There’s lots of discussion about the future of the hospital site on Wellington Street. This hospital originally opened on Sunday, May 6, 1951 and was built to replace the Niagara Cottage Hospital on Queen Street. A few reports in the museum’s collection provide some interesting insights into the opening of this hospital. The total cost to build the Wellington Street hospital, including new equipment, was $222,943,82. A majority of the revenue came from community donations, with the town, township, county, provincial and federal governments coming in to support as well. At the time, the annual health statistics included 401 admissions, 77 births, 13 deaths and 72 surgeries. In the first year, both hospitals were supporting the community until all services could be smoothly transitioned over. The first-year operating budget was a whopping $42,828.77.