My many loyal readers offer suggestions for news stories I should write about. My backlog of material fills a four-drawer filing cabinet. Someone forwarded me a copy of a 1960 newspaper titled News and Facts. The paper served Northampton, Egypt, West Catasauqua, Stiles, Hokendauqua, Fullerton, Allentown, Mickleys, Coplay, Cementon and Treichlers.

The owner and publisher of the paper was Mr. Joseph Kochenash, of Center Street in Northampton. The paper was printed every Thursday by R&S Printers, Northampton. A subscription was $2 per year, and it was delivered by mail or paper carrier. Classified ads cost $1 per four lines.

I’ll share some of the articles from the folksy newspaper. By the way, R&S Printers was run by Mr. Harry Reiff. Mr. Reiff was a math and wood shop teacher at Northampton High School. He was a fine teacher and gentleman.

The lead story was “Fate of Haff Hospital May Be Decided Tonight.” Most of my older readers recall the landmark hospital founded by Dr. Charles Haff, a graduate of Hokendauqua High School. The hospital was constructed in 1921 and served the medical needs of residents for many years.

The article states, “The final fate of the Haff Hospital may be reached tonight when the steering committee meets in the Cement National Bank at 8 p.m. The big question as to whether the hospital is to become a community institution will be thoroughly discussed by the committee which has been weighing all sides in the important matter.”

At the meeting of the finance committee, the main point stressed was the price asked by Dr. Donald Haff, the son of the former Charles Haff.

Dr. Haff stated he could not reduce the figure of $350,000. He based the price on a qualified appraisal. Haff later reduced the price to $300,000 to please the committee. The steering committee was satisfied with the price. The main obstacle was how to raise the money.

Results of a public survey were also revealed at the meeting. The hospital had been operating under a temporary six-month license pending the outcome of the meeting. Dr. Haff later announced he would shut down the hospital because, as an individual, he could not meet the financial obligations incurred.

The state required the hospital to install new equipment in order to bring the hospital to American Hospital Association standards.

The hospital was given a reprieve when the operation was taken over by the Allentown Osteopathic Hospital. Later, the venerable institution became a detox center, home to the Northampton Medical Center and administrative offices of the Northampton Area School District.

Sadly, at the time of this writing, the building is in the process of being sold again.

Can one just imagine what standards hospitals must comply with today? My family used the services of the hospital on many occasions. If you resided in Cementon, Egypt, Northampton or Coplay, you could walk to the hospital for the medical attention you desired.

Few of the physicians who sent patients to the hospital or nurses remain. They are memories of a small community hospital where everyone knew your name and are now a faded page in our local history.

In two weeks, more memories from News and Facts.