Barton Memorial Hospital 'Officially' cuts ribbon after 50 years in South Lake Tahoe

Nearly 50 years ago, on Nov. 23 1963, Barton Memorial Hospital opened its doors in South Lake Tahoe and on Thursday, Jan. 24, Barton Memorial Hospital held an “official” ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate 50 years of service to the community. The event included a speech by the great-grandchild of Bill Barton, the namesake of the hospital and current member of Barton Health’s Board of Directors, Kirk Ledbetter.

“I am honored to have been asked to speak to you this afternoon on behalf of the Barton, Ledbetter and Gross families,” Ledbetter said. “My Grandmother, Faye Barton Ledbetter, my Aunt, Alva Barton and my father and mother, William and Beverlee Gross-Ledbetter found an opportunity to help make the hospital a reality by donating family property with the understanding the hospital would be named after my great- grandfather, William D. Barton.”

With matching government funds, financial help from the community and countless fundraising efforts, those early landmarks where reached, Ledbetter explained. Soon, a six-acre-site was selected and in June 1961 a site acceptance ceremony was held.

“The ski industry was growing, the Olympics had put us on the map, and the casino’s started driving year round visitors to our community,” he said “This made it important to provide medical care to our full-time residences and guests alike.”

Attendees included members from the Board of Directors, Hospital Association, Auxiliary Board and Foundation Board of Trustees. Barton directors and a few key members who were around from the very beginning also came out on a rainy winter day to help celebrate this momentous occasion.

“We are here to look back at each of these landmarks, and remember all those people who stepped up to the plate, saw the need and said yes – to whatever requests were made,” Ledbetter said. “Be it an employee drive … contributions as members of the [Barton] association, donating hours as members of the auxiliary, employees at Barton Memorial Hospital, as the lone Physician taking call or even as a community leader to prompt action … helping to improve the area for themselves, their families and future generations.”

Ledbetter also mentioned that with any leading organization, Barton has seen exceptional growth and occasional setbacks through the last 50 years.

“It has evolved as the community and health care delivery systems have changed – keeping with the times.”

Barton Memorial Hospital will hold a public “vintage themed” celebration on Saturday, June 29 on the hospital grounds.

For more information and to watch the ribbon cutting video, visit www.bartonhealth.org/history.

— Writer Rebecca Wass is the Public Information Officer for Barton Health