February 2022

Santa Fe Hospital (Part 2)

The Santa Fe Hospital in Topeka, Kansas was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 recognizing the building’s significant role in healthcare for the State of Kansas and specifically, Santa Fe railroad employees.[1]  Located near downtown Topeka when it was constructed, the hospital was an integral piece of Topeka’s history.  This article, the second in a four-part series, will focus on how the danger and difficulty of building, maintaining, and staffing a railroad gave rise to the necessity of modern healthcare and how one company was a frontrunner in state-of-the-art medical care.

Happy Birthday Ellis Ray Spencer!

My Grandfather Ellis Ray Spencer was born to Richard Allen and Leona (Howell) Spencer this week one hundred and ten years ago (Feb 20, 1912) in Plato, Laclede County, Missouri.  He was the first son born into the family of nine children. Here is a glimpse into his life.

Santa Fe Hospital (Part 1)

The Santa Fe Hospital in Topeka, Kansas was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 recognizing the building’s significant role in healthcare for the State of Kansas and specifically, Santa Fe railroad employees.[1]  Located near downtown Topeka when it was constructed, the hospital was an integral piece of Topeka’s history.  This first article of the series will focus on how Topeka became the home of the largest and most important railroad hospital. 

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