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Early on, the residents of Palmerton and its nearby communities had access to excellent medical care. The New Jersey Zinc Company founded, and for many years, funded the operation of the Palmerton Hospital. After it opened with its eleven beds in May of 1908, it was under the direction if its first surgeon, Dr. John Luther. A staff of capable nurses, many of whom were graduates of the Palmerton School of Nursing, assisted the doctors who practiced at the hospital.
The women who studied nursing at the Palmerton School of Nursing lived in the Nurses' Home formerly located behind the hospital at the corner of First Street and Columbia Avenue. No longer standing, it was demolished to construct the greatly enlarged Palmerton Hospital.
For forty-one years, great strides were made under the influence of surgeon, Dr. Rodger Batchelor and his wife, pediatrician Dr. Marjorie Batchelor. Dr. Batchelor, known by many as Dr. Marjorie, ran the Well Baby Clinic, also funded by the New Jersey Zinc Company. Mothers took their babies to the clinic on a regular basis so that Dr. Marjorie could give the necessary "shots" and prescribe each baby's formula and diet. It was her practice to recommend carrots as a baby's first solid food. It has been said that it was easy to recognize a "Batchelor baby" by their carrot color.
However, Dr. Marjorie was famous for her other "practice" as well - the practice of exercising her two very large dogs. She would drive slowly around town in her open car with the dogs running alongside. When the dogs became tired she allowed them to jump into the car and home they all went.
Today, the Palmerton Hospital and the Gnaden Huetten Hospital in Lehighton, are affiliates of the Blue Mountain Health System.
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For additional information about the sites on the Photo Tour, return to the main page and click the various links, or call 610-824-6954, or Email: contactus@palmertonhistorical.org.
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