County Commissioners Honor Health Center’s Anniversary
Armstrong County Health Center Administrator Tom Parsons has only been at the facility for a year, but has heard a lot about the history of the “County Home.” The facility celebrated its 35th anniversary earlier this month.
by Jonathan Weaver
The Armstrong County Health Center celebrated 35 years a few weeks ago, and county commissioners acknowledged the anniversary in a proclamation yesterday.
The Armstrong County Health Center was dedicated February 3, 1980 by Commissioners Harry M. Fox, Ott K. Heilman, Grover Myers and William H. Kerr
The original “County Home” known as Armsdale Manor, was built in 1931 to house 75 persons who were without shelter or means of support, according to the proclamation. In the following years, the demands for more admissions exceeded the building’s capacity. The facility was then renovated with federal, State, local and private funds. It eventually housed nearly 200 residents.
The proclamation was read by Commissioner Rich Fink
Commissioner Bob Bower thought back to when the building was Armstrong County Hospital – the former Kittanning General Hospital – and it was renovated into two upper stories containing wards, private rooms, a pediatric unit, maternity rooms, an X-ray room, a laboratory and an operating room.
He remembered watching one of the two floods surround the building with his parents, and later worked at the hospital in 1971 as his first job in the Department of Radiology.
“I remember it more as a hospital than a health center – the Health Center came shortly after that when the County purchased it,” Bower said.
According to the current hospital’s history records, the building was renovated again in 1948, in 1952 and to a fifth floor in 1960 to become an inpatient facility before administration, staff and patients dedicated the current Armstrong County Memorial Hospital in its current location in West Hills May 15, 1973.
“When I went back in years later to the Health Center as coroner in 1986, I’m reminded of the extensive remodeling to make it the quality care center for our elderly that it is today
Administrator Tom Parsons said there are at least six employees that have been employed at the Health Center since the start or even before it was re-dedicated, all in different departments: Peggy Goldinger in Activities (started in 1974), Sus Cochran in the Business office (started in 1975), Accounts Payable Receptionist Kathy Bartuccio (started in 1979), LPN Carol Delp and Dietary Cheryl Croyle started in 1980 and Debbie Cornman in Housekeeping/Laundry officially began in 1981.
The Health Center was Cornman’s first job after graduating from Shannock Valley High School. She said the job has changed since becoming a long-term care facility
“The Health Center for years, from when it was the ‘County Home,’ has always been a wonderful place to work, and we always knew that working for the County would always be a good job,” Cornman said.
She said skills from the Health Center have helped her in her everyday life.
“Most definitely – I’ve grown up at the Armstrong County Health Center,” Cornman said. “I’ve learned everything I know in life from working here (like) learning to work with and care for people.”
Daughter, Cheyenne, even has volunteered at the facility and has had family members as residents.
Bartuccio moved to the Health Center in 1979 after working at the County Controller’s office. She was a ‘candy striper’ when she was 16 and recalled where the various departments and waiting rooms were.
The Health Center, which currently has 103 residents, is currently managed by Affinity Health Services and is making plans for anniversary activities later this year.
Local News | jweaver February 20, 2015
