1903

Following a typhoid outbreak in the Amherst area about the turn of the century, a Mr. Joe Reeves (one of the original councilors of the town of Amherst at its incorporation in 1896) circulated a petition calling for the construction of a hospital. Mr. R. B. Dickey donated three acres of land and in 1903, the Highland View Regional Hospital was opened. It was given the name of Highland View due to its location high upon the Park Street hill.

With a capacity to handle approximately 35 patients, that hospital served the Amherst area until the early hours of the morning on a stormy May 24th in 1928, when a fire raced through the building and and destroyed all but the outer brick walls. Nurses and patients escaped with their lives, their nightclothes and little else to nearby homes; fortunately all the documents were saved.

The community immediately took steps to recover from the damage of the fire. "Bird's Nest", the home of Louis Bird was converted into a temporary hospital site to handle 16 patients and later an operating room was set up at the Stern's property where another 16 patients could be accommodated. Concerned citizens established a fund to provide money for re-outfitting fourteen student nurses and four maids whose clothing and personal effects had been destroyed.

1930

Within a very few days, committees were meeting to form plans for rebuilding the hospital. (The total loss was estimated at over $100,000 and insurance coverage provided something in the order of $80,000). Construction of a new hospital was eventually begun and when funds proved insufficient to finish the top floor, Cyrus Eaton and his sister, who happened to be visiting Amherst at the time, donated enough money to finish the building. It opened in 1930 and was equipped to handle 65 patients.

Nursing Class of 1952

The school of nursing which has been training nurses for nearly forty years closed in 1960, just five years before increasing needs for health care services led to the construction of a new hospital in 1965, one that could accommodate 103 patients. The east wing now houses the Physiotherapy and Laboratory Departments of Highland View, and the Department of Mental Health which only recently has been amalgamated with Highland View regional Hospital. The Department of Public Health also has offices in the old hospital building.

1965

In 1973 Highland View Hospital was incorporated and at the same time became a regional hospital for Cumberland County. A Board of Trustees replaced the former Board of Commissioners, but is charged with the same overall responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the hospital. Also in 1973 a new Intensive Care Unit was built at a cost of $225,000 and at the time of its opening was among the most modern units in Eastern Canada.

1974