Our History
Caring for Our Community Since 1911.
Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital (FMDH) in Glasgow, Montana, is a voluntary, non-profit corporation designed to serve the people of Northeastern Montana and surrounding areas. Operations are supervised by a Board of Trustees elected as representatives of Valley County. The trustees set the hospital policies and serve without pay.
The chief purpose of FMDH is to provide the best patient care possible at the lowest possible cost. The hospital today reflects a refinement of that goal as the staff strives to meet the needs and realities of the community.
Humble Beginnings
The high-tech hospital we all enjoy today has very humble beginnings.
The first known hospital in the Glasgow area was established in 1889, when 3 boxcars were placed in formation of the letter “H.” In the late 1800s, the new Great Northern Railroad was responsible for many accidents and illnesses. To cope with the situation, the railroad supplied the first hospital in Glasgow. The 3 boxcars included: An office and sleeping room, a drug storage area and operating room, and the third was a ward for patients. Ordinary camp cots served as hospital beds, and 10 traditional pot-bellied stoves heated the cars. Since there were no trained nurses, friends and family cared for the sick or injured. Often, women in the community would provide the needed help.
Early Growth & Name Change
From the very beginning, Glasgow residents felt the need for a hospital. Dr. Mark Hoyt came to Glasgow in 1891 to establish a general practice and serve the Great Northern Railway as a local surgeon.
In 1910, A.W. Mahon offered to donate an entire block of land for a hospital. Located in the southeast corner of Glasgow, the land borders the Milk River across the street from Hoyt Park. The community accepted the gift, and a stock company formed to raise $15,000 for the new hospital. People readily responded.
Frances Hoyt Mahon Memorial Hospital opened its doors on November 21st, 1911. It was the most modern hospital in the state. The name honored Frances Hoyt Mahon, wife of A.W. Mahon and sister to Dr. Hoyt. Mrs. Mahon was born in 1872 and died in 1907 at age 35, three years before her husband donated the land. She also left money in her will to build a hospital in Glasgow. Dr. Hoyt and others added memorial gifts to the fund. The hospital was partly built, but then was standing without funds, and hopelessly in debt.
The name of the hospital was changed to Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in 1914 when the Deaconess Hospital of Great Falls, Montana, finally offered to give the Glasgow hospital a 3-year lease. The lease offered assistance including equipment, financing, and caring for the new establishment. In the first 4 years, the hospital staff cared for over 1,400 cases. By contrast, in 2003, our team cared for over 25,000 people.
The 1930s Through 1980s
The community of Glasgow has always worked to be ahead of the times in medical and hospital facilities. One such example is during the period of 1934 through 35 when the 60-bed, modern 3-story brick structure was conceived and constructed. The need for the new hospital was recognized as a result of the Fort Peck dam project. At that time, the federal Public Works Administration provided a loan and grant for the new building. In 1936, Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital cared for 2,036 patients. The building served the community well until August 26th, 1968, when a new, 35-bed wing went into operation.
The Physical Therapy department took off in 1968, offering those with broken bones a start on the road back to faster recovery. Heart attack and stroke patients had access to the most modern equipment available. The hospital now could also offer two levels of care, acute and convalescent, and a 3rd level, intensive care, was planned for the near future.
In 1978, the trustees dedicated a newly constructed hospital that included a surgery suite, emergency room, 24 more hospital beds, and an office area. A huge community effort called “Operation Update” was organized. The community fund drive raised over $2 million, far exceeding their expectations, to build the new hospital. A proud local community took pride in their modern, most up-to-date facility in the region. The 1935 3-story building was remodeled to accommodate doctor’s offices and clinics. FMDH is thought of as a mini-medical center providing services only found in larger cities.
In 1988, a wing was added to Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital for the Chemical Dependency Center. The center was formerly located at the Glasgow Air Force Base. The Chemical Dependency Center was relocated to downtown Glasgow in 1992, and the hospital space was remodeled for offices and support services of Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital.
Call (406) 228-3500 or visit our patient portal to request an appointment or get your questions answered.