“We called it the little MGM,” said Dr. Kenneth Graves of the hospital more formally called the Maynard, Graves and Maynard Hospital, which was founded by him and husband-and-wife Drs. Ben Maynard and Addie Maynard. The three doctors of osteopathy were not discouraged by the monumental task of starting a new hospital. “I didn’t know it was impossible, so I went ahead and did it anyhow,” Dr. Graves said.
There were few building materials for sale in post-World War II Grand Junction. Without new doors for patient rooms, the three physicians located doors that had been in buildings used to house workers decades earlier during construction of the Highline Canal.
There were no linens either, but friends and patients bought their limit of one sheet or pillowcase each as they became available in stores until enough were stockpiled to open the hospital.
Resourcefulness, responsiveness, and anticipation of community health and wellness needs have been the hallmarks of Community Hospital throughout our history.
Community Hospital’s roots date back to July 1, 1946, when three trailblazing physicians pooled their resources, transformed a 12th Street cafe into a 12-bed hospital, and offered burgeoning Grand Junction a real choice in health care.
