historymarlborohospital
~ MARBOROUGH HOSPITAL~
~HISTORY ~

Dr. Hannah E. Bigelow

MARLBOROUGH HOSPITAL FOUNDER

In an era when American women were just beginning to demand equal rights, it is somewhat surprising to realize that here in Marlborough it was a woman - and an M.D. at that - who had the vision and drive to bring about the actual founding of Marlborough Hospital. Strangely enough, Dr. Hannah Elizabeth Bigelow never practiced her profession, but her education at Women's Medical College of Philadelphia, led her to appreciate the place a hospital should hold in every community. As to why she never practiced medicine, research had dug up only theories, that perhaps she was too busy traveling and looking after the many real estate holdings that her father, Levi Bigelow, had left her. Among her travels, she ventured to Europe once or twice, an accomplishment in itself in the 1800's. Miss Bigelow was born September 18, 1848 in nearby Berlin on the family homestead. Her parents moved to Marlborough soon afterward, and here she remained for the rest of her life.

During her lifetime, which was abruptly ended by a stroke at the age of 49, she became one of the city's leading ladies for her philanthropic and charitable deeds, many of which were known only to herself. An acquaintance noted that she was "very generous to the needy throughout her life, and seldom indeed were those who sought her assistance sent away empty handed."

Marlborough hospital Sources:

Ella Bigelow's Book
Marlboro Enterprise Special Edition July 11, 1990

1890 - The beginnings

1904 - Marlborough Hospital re-opens

1912 - A new hospital is built

1950 - A new building is added

1999 - A new addition

The original Hospital today

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