History of Our Building

This House was originally built as a retirement home for the late Father Donald MacIsaac, son of James MacIsaac. However, before Father Donald reached retirement he passed away. For several years, the house was occupied by his relatives.

After the First World War, the people of Inverness and surrounding areas decided that a memorial should be built to remember the brave men and women who fought and died in the War. They formed a board who in town bought the land and this building with the sole purpose of connecting it into a hospital that would stand as a memorial. In 1922 this board received an incorporated status and this building, known as the Inverness County Memorial (Cottage Hospital), was officially opened on December 7th, 1923, by the Premier of the province, Honorable Armstrong. 

The second floor had two 3-bed wards with a case room. The first floorhad a similar layout with made wards and an operating room. The first doctor was Dr. MacKinnon, originally from Lake Ainslie. The first operation, a perforated appendix was preformed on A.D MacLellan, who was brought in on a horse and sleigh from St. Ann’s. The first baby born was a girl, Vera to Howard and Tilley MacKay of Chimney Corner.

In 1929 the new Inverness Memorial Hospital was officially opened by the Minster of health Dr. Murphy. After all the patients were transferred to the new facility, this house transformed back into a residence.

The second floor of the residence housed the nurses. The first floor had rooms rented to Dr. MacLeod, who married and raised 3 children (2 girls and one boy).

In February 1939, fire struck and destroyed the Inverness Memorial Hospital. Once again, the residence was set up as a hospital. The MacLeod family moved to Strathlorne until the new hospital was officially opened on November 11th, 1939. Patients moved in on December 7th, 1939. Once again, the MacLeod’s moved back into the residence and remained until September 28th, 1958, when Dr. MacLeod died suddenly at the age of 54.

 The building remained empty until the fall of 1959 when Dr. Alan Lawley moved in with his wife and three children. Dr. Lawley and family lived here for ten years. Both Dr. Lawley and Dr. L Henderson had offices and shared a common waiting room for the time being. Approximately a year passed when Dr. A Patell took over residence with his wife, and child. Dr. Patell remained here for two years, leaving here to Chicago. The residence was then used by Dr. Qureshi and Dr. Godbole. In 1975 Dr. Belen arrived with his wife and three children, who lived and worked in this house until they moved into there own home and new office. In 1982 Dr. Charles Baugh arrived and rented the house and office until 1984. In 1986 Dr. Raymond Lok arrived in Inverness and rented this house.

After all the doctors moved out of the building, it was used for various health agencies. Now with all these renovations we hope this house will continue to serve the community’s health care needs as it did in the past.