Speare Memorial Hospital celebrates its 125th anniversary this month, serving the healthcare needs of central New Hampshire residents and visitors through time.

It was 125 years ago when a group of thirteen spirited women recognized the need for a hospital in Plymouth to “relieve suffering regardless of ghostly situations.” These prominent women labored tirelessly to raise money to see their dream come true. The result was the Emily Balch Cottage Hospital, named in honor of the lead organizer’s mother. It was later renamed the Emily Balch and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, and the town rebuilt it following a disastrous fire.

For the next two decades, this fulfilled the community’s needs. But by 1940, the town desired a more modern facility, and serendipity struck when successful businessman Mr. Sceva Speare visited a long-time friend at the hospital. He spontaneously offered $50,000 toward a new hospital if the community matched this amount. It took nine years of fundraising, and the conclusion of World War II before construction began where Speare is located today.

Since then, the hospital has gone through further transformations, with a major renovation and addition of a new surgical operation suite and intensive care unit in 1989, an expanded emergency department in 1996, and renovated medical-surgical and obstetrics units with all private patient rooms in 1998, culminating in a $15 million renovation and expansion in 2006.

Today, Speare Memorial Hospital is integral to our community, providing services our forefathers never dreamed possible. Speare is a 21st-century, state-of-the-art critical access hospital located in the central heart of New Hampshire. It has centers for sleep, weight management, imaging, wound care, and acid reflux. Speare has six medical practices: Speare Primary Care, Plymouth OB/GYN, Plymouth Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Plymouth Orthopdecis & Sports Medicine (in partnership with Concord Orthopaedics), and White Mountain Eye Care & Optical. It has critical partnerships that enhance orthopedics, oncology, surgery, radiology, and more to the local community. Speare’s emergency department has been designated an Adult and Pediatric Level IV Trauma Center, saving precious lives, and is one of the few remaining rural hospitals to deliver babies. This month, it introduces its new Weight Management & Wellness Center and podiatry services.

Throughout these 125 years, the hundreds of people working at Speare, utilizing modern technology and providing compassionate healthcare services to keep our neighbors and visitors well, have made the greatest impact on the overall health of those who live in central New Hampshire.

Healthcare has changed a lot over time, but high-quality, compassionate care delivered by a team of skilled and dedicated medical providers remains at the heart of Speare Memorial Hospital. They have expressed their continued commitment to responding to the changing healthcare needs of central New Hampshire communities, remaining true to its mission—to work together to serve the healthcare needs of our patients and community, helping them reach optimal health. Speare stands ready to be the one-stop resource for health and wellness across the spectrum of life.

Speare Memorial Hospital is located in Plymouth, NH, and serves the many central NH towns surrounding it with compassionate, expert, personalized care and cutting-edge technologies. Learn more at www.spearehospital.com.