In today's day and age, it expected that no one will have to travel too far to get great medical care. However, there was a period of more than 50 years when Meeker did not have a hospital and long ventures were expected to get quality care. Below we will explore the history of Meeker and the hospitals, and how each one came to be.
The First Hospital
The first hospital that Meeker had actually existed before the town was officially founded. This hospital was mainly used as a government hospital to help the soldiers in surrounded areas. This hospital existed in a simple one story barrack type building. It was built around 1979 and was occupied by government workers and soldiers until 1833, when they left to fight elsewhere. After the solders left this building was used as countless other things from schools to the city hall. To learn more about this building's uses later on, visit this page. This was the only hospital to exist in Meeker until 1947, leaving Meeker without a hospital for more than 60 years.
Pioneers Medical Center Founding
Meeker didn't have any form of hospital or professional medical help from 1883-1947, until the Pioneers Medical Center was built. Meeker was able to use the donation of $175,000 from Freeman Fairfield to construct the hospital. Fairfield was actually the one to approach the county commissioners about the construction of the medical center, and it is without doubt that Pioneers Hospital wouldn't exist today without him. The hospital opened in 1950, three years after construction on the building started. The original building existed between 3rd and 4th Street and on Cleveland. The building stood until 2015 when a new hospital was built on Highway 13, northeast of Meeker.
Pioneers Medical Center Now
In 2015, construction on the new building for Pioneers Medical Center was finished. The building is located on Highway 13, northeast of Meeker. It was under construction for many years and was finally opened to the public in June of 2015. The building houses the medical center as well as the wing and many other great editions to our community. Meeker is very lucky to have such a grand and amazing hospital considering how small the community is. The building is constantly being worked on and improved thanks to the generous town they serve. Pioneers Medical Center has now served Meeker for over 50 years, and continues to be a very valuable aspect of Meeker.
