Preserving history is a noble goal, providing future generations with a connection to the past and an understanding of how we reached this point in time. It’s unfortunate that progress often seems to march over history with little respect, in the name of embracing the future, with the names of those who built the communities, organizations and processes that we know today forgotten.
That doesn’t appear to be the case with the merger of Goodall Hospital and Southern Maine Medical Center, however, despite the outcry from those who are upset with the Sanford facility’s new name.
Goodall Hospital, as of Jan. 1, is now known as the Sanford Medical Center of the newly formed Southern Maine Health Care, while the Biddeford hospital, formerly Southern Maine Medical Center, will be known as the Biddeford Medical Center. The new signs call them both Southern Maine Health Care.
While the Goodall name is no longer part of the facility’s official moniker, SMHC has not sought to obliterate the memory of the Goodalls or minimize the history they made by funding a hospital in Sanford. The Goodall Medical Office Building on the Sanford Medical Center site will bear the famous name and a historical display is planned inside to educate visitors about the hospital’s beginnings.
The Sanford-Springvale Historical Society has suggested that the Sanford campus be referred to as the Goodall Sanford Campus, or the like, to retain the name of the family that started it all. There’s no denying the impact of the Goodalls on the development of Sanford, and the name is prominent everywhere, from the library to the statue in front of City Hall. Having opened in 1928 and expanded 20 years later ”“ all thanks to funding of the Goodall family ”“ the hospital cannot deny its origins.
The society’s request has merit, as the Goodall name should certainly be retained in some way at the site to respect its founders. We believe they have done that, however, with the medical building name.
In branding this new entity of Southern Maine Health Care, the hospital officials sought to provide a unified front, to show that the two hospitals are truly now one, with two sites. Retaining the Sanford hospital’s previous name would not work toward that end.
And it’s not as if the hospital officials made the change with little regard for the community. The merger had been in process for more than a year, with 15 public forums held to address concerns and take input from each community. Why is there an online petition and a statement from the historical society now to retain the Goodall name, at well past the eleventh hour when the name change has already been implemented? The idea of retaining the Goodall name in the campus’ official title is unlikely to get any traction at this point, whereas an earlier push might have found success.
At this point, the time for public input has passed and the two hospitals are moving forward as one. Undoubtedly, locals will refer to the Sanford campus as Goodall Hospital for many years to come, but it will officially be known as part of the larger SMHC. Such is the way of health care nowadays that mergers are necessary and changes must be made to ensure quality care. That was the ultimate goal of the Goodalls when they put their own money up to build a hospital in Sanford, and it is the goal today of SMHC.
We encourage the historical society and others who take pride in Sanford’s history to embrace the change and take an active role in the development of the historical display in the Goodall Medical Office Building, celebrating the hospital’s past and embracing its future.
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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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