Haunted Hospital

One of the haunted spots was the old abandoned hospital that was two stories and large, (I think it was large) we went in but we were scared all of the time. Walking and riding bikes past the building was terrifying at best at night or in the evening.


Red Cross Outpost Hospitals
In 1920, the first Red Cross Outpost Hospital in the British Empire was built at Paddockwood, Saskatchewan. This post-World War I Red Cross program served small, remote communities (often soldier-settlement areas) unable to afford municipal hospitals. Built and maintained by the communities, these hospitals were staffed and supplied by the Red Cross. This successful partnership led to a total of twenty-four outposts in Saskatchewan, over 200 across Canada, and more around the world. A “Nurse-in-Charge,” not a resident doctor, managed each hospital and lived in the community full-time. With the nearest doctor typically thirty or more miles away, Charge Nurses delivered babies, stitched wounds, administered medicine, set bones, treated fevers, gave vaccinations, and offered practical medical advice. Often forced by circumstance to make diagnoses and prescribe treatment in a doctor’s stead, these nurses worked admirably outside the bounds of accepted nursing practice. The Red Cross name and flag gave instant recognition, and promoted trust for people of all nationalities. By 1946, over 37,000 inpatients and 27,000 outpatients had been treated in Saskatchewan outposts, with 8,800 births recorded. Over the years, as communities matured and transportation improved, each hospital was turned over to community management or closed. Saskatchewan’s Red Cross Outpost Hospitals included, in order of establishment: Paddockwood, Carragana in 1921, Bengough, Eastend, Cutknife, Meadow Lake, Willow Bunch, Kelvington, Big River, Lucky Lake, Broderick, Wood Mountain, Bracken, Nipawin, Tuberose, Rabbit Lake, Rockglen, Loon Lake, Endeavour, Pierceland, Leoville, Hudson Bay Junction, Arborfield, and Buffalo Narrows.
Merle Massie
©2007 University of Regina and Canadian Plains Research Center

My mother-in-law was the first baby born in the Paddockwood Red Cross Hospital, Gladys Aspvick.

Marie Kilden
Marie Kilden, nurse and matron at Saskatchewan Red Cross Outpost Hospitals during the period from 1919 to 1951, was born on April 14, 1897, at Ostby, Trysil, Norway. She came to Canada in 1907 with her parents who homesteaded in the Domremy district.
She graduated as a registered nurse from the Holy Family Hospital in Prince Albert in 1919. During her training period in 1918 the terrible flu epidemic struck and the hospital soon filled to overflowing. Despite long hours and valiant efforts by the staff, including Marie, the death toll was high.
Following the First World War many veterans were settled on new lands in wilderness areas where health services were non-existent. The Canadian Red Cross established what it called Outpost Nursing Stations to provide medical and first aid services to people in these isolated communities. Marie Kilden worked from 1919 to 1951 at various Red Cross outpost stations providing health care to pioneers.
Pioneer families in the districts around Bjorkdale, Cut Knife, Rabbit Lake, Carragana, Arborfield, Big River and Loverna had reason to be grateful for medical aid provided by this dedicated nurse. Doctors only came to the outpost for periodic clinics and Marie Kilden was expected to provide a full line of support medical services by herself between these infrequent visits.
She delivered hundreds of babies and counselled their mothers. She dealt with disease, injuries and even gunshot wounds. Those needing operations were assisted to the nearest hospital. She aided many a doctor in conducting operations in homes and outpost hospitals and on one occasion with lighting provided by automobile headlights.
When the Red Cross closed its outpost stations in 1951, Marie Kilden moved to the Wakaw Union Hospital where she was a nurse and matron until her retirement in 1962.
Marie Kilden received honors and tributes for her work in bringing much-needed medical services to districts being opened up for agriculture. A citation from the Cut Knife community commended her skill, thoughtfulness and dedicated service. She received a scroll from the Canadian Red Cross for 30 years of service and an honorary life membership in the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association. Recognizing her value to the communities served, a group of seven Homemakersí clubs in Northeast Saskatchewan in 1953 named their new district organization the Marie Kilden Homemakersí District,î later known as the Marie Kilden District Women's Institute.
"Nominated for the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, 1985by Bethania Lutheran Church, Northern Light BookFund and Marie Kilden District Women’s Institute."