On November 18, 1876, Governor Horace
Fairbanks signed his name to the incorporation papers for a non-profit
public hospital to be built in Burlington.
Mary Fletcher had made known her wish, and Fairbanks' signature
put the project in motion.
Fletcher donated $25,000 to procure the land, $50,000 to build
a hospital building, and she donated an additional $100,000 to establish
a permanent endowment. At that time, it was the single largest donation
in Vermont's history.
The hilltop estate owned by H.W. Catlin was purchased, providing
the hospital with views of Camel's Hump, Mount Mansfield,
and Lake Champlain.
Historic postcard from The Vermont Book Of Days collection.
November Archives | November 19 |

The original Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington.
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