Historical Timeline

Honoring our roots. Celebrating today. Building tomorrow.

For 85 years, Kirby Medical Center has been committed to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare close to home. What began as the John and Mary E. Kirby Hospital in 1941 has grown into a modern medical center serving Piatt County and the surrounding communities. As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the generosity of our founders, the dedication of our caregivers and staff, and the trust of the patients and families we are privileged to serve.

Kirby Medical Center Historical Timeline (1842–2026)

Founding Years (1842–1938)

1842 • Birth of John Kirby
John Kirby is born in County Limerick, Ireland.
1856 • Kirby Settles in Illinois
John Kirby joins the McCoy family near Decatur.
1861–1866 • Civil War Service
John Kirby serves in Company F of the 2nd Illinois Cavalry, participating in major campaigns including the Siege of Vicksburg.
1873 • John Marries Mary Marquiss
John Kirby marries Mary E. Marquiss, granddaughter of Monticello’s founder.
1899 • Kirby Family Moves to Monticello
The Kirby’s, and their daughter Nell, move into their home at 619 N. State in Monticello.
1919 • John Kirby Passes Away
John Kirby’s will leaves $100,000 and the family home to establish a local hospital after Mary’s passing.
1938 • Mary Kirby Dies
Mary Kirby’s death releases the estate funds, finalizing the gift that would soon become the John & Mary E. Kirby Hospital.

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Hospital Established (1939–1950)

1939 • First Hospital Board Appointed
Nell England, W.H. England, Maxwell Hott, Bela Stoddard, and Herbert Mohler are named the first directors for the new hospital, and The John & Mary E. Kirby Hospital is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. The Moore mansion at 1111 N. State Street is purchased to be converted into a hospital.
1941 • Kirby Hospital Opens to the Public
The first patient is admitted January 20; the community gathers in awe to tour the modern facility featuring fireplaces, tilting mattresses, and advanced electric lighting.
1950 • Nell England Passes Away
Nell England leaves her entire estate to Kirby Hospital.

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Growth and Expansion (1969–2000)

1969 • Kirby Auxiliary Revitalized
Administrator Tom Dixon helps revive the Kirby Auxiliary, strengthening volunteer support for hospital programs and services.
1975 • Hospital Rebuilt on Original Site
The aging building is replaced to meet modern accreditation standards; Kirby sells its nursing home annex to Piatt County to help finance construction.
1975 • The Kirby Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Established
A scholarship fund is created by The Kirby Hospital Auxiliary to support Piatt County students pursuing healthcare careers — a tradition that continues today.
1986 • Obstetrics Department Closes
Due to insurance and industry changes, Kirby Hospital closes its obstetrics services after delivering 4,635 babies since opening in 1941.
1989 • 50th Anniversary of Not-for-Profit Incorporation
Kirby Hospital celebrates 50 years of operation, including 39,389 admissions, 307,184 inpatient days, and over 302,000 outpatient visits — marking decades of community-focused care.
2000 • Major Renovation Completed
Kirby Hospital adds private rooms and renovates the Laboratory and Emergency Departments, modernizing essential patient services.

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A Modern Kirby (2006–2015)

2006–2008 • Press Ganey Summit Awards
Kirby Hospital’s Emergency Department earns national recognition for sustained patient satisfaction excellence, receiving Summit Awards in 2006, 2007, 2008.
2011 • New Kirby Medical Center Opens
The John & Mary E. Kirby Hospital closes operations at 1111 N. State Street in September of 2011 and reopens immediately as Kirby Medical Center with the move to its new 108-acre campus at 1000 Medical Center Drive, offering advanced imaging, private rooms, expanded services, and room for future growth following a 12-month and $30 million new hospital construction.
2014 • Auxiliary Funds New Ambulance
The Kirby Auxiliary donates $16,000 to purchase a new ambulance, strengthening emergency services.
2015 • Wellness Trail Opens
Kirby Medical Center unveils a one-mile Wellness Trail around the hospital campus.
2015 • Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award
Kirby Medical Center’s Surgery Department earns the Guardian of Excellence Award, ranking in the top 5% nationally for patient experience

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Innovation and Community Wellness (2016–2026)

2016 • KMC Active and Kirby Medical Group Expansion
KMC Active launches on the Kirby campus, promoting community fitness and wellness, and Kirby Medical Group expands to Cerro Gordo, increasing access to primary care.
2016 • KMC Active & Youth Wellness Programs Launch
Kirby Medical Center opens KMC Active, a CrossFit and functional-fitness inspired wellness and fitness space on campus.
2016 • Therapy & Wellness Services Grow on Campus
Kirby Medical Center expands therapy and rehabilitation services on the main campus
2019 • KirbyRx Retail Pharmacy Opens on Campus
Kirby Medical Center launches KirbyRx Retail Pharmacy at the hospital campus, giving patients a convenient, full-service location to fill prescriptions immediately after their appointments or hospital stay.
2020 • KirbyRx on Market Opens in Monticello
KirbyRx expands with a second location on Market Street in Monticello with the acquisition of Lynn’s Family Pharmacy.
2020 • Senior Life Solutions & Kirby Wellness Services Begin
Kirby launches Kirby Senior Life Solutions, a geriatric behavioral health program, along with Kirby Wellness Services, a free program combining physical and mental health support.
2020 • Expansion of Mental Health Services
Kirby Medical Center hires additional Licensed Clinical Social Workers and an LCPC, expands mental health services into Cerro Gordo and Atwood clinics, and implements free rapid COVID testing for Piatt County students and school staff.
2021 • Replacement Kirby Medical Group - Atwood Clinic Opens
A replacement Kirby Medical Group clinic opens in Atwood, offering an updated, accessible space for primary care, mental health services and chronic disease management for residents in southern Piatt County.
2023 • Kirby Therapy & Wellness Center Opens
Kirby opens the 38,200-square-foot Therapy & Wellness Center on campus in March to house all therapy and KMC Active services. KMC Active also expands to Cerro Gordo with the opening of a new KMC Active gym in May.
2026 • Celebrating 85 Years of Healthcare Excellence, Close to Home
Kirby Medical Center celebrates 85 years since the first patient was admitted in 1941, honoring generations of caregivers, volunteers and community members while looking ahead to continued campus expansion and new services that keep high-quality care close to home.