| City/Town: • Hardtner |
| Location Class: • Hospital |
| Built: | Abandoned: • 19 |
| Status: • Abandoned • Private Property |
| Photojournalist: |
Table of Contents
To Read A Fully Detailed History, Former Patient/Staff Stories, and See 50+ Exclusive High-Quality Pictures Click Here to Order ‘Abandoned Kansas: Healthcare in the Heartland’
Jacob Achenbach, born in Germany in 1846, moved to the United States at a young age and settled in Illinois. In 1881, he moved to Kansas and began ranching on 160 acres, eventually expanding to 6,300 acres in Barber County, which he envisioned as a community hub.
In 1885, Achenbach founded the City of Hardtner, named after the doctor who sold him the ranch. He had a diverse career, serving as postmaster, banker, railroad builder, mortgage broker, and active community member.
Achenbach’s 1937 will directed trustees to establish a public hospital in Hardtner or an adjacent tract of land with a budget cap of $125,000. The Achenbach Memorial Hospital Association was formed to execute his vision.
Concerns arose about the hospital’s viability due to the town’s small population. A membership fee plan was devised to ensure sustainability, offering medical, surgical, dental, and affiliated Blue Cross services. Legal disputes over Achenbach’s will delayed the hospital’s establishment for three years before a resolution allowed the plans to proceed.
Glen H. Thomas served as the architect, and Louis Baker supervised construction for the Achenbach Memorial Hospital project, which garnered over 500 members for the association. Tours of the nearly finished 33-bed hospital were conducted in August 1941, and the official inauguration took place in September of the same year.
Dr. H.L. Galloway was the first Chief of Staff and entered into a contract where salaries were paid by 65 percent of membership revenue, with 35 percent allocated for maintenance. In 1946, Dr. Galloway renewed his contract, leading to discontent among some members. A class action lawsuit was filed against the hospital corporation, alleging discrepancies in property deeds, misallocation of funds, and wrongful payments to Dr. Galloway. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in favor of the hospital.
An $80,000 expansion project was initiated in 1949, adding 15 beds, a clinic waiting room, and offices. Two new doctors, Dr. Lonis L. Schurter and Dr. Betty Sue Schurter, joined the staff alongside Dr. H. Yasuda and Dr. Ralph L. Hopp. The 1950s saw stability in membership at around 1,400 and high demand for hospital services, including 20,947 phone consultations in 1955. Dr. Kenneth D. Zimmerman joined the medical team during this period, and in 1960, the hospital celebrated its 19th anniversary with an open house.
Financial challenges led to a membership cost increase, resulting in a decrease in membership from approximately 1,400 to 450 members. On February 28, 1963, Achenbach Memorial Hospital suspended operations due to unsustainable finances.
Legal ownership of the hospital reverted to Achenbach heirs. A plan emerged to transform the hospital into a multi-purpose facility, with a nursing home on the third floor, a hospital on the second, and a clinic on the first. The heirs contributed $40,000 to reopen the hospital and equipped it with modern tools. Doctors shifted to a fee-based wage system, and three osteopathic doctors joined, securing the hospital’s resurgence.
On July 1, 1963, the community celebrated the reopening of the remodeled Hardtner Hospital with upgraded equipment and a renewed focus on sustainability. “Our need has been met. We found what it was like to be without a doctor while the hospital and clinic were closed. Our people are like all others. They want care when they need it. They don’t want to have to drive miles to get medical care. This is why we are determined to help keep the hospital and clinic open. But we need yall’s support. There has always been the question of how far the family should go to keep it open,” said heir Lois Platt.
Despite the initial resurgence, the hospital’s financial challenges resurfaced due to the absence of a sustainable long-term plan. Once again, the heirs found themselves at a crossroads, confronted with a tough decision: continue investing funds into the hospital to preserve the legacy or opt for closure. Regrettably, the day of reckoning arrived, and the hospital made the heart-wrenching decision to permanently close its doors.
Around 1965, the last patient received care at the hospital. The closure was met with public outcry, and even to this day, nearly half a century later, the community continues to hold onto the dream of the hospital’s eventual revival. The hospital faced ongoing financial challenges and struggled to sustain long-term operations, leading to a difficult decision for the heirs. In 1965, the hospital permanently closed its doors, eliciting public outcry and a continued community desire for revival.
Achenbach Memorial Hospital’s closure exemplifies the challenges faced by rural healthcare facilities in providing accessible and affordable services with limited financial support. Rural hospitals often struggle to remain operational, contributing to healthcare disparities between rural and urban areas.
The hospital was highly regarded by the community for nearly three decades and faced skepticism during its construction. It experienced high patient demand, often requiring cots in hallways and waiting rooms.
To Read A Fully Detailed History, Former Patient/Staff Stories, and See 50+ Exclusive High-Quality Pictures Click Here to Order ‘Abandoned Kansas: Healthcare in the Heartland’
(The pictures included below are not indicative of the pictures included in the book above, pictures of all the awesome things included at this property can be seen exclusively in my book!)
Gallery Below of Achenbach Memorial Hospital
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