Brundage, Mar 10, 1890, Edmundston, Madawaska County, NB

there is a Baby Brundage died 1913
and a Mildred Brundage d- Oct 17, 1915
also buried in Estevan City Cemetery


Dr. Edgar Moses Brundage
b- Sept 3, 1862 (1863?) in New Brunswick
d- Oct 2, 1941, in Grey Nuns Hospital Regina SK., age 79
buried in Estevan City Cemetery
was living in Chaplin SK before that
Graduated from Baltimore Medical College in 1896
came west in 1910
Practised at Bienfait and Gainsborough for several years.

Father- Thomas Brundage
Mother- Jemima Brundage, nee ?
1881- living in Greenwich, Kings, New Brunswick

1901- in Studholme sub-district, Kings, NB
Edgar is shown as a medical doctor
wife- Margret Brundage, nee ?- Nov 17, 1868
son- M. Tomas Brundage, b- Mar 11, 1890
daughter- M. Cora Brundage- b- Oct 8, 1893
daughter- Bertha M. Brundage, b- May 24, 1898 (shown as Burtha here)
son- Frank J. Brundage, b- Apr 4, 1900
all born in NB

1911 census shows Burtha as Bertha
her mother's name is now Margaret
with them Cora and Frank, but no Edgar
still living in the Parish of Studholme, Kings, NB
Edgar must have went west at this point.

1916 census shows Dr. Edgar Brundage in Bienfait, age 53,
with son Medley C. Brundage, age 26, School Teacher
and son Frank Jordan Brundage,
b- Apr 4, 1900 at Berwick, NB
1916 at Camp Hughes
Frank enlisted in WWI Apr 24, in Estevan, reg #925699

Daughter Bertha became the wife of Gordon White,
owner of the King Edward Hotel
Margaret married R. D. McFarlane, Gainsborough in 1941
T. M. Brundage lived in Loreburn, in 1941
Frank Brundage in Moose Jaw in 1941

Apr 23, 1956 Miss S. Dunbar RN, Matron of the Hospital
 took out an ad for 3 registered nurses
for a 17 bed modern Hospital
$230.00/ month
plus living accommodations in the hospital at  $30.00/mo
8 hr day, 6 day week. 3 weeks holidays with pay.

Apr 2, 1947 an act was passed in SK Government
re: respecting  Bienfait Coalfields Medical Service Association
and Bienfait Coalfields Union Hospital Board

Jan 27, 1948 the old Bienfait Hospital was for sale
a 13 room building, with full basement,
with hot water heating system.
Population of Bienfait 700 at this time
price including lot, $4,000.00
ad signed by Sec-Treasurer of the Hospital
J. A. Cooper