The Sisters' Sanctuary on Fifth Street

Last March, the Sisters of Charity purchased four lots and a dwelling house situated on Fifth Street, from J. J. Moss, for the purpose of opening in Seattle a hospital for the sick and afflicted of all classes and conditions. Carpenters were set to work. The main building was raised some five or six feet; a large addition was built on the rear, and a well on the south side. Thousands of feet of lumber were used in making troughs for sewerage purposes, and from the location of the property, the most excellent drainage has been obtained. There are thirteen private rooms in the house, most of which are furnished, besides the large ward which is 14x50 feet, containing ten single beds, all nice and clean. The entire house has the most perfect ventilation and is exceedingly well adapted for the purposes of a first-class hospital. Besides these private rooms, there is a parlor, dining room, kitchen, pantry, drug store, a chapel containing an altar, smoking room, bath room, sleeping apartments for the sisters, a room for the dying, etc. The building is surrounded by a nicely laid out flower and vegetable garden, with fruit, orchard and many varieties of shrubbery. Since the hospital has been opened, there have been thirty-six patients cared for, twenty-eight of whom were county charges, and the remainder private patients. The Sisters state they are able to take care of at least thirty patients at once very comfortably. A very handsome inscription with large gilt letters has just been placed on the front of the building bearing the words, 'PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL, 1878,' surmounted by a very pretty cross. The Sisters of Charity have expended several thousand dollars besides the purchase money in founding this institution, which will supply a want long felt in our city—a home for the afflicted homeless.