McNally Hospital - Audubon

Rose McNally and Cora McIlvaine opened a hospital in Audubon in 1927 which operated for 5-6 years. The hospital could accommodate up to 12 patients. It was located in the old M. T. Foley residence, formerly the Leet residence, and is pictured above. According to the Audubon History Book, the residence was built by Frank Leet, an Audubon banker, in 1880. It was located in the eastern part of the city, near the Catholic church, and was the largest and "most ornate and pretentious mansion in Audubon at the time."

Community support for the hospital proved insufficient, and after a roof fire raised safety concerns the hospital was closed circa 1932-33. The building was torn down in 1934 or 1935.

Rose and Cora were both graduate nurses. The Audubon County History Book indicates Rose served as a war nurse in World War I and had also worked as a nurse in Audubon County. After the hospital closed she continued nursing and operated a hospital in Exira for a time. She retired in Exira, then went to live with a sister in Ottumwa. Rose died on February 10, 1959 at the Old Soldier's Home in Marshalltown, Iowa, at approximately 90 years of age.

Transcriptions of related Audubon County Journal articles:

Audubon County Journal, November 3, 1927
Audubon County Journal, December 1, 1927

Photos from the McNally family photo collection, provided to Ken Akers by Kay McConkey.
Contributed by Ken Akers, January 2010.