Sixth of a series of articles leading up to Monadnock Community Hospital’s 100th anniversary celebration June 3. See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

Community support has sustained Monadnock Community Hospital for 100 years.

Monadnock Community Hospital (MCH) opened its doors in 1923 thanks to the generosity and dedication of community leaders who had a vision of having a hospital in the rural Monadnock region. One hundred years later, the hospital is inviting the community for a monumental centennial celebration Saturday, June 3, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the hospital campus. The Bond Wellness Center parking lot will be filled to the brim for a day filled with fun, food and activities for the whole family.

“With so many changes and tremendous growth over the years, we are honored to celebrate our first centennial with you,” MCH President and CEO Cyndee McGuire said. “It takes a dedicated community to build a hospital and so many have contributed to our success over the years. Donors, volunteers, medical staff, employees, trustees, patients, first-responders and many more have added to the strength of Monadnock Community Hospital, making it one of the best small hospitals in New England.”

There will be free health screenings such as cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, posture, balance checks, fall prevention and more. Guided tours of the hospital will be held between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. beginning at the hospital’s Oncology and Infusion Therapy entrance.

The event will feature heaps of fun for families with little ones. Children can get up close with an ambulance, police cruiser and fire trucks in the Touch-a-Truck area and are welcome to bring a stuffed friend for a free checkup at the Stuffed Animal Clinic. Other children’s activities such as free games with prizes, face-painting, arts and crafts and make-your-own veggie taco with The Cornucopia Project will also be available.

There will be live trainings and demonstrations such as hands-only CPR, Narcan training and more thanks to our community partners Healthy Monadnock Alliance and Reality Check. Other community organizations that will be offering information and community resources include The River Center, Community Volunteer Transportation Company, Home Healthcare Hospice & Community Services, The Grapevine, Cornucopia Project and Monadnock at Home.

Live music is scheduled all day in the 1940s Ramblin’ Rose Stagecoach, including musicians Eve Pierce and Gordon Peery and local bands Celticladda and Tattoo. There will also be items available for purchase throughout the day, including a craft fair showcasing MCH employees, food vendors including Island Bowls, Totally Thai, Prime Time Grilled Cheese and others.

Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for three great prizes, with proceeds going to fight food insecurity in our community through End 68 Hours of Hunger. MCH looks forward to celebrating with the community at this special event. More information can be found on the hospital’s Facebook event page and website, monadnockcommunityhospital.com.

If you have enjoyed this series, the history book “A Century of Caring, the Chronicle of Monadnock Community Hospital,” written by Barbara Miller, will be available at MCH’s The Window Shop.

Monadnock Community Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital offering primary care, medical and surgical care, obstetrics, pediatrics and behavioral health services. In addition, outpatient services are available, including a primary care network, orthopaedics, cardiology, cardiac and physical rehabilitation services, 24-hour emergency care, oncology, occupational health, a fully equipped laboratory and a radiology department. 

Melissa French is the marketing specialist for Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough.

]]>