Can you imagine having to travel more than a hundred miles for a simple medical procedure?

That's what residents of the Eastern Shore faced decades ago. The isolation of the region — a thin strip of land bordered on one side by the Atlantic Ocean, on the other by the Chesapeake Bay — meant that some people would die of simple ailments such as appendicitis.

But people here wanted to make life better. Dr. William J. Sturgis Sr. would become instrumental in that effort. In 1903 he was on a train ride home from Baltimore, where he had taken a patient for surgery, when he read an article outlining the success of the first American community hospital built, in Jefferson County, Mo. “Then and there,” Dr. Sturgis said, “I decided I would devote the rest of my life, if necessary, trying to persuade enough of the good people on the Eastern Shore to help in the establishment of a well equipped hospital for the people of the two counties.”

Dr. Sturgis, known today as the father of the hospital, went on to lead the effort to raise the necessary funds. In the campaign of 1920, the goal was $150,000. That successful drive asked people to give a day's wage, and each contribution was acknowledged by a personal note from the President of the hospital board. Judge John E. Nottingham replied to one Chincoteague waterman: “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very generous donation” — which happened to be $1, a day's wage. The judge continued, “I'm sure you will be proud of the institution upon its completion.”

Shore residents were proud when that 25-bed facility, Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital, opened in 1928, about the time the Great Depression. In an effort to generate cash flow, the organization sold medical insurance to local citizens. One dollar a month would guarantee up to 21 days of hospitalization at a cost of $5 a day. That included three daily meals at an average cost of 21.5 cents each.

Things changed over the years and that original brick building grew to house 104 beds. But by the 1960s, even those beds were not enough and it was decided to construct a modern facility.

Today the building that opened in 1971 is licensed for 143 beds, including a 13-bed Skilled Nursing Facility and a 14-bed Mental Health Unit. A state-of-the-art Emergency Department opened in late 1996. The following year an Intensive Care Unit was added, along with renovated and expanded Radiology and Surgery Departments. Another bold step the Board of Trustees took in the 1990s was to diversify the organization and begin ancillary services. This led to the creation of Shore Health Services, an independent community healthcare delivery system that includes Shore Cancer Center, Shore Medical Center at Metompkin, Shore Healthcare at Home and Shore Cardiopulmonary Wellness Services. Affiliates of the Shore Health Services include Shore Rehab and Shore LifeCare at Parksley, a 136-bed long-term-care facility.

It was during this transitional period that the name of the hospital changed to Shore Memorial Hospital, continuing to honor war veterans while integrating into the new organizational structure.

Dr. Sturgis and his associates would probably look in awe upon the comprehensive healthcare system available on the Shore today. But Shore Health Services remains committed to the same principles upon which that small brick hospital was erected — to provide quality, compassionate care to all who need help. That was the mission in 1928, and it remains our mission today.

In celebration of the Hospital's 75th Anniversary a documentary, “Our Community Hospital — Celebrating a Vision,” was produced. This work highlights the hospital's history and the community's continued support. The documentary is available for $5 each, in VHS or DVD format, by calling the Community Relations Department at 757-414-8051.

Eastern Shore attractions

Colonial heritage

The colonial heritage is an important feature of this area, and historic buildings from as far back as 1644 still stand in Cape Charles and Onancock. Tourists are also drawn to the NASA flight facility at Wallops Island, and to Tangier Island, a tiny fishing island on the Chesapeake Bay. The wild pony penning, an annual festival held in July on Assateague Island, brings thousands to the Chincoteague area, which is also the site of Assateague National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The rest of the barrier islands are wilderness.

Like the rest of the coastal plain, the Eastern Shore has an extremely flat topography and predominantly sand-clay soils. The low coastline is carved into innumerable small bays, inlets and tidal creeks. The long swampy coastline coupled with the long growing season and mild ocean climate make agriculture and fishing the major commercial activities. The Shore also draws a certain amount of tourist and resort activity.