This Cache is part of the Helena, Montana GeoExpedition. The GeoExpedition spans the scenic Helena area from the heights of MacDonald Pass, through historic downtown gulch then south to Boulder and the Elkhorn Ghost Town. Discover all the treasures of Montana’s Capital City. Hotel packages just for Geocachers can be found at www.helenamt.com.
Public hospital care in Lewis and Clark County began with the Miner's Hospital in 1866. Until 1885, public medical care occurred at several locations and via multiple funding mechanisms, including a "Poor Farm" where people grew their own food. The current location came into use in 1885 when a new hospital was built on the current site. In 1891 it became known as the Lewis and Clark County Hospital, with a focus on providing care for those who could not afford a private hospital.
From the 1880s to the 1920s, records show that more than 350 people were buried on this site in a county cemetery, although the markers are long gone and the exact location of the cemetery is unknown.
The original hospital structure was destroyed on October 18, 1935, when a major earthquake struck Helena. The current historic main hospital building was built in 1937–1939 to replace it. This structure is a T-shaped, two-story, concrete building with a basement. The interior floorplan has remained essentially the same as it was in 1939. The hospital became the county-owned convalescent home on September 24, 1961 and was renamed the Cooney Convalescent Home after Dr. Cooney who began working there in the 1920s and served as an administrator until the 1950s. In 1984, the Cooney Convalescent Home moved to a new location on the other side of Helena, near St. Peter's Hospital, and the building was converted to office space, mostly occupied by various healthcare practitioners and agencies.
This cache should be a fairly quick p&g with some stealth required. Don't forget a pencil!