First Native American doctor honored, future created for Walthill
WALTHILL -- The restoration and repurposing of a historic hospital in Walthill is a sign of the many ways one reservation village is breathing life back into itself.
"Think of a woman at that time in 1913: she's not considered a U.S. citizen. She has no right to vote. And [yet], she does a remarkable job of building this structure," Dr. Britt Thedinger said.
Thedinger is a surgeon who, once upon a time, would not have recognized the name Susan La Flesche Picotte. But after a retired friend mentioned the idea of restoring a hospital built by her -- the nation's first Native American doctor -- he was enthralled by her biography.
"Her father sent all four of his children away to school. They knew they were going to need to learn English and dress in a Western way and start living in houses. Think of this 14-year-old girl going to boarding school -- it's interesting, at the same time her sister was doing translations for Chief Standing Bear at his trial in Fort Omaha," Thedinger noted.
He's led the campaign to restore the 33-room hospital's original windows, repaint it brilliant white, and put a sparkling new roof on it. That phase of the restoration was thanks to grants and funds from the USDA and Shakopee Tribe of Minnesota.
Most of all, the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska is eager to invest in the restoration of Walthill as part of its reservation: and there's plenty left to do.
"We'd like to see some type of medical help, behavioral health services to the community, two is hopefully start a boys and girls club here in Walthill, thirdly is to do some type of arts and culture, and fourthly is to have some type of historical display to tell the story of Dr.Susan," Thedinger said.
Any and all of these programs could make a huge difference for Walthill.
The Village of Walthill, part of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska reservation, is located is Thurston County, just below the Winnebago Reservation.
Driving around it, one can see room for economic growth. In fact, 31% of the village is impoverished, according to 2021 World Population Review. 20% of college graduates in Walthill face unemployment. Compare that to Norfolk, where less than 7% of graduates are unemployed.
Walthill's Chairman of the Board, Mike Grant, said they are doing something about it. He's already seen changes in the community thanks to several efforts to support local businesses. It's why he's excited for the Susan La Flesch Picotte Memorial Hospital to bring in tourists and even more business.
"The idea that someone like [Dr. Susan], and where she came from, established herself in history means she has made a huge impact," Grant said.
Grant hopes the new sights in Walthill, such as the Susan La Flesh Memorial Hospital, will attract people back to the village that in 2000 toted a population of nearly 1,000 but in 2010 counted 780.
The final phase of the project should be done in early 2023.
Previously, the hospital closed in 1944 and had been used as a senior care facility, a home, a retail store, a museum, and an office.
Learn more about Susan La Flesch Picotte and see more images of her on NebraskaStudies.
