Originally known as the Passavant Hospital, the Milwaukee Hospital (also called
Lutheran Hospital) was founded in 1863 by the Rev. William A. Passavant, D.D.,
Lutheran Pastor. The original building stood on ten acres of property where the
Aurora Sinai Medical Center stands today at 945 N. 12th Street. In 1883 a new
building was added to the hospital grounds. This building had the capacity for 70
beds and included a chapel at its north end. The chapel was not completely furnished
however until 1895. The year 1897 saw the remodeling of the hospital and the
addition of a second operating room. By 1903 the Milwaukee Hospital was completely
lighted with electricity. In 1908 Frederick Layton and his wife donated a 45 bed,
long term care unit. This new unit was known as the Layton Home.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Milwaukee Hospital in 1913, a new wing
was dedicated. The new wing faced onto Kilbourn Avenue and was called the Surgical
Annex, though it would later become known as the Center. In 1923 another wing was
added, adding space for the growing x-ray department, a maternity ward, laundry,
power plant, and more. West of the hospital grounds, across N. 23rd Street, property
was purchased for the construction of the School of Nursing. In 1932, the hospital
building that was erected in 1883 was replaced by the Milwaukee Hospital’s new east
wing. After World War II, the hospital broke ground in 1950 for the Dr. Nicholas
Senn Memorial Wing to run parallel to the existing West Wing. In 1980 the Milwaukee
hospital (then known as the Lutheran Hospital of Milwaukee) merged with Deaconess
Hospital. In turn, Deaconess merged with Good Samaritan Hospital in 1985.
