from Historical and biographical annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania.

This institution was promoted by Joseph Ratti, the principal owner of the Bloomsburg Silk Mill. He and a number of friends met on March 8, 1905, for orginization. The residence of W. L. Ritter on East Fifth street was purchased by Mr. Ratti, and extensive repairs and improvements made to adapt it for hospital purposes. Friends of the enterprise were solicited, and contributed $6,190. Mr. Ratti supplying the balance, about $9,000 to meet the expense incurred. The equipment included a complete set of the most modern surgical instruments, and an operating room fitted with all the sanitary appliences known to the surgical profession.

In April, 1905, action was taken to change the name to the Joseph Ratti Hospital, which was done at the May term of court.

At the meeting in January, 1910, action was taken looking to the erection of a new building. The Legislature of 1909 had appropriated $5,000 towards the project. Plans for the new building prepared by McKormic & French of Wilkes-Barre were adopted in 1911, and the contract was awarded to the Shamokin Lumber Company. Paul Wirt is among the board of directors as of 1914.