History of the Manchester Visiting Nurse Association

 

On April 4, 1910, the MWC Board voted to recommend to the membership that a fund be started for the purpose of employing a district nurse. In June of 1910 a suggestion from Miss Nellie Clarke that a committee be appointed, called the district nursing committee, and that a written letter be sent out to solicit money for the fund. Committee members included Misses Clarke, Blaisdell, and Johnson. In October 1910 a report of over 600 letters had been sent out in the community and a total of $850.60 was received. A vote to elect Mrs. Cheever as Chairman was approved and Carrie Knight was added to the committee. In December 1910 the MWC voted on rules and by-laws for the nursing program. There were 10 laws in number, the first article being: This association will be known as the Manchester Visiting Nurse Association. 

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The first nurse to be hired was Miss Laura Carney. In 1911 the school committee offered to employ the nurse on a part-time basis. During the next few years the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company agreed to financially assist the nurse’s position because she had taken on some of their patients in town.

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The following year the nursing service became affiliated with the American Red Cross Society of Washington D.C. and the nurses added the Red Cross insignia to their uniforms. 

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In the wake of the great influenza epidemic, the Manchester Cricket wrote, “It is impossible to gauge in anyway the amount of loss and suffering saved to our community by all the care and nourishing food so seriously needed as given from our nursing service.”  

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The next few years proved successful for the visiting nurse service. In 1919 a dental clinic was added. In 1934 an automobile was purchased for the nurse to use on her daily visits to patients, but rumor had it that she preferred her bicycle instead.

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In 1935 Mrs. Helen Cool joined the staff. Under her direction, the service grew into a major entity. The service was managed by the Manchester Woman’s Club until 1952 when the nursing service, the public health nurse, and the school department merged into one committee and established their own board of directors, thus becoming the Manchester Nursing Service.

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During the next 20 years the nursing service proved to be a most valuable asset to the entire community. The Manchester Woman’s Club continues to make annual contributions to this day.

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In July1979 the Manchester Nursing Service merged with the Danvers, Beverly and Cape Ann services and changed their name to the Visiting Nurse Association of the North Shore, Inc. In 1995 three regional Visiting Nurse Associations (VNA North Shore, Cambridge VNA, and Dedham VNA) joined together to become VNA Care Network & Hospice. The organization grew again when the VNA of Central Massachusetts joined in 2000 and the VNA of Boston in 2013.

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Throughout the years since its conception, women have been the backbone of this incredible association. All of Manchester will be eternally grateful to the women who served in this profession for all their hard work, long hours, and dedication. They will always be remembered.

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