Comments on: Past Post: U.S. Public Health Service Hospital http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:07:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Lee A. http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-12452 Lee A. Sun, 18 May 2008 15:26:39 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-12452 My father was chief of the otolaryngology clinic from 1954 to 1971 and we lived on the property. The housing and grounds were desigined originally for the chiefs of the various clinics and their families; I was born on First Hill and raised on the hospital grounds (quarters 8 then 6), we moved away in 1971 (all the way to Sequim). What great memories! I'd enjoy seeing a reunion of some sort for the children of the doctors and nurses from the hospital! These submissions are wonderful! Yes, years later in talking with a friend from my junior high school years, he always thought the hospital and grounds were an "insane asylum". My father was chief of the otolaryngology clinic from 1954 to 1971 and we lived on the property. The housing and grounds were desigined originally for the chiefs of the various clinics and their families; I was born on First Hill and raised on the hospital grounds (quarters 8 then 6), we moved away in 1971 (all the way to Sequim). What great memories! I’d enjoy seeing a reunion of some sort for the children of the doctors and nurses from the hospital! These submissions are wonderful!
Yes, years later in talking with a friend from my junior high school years, he always thought the hospital and grounds were an “insane asylum”.

]]> By: Julie Anne http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-12072 Julie Anne Sun, 11 May 2008 00:28:42 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-12072 It's like homecoming week at the USPSH! As a Marine Corps brat whose career-service Dad volunteered way too many tours in Vietnam to scramble up the promotion ladder (while we lived here in Seattle), I remember going here for doctor's appointments all through the 60's, 70's and early 80's. I think the last time was about 1984. For some reason, the military's idea of a kids' avearge annual physical for school and sports always included a blood draw. And not just a pinprick on the finger - but a couple of full vials drawn from the inside elbow vein. I had my worst and best "stick" ever in that building. The worst was horrible, I was tiny and the needle was huge, the gruff woman phlebotamist uncaring and irritated by the fact that I had the audacity to be a child, and it soured me to most needles to this day. But a year later, a big African-American Sergeant, who easily could have played linebacker for the Bears of the '80s, noticed I was having a little terror fit in the blood room, and set me on his lap and showed me all his instruments, calmed me down, and drew the gentlest, most skillful blood sample I've ever had. I remember the floor was black and white travertine tile set on the diagonal with a border of smaller tiles in this area, because that's what he kept me focused on counting the tiles, while he tricked me into not noticing he was drawing my blood! It’s like homecoming week at the USPSH!

As a Marine Corps brat whose career-service Dad volunteered way too many tours in Vietnam to scramble up the promotion ladder (while we lived here in Seattle), I remember going here for doctor’s appointments all through the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. I think the last time was about 1984.

For some reason, the military’s idea of a kids’ avearge annual physical for school and sports always included a blood draw. And not just a pinprick on the finger - but a couple of full vials drawn from the inside elbow vein.

I had my worst and best “stick” ever in that building. The worst was horrible, I was tiny and the needle was huge, the gruff woman phlebotamist uncaring and irritated by the fact that I had the audacity to be a child, and it soured me to most needles to this day.

But a year later, a big African-American Sergeant, who easily could have played linebacker for the Bears of the ’80s, noticed I was having a little terror fit in the blood room, and set me on his lap and showed me all his instruments, calmed me down, and drew the gentlest, most skillful blood sample I’ve ever had. I remember the floor was black and white travertine tile set on the diagonal with a border of smaller tiles in this area, because that’s what he kept me focused on counting the tiles, while he tricked me into not noticing he was drawing my blood!

]]> By: Jeanne http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11870 Jeanne Mon, 05 May 2008 19:27:21 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11870 Why didn't I know that Amazon was in that building? Where have I been? My dad worked for the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (later renamed NOAA) on their research ships from the 1930s until 1973, spending most of the year in Alaska and Hawaii. Our family went to the doctor (and the dentist too, I think) at the Marine Hospital during the 1960s and early 1970s. I still remember the smell of the hallways (not a bad hospital odor, but perhaps something they used to clean or wax the floors). The ornate art deco elevators and other details impressed me even as a kid. My dad passed away there in 1986. I wouldn't be surprised if he was still hanging around that building. If there are any sightings of a cribbage-playing sailor spirit who smokes like a chimney, that would be him. Why didn’t I know that Amazon was in that building? Where have I been?

