History
The Beginning
In January 1890, Mrs. Elizabeth Harter, daughter of manufacturer and banker Cornelius Aultman, purchased 4.5 acres of land in the southwest end of Canton, Ohio. Elizabeth Harter and stepmother Katherine Barron Aultman deeded this land in 1891 to the Aultman Hospital Association.
Aultman Hospital, Stark County's first hospital, opened its doors on Jan. 17, 1892. Dr. James Fraunfelter performed the first surgery months later, attempting to save the life of Norman L. Deuble, who fell off his high-wheeled bicycle during a race and struck his head on a curbstone.
1920-1940
In 1925, the Harter Building was constructed. It added 100 beds to the 40-room hospital. The McKinley Building opened in 1944 and added another 106 beds. Three years later, another 117 beds were added by the opening of the Harter Annex.
1950-1960
The Obstetrical Anesthesia department opened in 1951 with nurse anesthetists. By 1960, Aultman offered 24-hour availability of epidural pain relief during labor and delivery.
In 1954, the Main Building and the Morrow House were completed. Construction of the Main Building replaced the hospital's original structure and included 139 additional beds.
The 1960s and 1970s
Although closed heart surgery was performed in the 1950s, the hospital's heart program began to develop beginning in 1969 with the addition of the Heart Lab. Additionally in 1969, the seven-story Memorial Building was constructed -- and the Cancer Program began with the arrival of a cobalt radiation therapy unit. These additions were followed by the Aultman Ambulatory Building in 1979.
The 1980s and 1990s
The Emergency/Trauma Center expanded in 1989. The Second Century Project was completed in 1992, followed by the Physician Office Building in 1998.
New services added in the 1980s and 1990s included the Aultman Center for Dialysis, lithotripsy, reproductive endocrinology, Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care, pharmacy robot, laboratory automation project and the helipad.
Recent History
Aultman has expanded into the communities we serve, constructing Aultman North, Aultman West and Aultman Carrollton. In 2003, Aultman relocated its outpatient therapy services to a newly renovated building on Tuscarawas Street, across from the main hospital campus. Aultman also opened Aultman Louisville and completed Aultman Woodlawn.
In September 2003, Aultman broke ground on an expansion and modernization project on the main campus of Aultman Hospital. The Bedford Building opened in 2006 and features the Aultman Heart Center, Aultman Birth Center and emergency/trauma services. The facility represents Aultman's continued commitment to meet the changing needs of our patients.
For more than 100 years, Aultman Hospital has provided quality health-care services and the latest technology to our community.
