The History Of Mark Reed
Health Care District
In 1948, William R. Reed, president of Simpson Timber
Company, donated $100,000 to start a hospital fund in
memory of Mark E. Reed, his father and previous
president. The entire town of McCleary, along with the
McCleary Door Plant, was purchased by Simpson in the
1940's. Simpson then sold the "company town" back to
the residents and helped create the City of McCleary.
This city however, was a great distance from other
area hospitals and with the manufacturing facility being
the main source of employment in the area, it was
important that the town have some sort of accessible
healthcare services.
Residents of the town also helped to raise additional
start-up funds for the hospital project and formed a
Board of Trustees in November 1949. By 1950, the hos-
pital building program had begun. In August 1956, the Board began to employ a Management Group, appointing Mr. Richard M. Davert as Manager and opening the Hospital doors for the first time, on September of the same year. On November 4, 1956, Mark E. Reed Memorial Hospital was dedicated.
It was not until 1982 that the District voters formed the Mark Reed Hospital, or Grays Harbor County Public Hospital District No. 1. Three years later, in the spring of 1985, a new addition was completed resulting in the facility you see today. This was the beginning of what is now, with community help and involvement, a valuable community hospital.
The organization's name was changed to Mark Reed Health Care District in the fall of 2007, to encompass both the Critical Access Hospital, and the rural Healthcare Clinic. Simpson Investment Company and its sister organization, Green Diamond Resource Company still continue to be strong supporters of Mark Reed Health Care District and the Mark Reed Hospital Foundation.
Company, donated $100,000 to start a hospital fund in
memory of Mark E. Reed, his father and previous
president. The entire town of McCleary, along with the
McCleary Door Plant, was purchased by Simpson in the
1940's. Simpson then sold the "company town" back to
the residents and helped create the City of McCleary.
This city however, was a great distance from other
area hospitals and with the manufacturing facility being
the main source of employment in the area, it was
important that the town have some sort of accessible
healthcare services.
Residents of the town also helped to raise additional
start-up funds for the hospital project and formed a
Board of Trustees in November 1949. By 1950, the hos-
pital building program had begun. In August 1956, the Board began to employ a Management Group, appointing Mr. Richard M. Davert as Manager and opening the Hospital doors for the first time, on September of the same year. On November 4, 1956, Mark E. Reed Memorial Hospital was dedicated.
It was not until 1982 that the District voters formed the Mark Reed Hospital, or Grays Harbor County Public Hospital District No. 1. Three years later, in the spring of 1985, a new addition was completed resulting in the facility you see today. This was the beginning of what is now, with community help and involvement, a valuable community hospital.
The organization's name was changed to Mark Reed Health Care District in the fall of 2007, to encompass both the Critical Access Hospital, and the rural Healthcare Clinic. Simpson Investment Company and its sister organization, Green Diamond Resource Company still continue to be strong supporters of Mark Reed Health Care District and the Mark Reed Hospital Foundation.