Five Generations, One Hospital: My Family’s Connection to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids

I found two postcards of Butterworth Hospital on eBay.

Some places are more than just locations on a map—they're anchors in our family's timeline. For my family, that place is Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It’s where I was born.

It’s also where my mom was born. And my grandparents. And my great-grandparents. And even my great-great-grandparents.

Five generations. One hospital. A living legacy in brick and mortar.

✨ A Piece of the Past in a Postcard

Recently, I found two vintage postcards of Butterworth Hospital. As I held them in my hands, I felt like I was holding more than paper—I was holding a connection. A thread that stretches back through time, linking my family’s beginnings with the evolving story of Grand Rapids itself.

The buildings in the postcards look different from the hospital I remember, but the essence remains. Butterworth has stood as a place of first breaths, quiet prayers, joyful announcements, and whispered goodbyes for generations.

📚 A Little History of Butterworth Hospital

Butterworth began in 1875 as St. Mark’s Home and Hospital, founded by members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. In 1890, it was re-established with funding and land donated by Richard E. Butterworth and renamed in his honor in 1894.

By the 1920s, Butterworth expanded again, opening a new 220-bed hospital to meet the growing needs of the city. Today, it’s part of Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), and it remains a cornerstone of care in West Michigan.

Generations have passed through its halls, including mine.

💬 Why It Matters

In family history, we often focus on names, dates, and documents. But places—especially places that have seen so many life events—carry emotional weight. Butterworth is part of my family story. These walls held us through beginnings and endings.

Finding those postcards reminded me that family history isn’t just something we research—it’s something we feel.

💡 A Question for You

Is there a place tied to multiple generations in your family? A home, a town, a church, or a hospital like Butterworth? I’d love to hear about it.

Drop a comment or message me—I’m always eager to hear the stories that connect us across time.