Saturday was a day of great significance for residents of Palmerton and throughout Carbon County.

It marked the former groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed new $2.1 million Palmerton Hospital.

The impressive event was staged at the site of the former Nursing Home to the rear of the existing hospital facility, Columbia Avenue, that structure having been razed to make way for the new 79-bed institution.

Participating in the event were Charles Webb, chairman of the building committee; Mrs. B. Frank Rosenberry, president of the auxiliary; Dr. L. Allan Erskine, chief of surgery at the hospital; and Mrs. Joseph Chavojsky, director of nurses.