Bidding a City Institution Farewell

On Feb. 10, Enumclaw Regional Hospital, which opened in 1949, held a commemoration ceremony. Residents, doctors, nurses and children born in the hospital gathered for a blessing, retiring and raising of the Colors.

, which opened across the street on Feb. 2, will now serve the community. Meanwhile, Enumclaw Regional will be demolished to make room for a 94,000 square-foot-parking facility.

As part of the commemoration ceremony, people were given a chance to share their memories of the hospital on paper and then submitting them to the hospital.

According to hospital spokesman Gale Robinette, the collected memories may be compiled into a memory book. "It is still being determined but we are thinking of having a place for the memory book in the new hospital. We are looking for ways to give others who weren't at the ceremony an opportunity to write their memories and thoughts." 

Julia Putman, who has lived in Enumclaw since 1989, said she had five of her best memories at Enumclaw Regional.

“I am a little saddened that the building is being torn down because I had five babies born over there, all with the same doctor,” said Putman.

On the other hand, Angelia Craft, who grew up in Enumclaw, is not sad about Enumclaw Regional being demolished.

“I think the new hospital is a good thing and it shows that the community has grown since 1949 when they built the original hospital,” she said. “We are happy that there is something better here and we are moving along in technology." 

On Saturday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., the Enumclaw Regional Hospital will be selling plants, furniture and other selected items to the public. Proceeds will go to the Campaign for St. Elizabeth Hospital and artwork for the new hospital.