It was an occasion to pay their final respects to an unshakable gold standard of the Palmerton community.

A sizable crowd gathered for a Remembrance Ceremony held Thursday morning at the former St. Luke’s Palmerton Hospital one last time.

Demolition of the former Palmerton Hospital is expected to begin in early November. The process is estimated to take about five months. A communication will be sent out to immediate neighbors soon to make them aware.

John Nespoli, president of St. Luke’s Carbon and Lehighton campuses, said the purpose of the event was to commemorate the history of an exceptional community hospital.

Nespoli said that when most people think of the facility, the first word that comes to mind is “innovation,” and added that the hospital was “way ahead of its time.”

He added that the hospital had a “rich tradition.”

“The success and culture of Palmerton Hospital was a huge factor in St. Luke’s deciding to invest in the Palmerton community,” Nespoli said. “St. Luke’s, we’ve strived to hold on to that culture.”

Speakers included former Palmerton Hospital President/CEO Peter Kern, Dr. Edward Miller, and Nicole Baker, RN.

Kern noted that 60 years ago, the then respective boards of directors of the Palmerton and Lehighton hospitals met with the Pennsylvania Commissioner of Hospitals to discuss the future of the two facilities, and that at separate meetings on the evening of July 16, 1964, the state “suggested Lehighton and Palmerton hospitals merge as one county hospital to avoid duplication of facilities, and to give the community the best and most economical health care.”

He said that one week later, the two boards met at the then Blue Ridge Country Club to discuss the recommendations, but the respective administrators of the two hospitals later stressed that the “merger will not be an overnight transaction.”

Kern said he joined New Jersey Zinc in 1965, and added, “Believe me when I tell you I shed no tears when I watched the original building fall to the wrecking ball 10 years later.”

“We were all proud of the new hospital, built in 1967, and the addition that followed in 1978,” Kern said. “And for two long years, I watched from my office on the third floor the progress on the latest addition that was dedicated in 1993.”

Kern then asked rhetorically, “Am I said to witness the close of an era. Of course, I am.

“But what was achieved here for more than 100 years has laid the foundation for the next century of health care in Carbon County,” he said. “This building is only bricks and mortar, it is not The Palmerton Hospital; the true hospital is comprised of the staff that worked here and the community that supported it.”

Kern stressed to not forget the past, as it brought quality health care to the community.

“But be ever thankful for the vision and commitment of the St. Luke’s team for continually raising the standard by which health care is measured,” he said. “I am proud to have been a part of the past, and I look forward to remaining part of its future.”

Miller said it’s important to never forget the important moments that were forged at the former hospital.

“Over the years, remember all those special memories that we have,” Miller said.

Miller said the hospital “always put the patients first” as he began to choke up.

“Palmerton Hospital is not behind me, Palmerton Hospital is in front of me,” Miller said.

Miller said he’s glad to be affiliated with St. Luke’s, whom he said is “first class” and continues to grow and expand.

“I’m very pleased we’re starting a new chapter and it’s done very well; they’re a class act,” Miller said as he lauded Nespoli for his work. “Mr. Kern, you were probably the best CEO we could have had.”

Baker, who serves as patient care manager for the Carbon Campus ICU, said she is “so very fond of Palmerton Hospital.”

She mentioned the recently created Facebook group, “Palmerton Hospital OGs,” that she started.

Baker said the group has since grown to over 525 members, and added, “It’s become a living time capsule.”

“Today is truly an end of a legacy,” Baker said.

Building closed

St. Luke’s closed the Lafayette Avenue campus after it acquired Blue Mountain Health System and began its construction of the new St. Luke’s Carbon Campus in Franklin Township.

Demolition had originally been slated for 2020, but the pandemic and other delays pushed back the timeline.

St. Luke’s officials originally told Palmerton Chamber members they planned to demolish the existing building to make room for a senior housing community or a health care facility of some sort.

In January 2020, former Palmerton Hospital President Peter Kern said the building, which was constructed in 1967, “served its purpose well” and was in favor of the demolition.

St. Luke’s officials at the time said the renovations for the building, if it was upgraded, would have come in around $30 million or more.

In recent years, St. Luke’s has invested more than $200 million in Carbon County health care, replacing the outdated Palmerton facility with the new Carbon County Campus as well as various other new facilities and expanded offerings in Palmerton.

Virtually every major specialty is available at the St. Luke’s Health Center on Delaware Avenue. Services include an integrated model of obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics.