Doylestown Health Celebrates Its Founders With Flag Raising, Remarks

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Doylestown Health on Monday honored the founders of Doylestown Hospital, the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown (VIA), and generations of people who have made the hospital what it is today.

The event commemorated the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the first Doylestown Emergency Hospital on October 9, 1923, and acknowledged the impact that the VIA and the community have had on the hospital and the health system – honoring past, present, and bright future.

The community-wide celebration featured the raising of a commemorative centennial flag,

designed by a Doylestown Health associate and chosen by the VIA, on the Doylestown Hospital
campus.

The Central Bucks High School West marching band and Lenape Middle School choir
performed for those gathered, prior to remarks by Doylestown Health President and CEO James
L. Brexler, FACHE, as well as VIA President Helen Hammes and Marianne Chabot, Chair of the
Boards, Doylestown Hospital and Doylestown Health Foundation.

In her remarks, Hammes noted, “In 1907 the women of the VIA started a hospital fund because
they believed that quality healthcare could be provided close to home and that the citizens of
Doylestown should stay in their own community whenever possible.”

Members of the VIA photographed in 1912. (photo provided by the VIA)

That vision is realized today, as Chabot noted, “From Doylestown Emergency Hospital’s humble
beginnings at Pine and Oakland 100 years ago, it has evolved to become the flagship hospital to
our award-winning, comprehensive healthcare system — Doylestown Health.”

“We are a center of excellence for a number of specialties and achieve national recognition for
quality and patient safety year after year ... we are able to deliver high-quality healthcare in a setting that is not only state-of-the-art but offers comfort and personal attention,” Chabot added.

1923. “This is the consummation of a long effort, we have the equipment for an 8-bed hospital, if
you people have the gumption to run it ... Then we will see it grow and grow and keep on growing
until it comes to fill a place in the community that it will not be possible to do without.”

The original Doylestown Hospital. (VIA photo)

Brexler also spoke to the hospital’s exciting future. “A century is a truly remarkable milestone for
any organization,” he said. “Because of the extraordinary efforts of our VIA, the Doylestown
community, generous partners, our incredible teams, and all of you here today, we have prepared
ourselves to harness all of these advancements and walk confidently into our second century.”

To read more about Doylestown Health’s history and its Centennial milestone, visit
dh100.org.