History

With the support of generous donors, the Sisters purchased the Nazareth Home, a combined orphanage and infirmary, and renamed it Saint Anthony’s Infirmary. Over the following decades, the ministry grew steadily. In 1956, it became a fully licensed hospital known as Saint Anthony’s Hospital. As more laypersons joined the Sisters in caring for the sick, the hospital continued to expand. The timeline below highlights key milestones in this enduring legacy of faith-filled service.

The Beginning

1908: The Nazareth Home, built for the Sister Adorers of the Most Precious Blood, was dedicated.

1925: The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George purchased the Nazareth Home and changed the name to Saint Anthony’s Infirmary.

1920s

1925: A public open house was held for the newly remodeled and redecorated Saint Anthony’s Infirmary.

1928: Plans were announced for a $100,000 north wing addition.

1929: During Hospital Week, the newly completed addition was open for public tours. The addition included 12 isolation rooms and a solarium.

1930s & 1940s

1932: Pope Pius XI granted permission to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George to establish a novitiate in Alton, Illinois.

1933: Saint Anthony’s Infirmary installed an electrocardiograph, the first in the Alton area.

1934: A newly completed novitiate was dedicated.

1935: Due to the increase in contagious diseases, an isolation wing was split from the main hospital and a new separate entrance was added.

1942: An auxiliary was organized.

1950s & 1960s

1950: A Pontifical Low Mass was read by Bishop William A. O’Connor to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George arriving in Alton.

1956: Saint Anthony’s Infirmary was renamed Saint Anthony’s Hospital.

1958: A groundbreaking was held for a new $1.4 million addition.

1959: A new west wing addition, with 72 beds was blessed and dedicated.

1960: A new dial telephone system was installed, complete with a switchboard and new phone number, Howard 5-2571.

1965: A new $450,000, 180-seat chapel was blessed and dedicated by Bishop William A. O’Connor.

1970s & 1980s

1970: A groundbreaking ceremony and blessing took place for a new 43,000-square-foot convent

1976: The auxiliary opened a gift shop at Saint Anthony’s Hospital.

1978: Saint Anthony’s Hospital began offering hospice services.

1979: A home health care service was established at Saint Anthony’s Hospital.

1988: Saint Anthony’s Women’s Pavilion was opened.

1989: The closed Saint Joseph’s Hospital was acquired and renamed Saint Clare’s Hospital.

1990s

1992: An inpatient physical rehabilitation unit was added to Saint Anthony’s Health Center.

1994: The Good Samaritan Center opened to provide medical care regardless of the person’s ability to pay.

1995: A sub-acute area opened at Saint Anthony’s Health Center, the first hospital-based unit of its kind in Illinois.

1999: An Alzheimer’s special care program was established.

2000s & 2010s

2008: A groundbreaking was held for a $70 million expansion and modernization project.

2009: A Stryker high-definition video system was purchased to help surgeons perform minimally invasive surgeries.

2011: Saint Anthony’s Health Center was the first hospital in the St. Louis area to install a low-dose radiation CT scanner.

2014: A special Mass was held to celebrate Saint Anthony’s Health Center joining OSF HealthCare.

2017: A new primary care and OSF PromptCare facility was blessed in Godfrey, Illinois.

2019: The OSF Moeller Cancer Center was blessed and dedicated.

2020s

2020: The OSF Saint Clare’s Hospital campus was closed.

2020: A 12,000-square=foot rehabilitation facility opened on the top-level of the Alton Square Mall.

2025: A special Mass and blessing were held to commemorate 100 years of service.