Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) has reopened its main entrance after completing an extensive two-month improvement and renovation project as its 105th year of operation begins.
The completed project included adding a new, modern dual-station reception desk to allow for more accessible security and information personnel stationing and all new furniture in main entry and reception area. The HVAC, electric and sprinkler systems, and light fixtures throughout the space were also replaced as well as the outer lobby ceiling. Workers also sanded, polished, and sealed the existing terrazzo floor tiles in the inner lobby installed when the building debuted in 1930. The original Italian marble was also repaired and repointed as was the ornate inner lobby reception ceiling and trim finishes.
“It is fitting that this momentous occasion coincides with the proud 105th Anniversary of the opening of our Hospital,” said Dan McIntyre, Senior Vice President for HHC and President of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
A ribbon-cutting and anniversary celebration was held for the $450,000 project, which is part of a larger, long-term commitment Hartford HealthCare has made to the hospital to invest in improving the infrastructure and accessibility of CHH campus buildings and parking areas. (Above, from left, McIntyre; John Capobianco, HHC Regional Vice President for Operations at CHH; Noah Morgan, HHC Facilities Project Manager; and Demetri Vernadakis of O&G Industries. )
The doors of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital opened quietly to little fanfare on the chilly fall morning Oct. 12, 1916. A Model T climbed the hill and dropped off the first and only patient Mrs. Joseph Harnett of Lawrence Street in Torrington. She received a lot of attention. The new hospital’s first baby was born Oct. 22 that year to Otto and Elizabeth (Schroeder) Grun of East Main Street, who gave their new baby Charles the middle name “Hungerford.” The current tower building and main entrance was constructed later in the late 1920s and expanded in the 1960s.
“From the early days to the present, our hospital on the hill has been an important part of the fabric and culture of Torrington and northwest Connecticut,” said McIntyre. “Today, we are the region’s largest employer, fortunate to have the talents, expertise, and dedication of over 1,200 employees, physicians, and volunteers. Together with our colleagues at Hartford HealthCare, local healthcare advocates, and business partners, we are proud to be a part of the diverse cultural landscape that makes our region a great place to live and work.”