My dad worked for the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (later renamed NOAA) on their research ships from the 1930s until 1973, spending most of the year in Alaska and Hawaii.

Our family went to the doctor (and the dentist too, I think) at the Marine Hospital during the 1960s and early 1970s. I still remember the smell of the hallways (not a bad hospital odor, but perhaps something they used to clean or wax the floors). The ornate art deco elevators and other details impressed me even as a kid.

My dad passed away there in 1986. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was still hanging around that building. If there are any sightings of a cribbage-playing sailor spirit who smokes like a chimney, that would be him.

]]> By: Kim http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11840 Kim Mon, 05 May 2008 18:30:03 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11840 @Jack (and everyone, I guess): *my* maternal grandfather, a Navy vet, also died here, some forty years after yours. I've always thought it was a striking building, but I can't help wondering how many old sailors might haunt the premises. Any Amazon folk out there reading who can confirm or deny? @Jack (and everyone, I guess): *my* maternal grandfather, a Navy vet, also died here, some forty years after yours. I’ve always thought it was a striking building, but I can’t help wondering how many old sailors might haunt the premises. Any Amazon folk out there reading who can confirm or deny?

]]> By: Jack http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11838 Jack Mon, 05 May 2008 18:20:31 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11838 My maternal grandfather, Thomas Henry Hawkes, was a Merchant Seaman with the Alaska Steamship lines. He died of stomach ulcers in this hospital in the early 1940's. Nobody dies of ulcers today. He went to sea as a cabin boy on a whaling ship out of Bath, Maine at the age of fourteen, after his father was lost at sea. It was either that or starve. It kind of makes you wonder about complaining about the price of gas. My maternal grandfather, Thomas Henry Hawkes, was a Merchant Seaman with the Alaska Steamship lines.

He died of stomach ulcers in this hospital in the early 1940’s. Nobody dies of ulcers today.

He went to sea as a cabin boy on a whaling ship out of Bath, Maine at the age of fourteen, after his father was lost at sea. It was either that or starve.

It kind of makes you wonder about complaining about the price of gas.

]]> By: didi http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11603 didi Sat, 03 May 2008 10:46:31 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11603 Or how about the goofy postcards from motels that make it sound like a Holiday Inn knockoff when they are most likely a haven for transients and illegal activity? "Hi, mom, the motor hotel has got such great conveniences. You get to park the car in front of your room! That's innovation." "Gus, I love this place! It has a switchboard, TV and I didn't miss one episode of 77 Sunset Strip while I was gone. Gladys." Or how about the goofy postcards from motels that make it sound like a Holiday Inn knockoff when they are most likely a haven for transients and illegal activity?

“Hi, mom, the motor hotel has got such great conveniences. You get to park the car in front of your room! That’s innovation.”

“Gus, I love this place! It has a switchboard, TV and I didn’t miss one episode of 77 Sunset Strip while I was gone. Gladys.”

]]> By: Jonathan S http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11513 Jonathan S Thu, 01 May 2008 17:20:08 +0000 http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/05/01/past-post-us-public-health-service-hospital/#comment-11513 I always appreciate postcards that highlight a city's somewhat drab infrastructure... "Hi Gladys! Enjoy this postcard of the Department of Retirement Systems nondescript lobby!" "Steve, I'm having a great time here in Seattle. Check out the postcard. It's Seattle's City Auditor. Sweet!" "I hope things are going well, Dill. My adventures to the great Pacific Northwest have been a dream! Don't believe me? The front of this postcard says it all - an action shot of a Port of Seattle Commission meeting! Eat your heart out, Dill!" I always appreciate postcards that highlight a city’s somewhat drab infrastructure…

“Hi Gladys! Enjoy this postcard of the Department of Retirement Systems nondescript lobby!”

“Steve, I’m having a great time here in Seattle. Check out the postcard. It’s Seattle’s City Auditor. Sweet!”

“I hope things are going well, Dill. My adventures to the great Pacific Northwest have been a dream! Don’t believe me? The front of this postcard says it all - an action shot of a Port of Seattle Commission meeting! Eat your heart out, Dill!”

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