Jeff hospital is dedicated: General West Bank Facility Cost $3 Million

              The new West Jefferson Gen­eral hospital was dedicated with formal ceremonies at 10:30 a. m. Sunday.
The ultra-modern structure, which will normally house 159 patients, threw open its doors for public inspection following the dedication .ceremony in the new facility's parking area.
The hospital, situated just off the West Bank Express­way at Ave. i(&" in Marrero, stands in the geographic cen­ter of the West Jefferson pop­ulation. It was constructed at a cost of nearly $3 million, fi­nanced by a $1.5 million bond issue and by federal Hill-Bur-tan funds.
Principal speaker at the dedi­cation ceremony was Congress­man Hale Boggs, who cited the hospital as representing the joint efforts of state, federal and local authorities, with the local interests retaining com­plete control of the facility, STIMULATES CONSTRUCTION A total of $19 million in Hill-Burton funds have been spent in Louisiana since 1956, when this hospital was conceived, ac­cording to Rep. £oggs. He said the Hill-Burton program has stimulated construction of hos­pitals throughout the country. "I think it important that programs of this kind con­tinue to operate," he saicf. Rep. Boggs pointed to West Bank progress over the years, saying he once, had a job water­ing a gravel road which is now the main street of Gretna. Re­ferring to a new waterworks within sight of the hospital he pointed out that there are few places in the world where one may drink a glass of water with confidence in its purity.
KNIGHT PRESIDES Nat. B. Knight Jr., member of the hospital advisory board | and master of ceremonies at | the event, dedicated the hospital to the sick of the community.
"There is a closer relationship between man and his Creator which is perhaps greater in a hospital than in any other part of our lives," he told the sev-
eral hundred persons gathered for the  dedication.
Dr. Charles B. Odom, par­ish coroner, called the hospi­tal the first attempt by Jeffer­son parish to provide its own hospital  service   for   its   citi­zens.                 '■..-... *'Until   now  we  have   had  to depend  for   the   most   part on New Orleans for hospitals," he said,  "and  the  hospitals  there are  too  crowded   to meet   the need."
This hospital will help re­lieve the shortage of hospital beds, but we still need another 150 beds over here." he said.
"We are only scratching the surface, so far as Jefferson hos­pital  beds  go."
SPENCER MESSAGE A. Russell Roberts, chairman of the parish council, read a message from parish president Charles W. Spencer, who is in Guatemala, and offered a prayer tha»: the new hospital will al­ways be administered in a way which will reflect credit on its creators.
The dedication was interrupted briefly by the landing of a Navy helicopter to demonstrate use of . the hospital's heliport for emer­gency transportation. Miss   Mary   Ann   M a s s o n y, daughter  of  the  hospital   board chairman,   Dr.   J.   J.   Massony, cut the ribbon to officially open the   doors   in   her   father's   ab­sence. He is confined in another hospital as a patient.
DUFKECHOU  DESIGNER The hospital was constructed by the Keller Construction Company, and was designed by Lee R. Du-frechou, architect.
The hospital was dedicated -on the third day or a Medical Fair, I which placed on display about | 40 exhibits. The Medical Fair is sponsored by the Jefferson Parish Medical Society. , Among the exhibitors are the | parish coroner's office and health lunit, the Hospital Auxiliary, 'American Cancer Society, Tuber-jculosis Association of Greater ISiew ^Orleans, Louisiana State Univer-
rity, and Tulane University schools of medicine, New Or-eans Dental Association, state lepartment of education, New Or-eans District Nurses Association, Vest* Bank Druggists Association, fefferson Parish Heart Council, American Red Cross, Louisiana Association for Mental Health md the L. E. Rabouin Practical Curses Alumnae Association.
The new hospital will not be >pened for service for several >veeks, due in part to the loss >f bedroom furniture recently in i fire at the factory in Michigan, according to David M. , Smith, administrator.
OF CONCRETE TYPE "
The building is of reinforced concrete construction containing about 86,000 square feet of floor area. It is completely air-condi­tioned.
It contains 26 private' rooms, two four-bed wards on each floor, with the remainder two-bed rooms. It contains four op-earting rooms, two delivery rooms with a third in reserve if needed and a laboratory equip­ped with the latest apparatus. Two cafeterias will be open to the public in addition to the electric kitchen for preparation of patients' meals.
The 20-acre site on which the hospital stands provides ade­quate room for expansion.
Members of the Hospital Serv­ice District- Advisory board are Dr. J. J. Massony, chairman; George Fonseca, vice-chairman; Dr. Samuel Logan, secretary-treasurer; Eldon L. Majoue and Knight.