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Description

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Allen Hospital is a 228bed notforprofit community hospital serving the Cedar Valley Allen is an affiliate hospital of Iowa Health System which cares for one of every three patients in Iowa

Henry and Mary Allen settled in Waterloo in the early 1860s They prospered here for 40 years as business people and breeders of fine horses They moved to California in 1900 but never forgot friends and neighbors back home

After Mary died in 1913 Henry resolved to do something lasting in her memory Henry promised the citizens of Waterloo 80 acres of prime land and 200000 to found a nonsectarian hospital open to all regardless of circumstance Allen Hospital was dedicated on Marys birthday in November 1924 and opened in February 1925 Five generations of Cedar Valley families have been beneficiaries of his gift ever since

Today Allen Hospital is the busiest hospital in the Cedar Valley We care for more inpatients outpatients emergency patients and cardiac patients than any other hospital in our 10county service area United Medical Park and Prairie Medical Park offer ambulatory care in facilities that are built for your comfort and convenience We strive to fulfill Henry Allens legacy and we think he would be pleased to see that his promise remains wellkept

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History

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Allen Hospital was a gift from Henry B Allen Henry and his wife Mary were early Cedar Valley settlers who came west to Iowa in 1862 Henry was a lawyer and first president of the National Bank He and Mary also raised fine horses for sale across the country

Henry and Mary retired to California around 1900 but they never forgot their friends and neighbors in Iowa After Mary died in 1913 Henry donated 80 acres of land and 200000 to build a hospital in Marys name He promised the community a nonsectarian hospital that would be open to all Henry didnt live to see his dream fulfilled but his friends and neighbors did Allen Memorial Hospital was dedicated on Marys birthday in 1924 and opened for patients in February 1925 Allen School of Nursing the predecessor of Allen College opened in 1926

Six generations of patients and providers have been Henrys beneficiaries The original building still stands surrounded by many additions The latest addition the Pauline Barrett Pavilion opened in 2009 It too was made possible by a namesake benefactor Waterloo philanthropist Pauline Barrett

Allen Hospital serves many communities Half of Allens patients today come from the towns and neighborhoods of Black Hawk County The other half come from nine surrounding counties Everyone comes here looking for the comfort care and compassion Henry Allen promised his friends and neighbors 85 years ago We strive to make sure his promise is wellkept today