of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, page 443
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL. One of the attractive public places of Muscatine is the grounds and building of Bellevue Hospital which stands on a high, commanding bluff, overlooking the Father of Waters, as it sweeps down through the islands of green. Far from the noise, the dirt and grime of the city, here the invalid has an ideal home, where the best of nursing and all nature combine to make his lot as pleasant as possible. This house is known for its historic past and great beauty. The building is historically known as "Wagner's Folly." Many years ago a lawyer known as "Alphabet" Wagner, from the fact that there were three initials to his name, A. B. C., settled in Muscatine and was at once struck with the beautiful view of the Mississippi and the surrounding country from the hill overlooking the river at the head of Second street. Every evening found Mr. Wagner gazing far out over the bluff and it was not long before rumors were afloat that he was about to erect a magnificent building at this point. In fact, it was not long before great pillars of stone arrived in the city and work was commenced in the little village on a building that incited in the breasts of the villagers the utmost wonder at its grandeur, but after several weeks' construction on the edifice work was stopped and Wagner left the city. The great stone pillars that had been brought from Boston were left remaining, lying about the unfinished building. The undertaking had been too great for its projector and eventually the unfinished structure fell into the hands of General Gordon, who completed it. The building in its present state shows the honesty of its construction and the classic beauty of its lines. About 1898 the building became a private hospital under the direction of Drs. A. J. Weaver and J. L. Klein and from the beginning the institution has been a success in every regard.
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