70 for 70: The first family of St. Tammany

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Thursday, May 9, 2024

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70 for 70: The first family of St. Tammany

Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

Note: This article is part of 70 for 70, a weekly series of history posts counting down to St. Tammany Health System’s 70th anniversary on Dec. 1, 2024. Today, as we approach Mother’s Day weekend, we offer installment No. 40: The first family of St. Tammany.

The silver cup gifted to Cathy Ann Arnold Kemp in 1954 as the first baby born at St. Tammany Health System's St. Tammany Parish Hospital. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo / STHS)

Cathy Arnold Kemp, at center, pays a visit to the New Family Center at St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo / STHS)

They knew it was coming at some point. After all, with every new hospital, there’s always a first baby.

And, so, just days ahead of the opening of St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital in late 1954, hospital leaders proudly put the finishing touches on a brand-new nursery outfitted with equipment purchased using a donation from the M.C.B. Club, a local civic organization.

And there was more: “The hospital commission has announced there will be a gift prize for the first boy and first girl babies born in the hospital and their mother,” a local newspaper reported. “A local laundry service has announced it will give a month free laundry services to the first baby born there.”

When the hospital’s doors swung open for the first time on Dec. 1, 1954, its staff and leaders were ready to welcome its first bundle of joy. 

And then, on Dec. 2 …

Installment No. 40: The first family of St. Tammany

Today’s artifact: A silver cup engraved with the name of Cathy Ann Arnold, the first baby born at St. Tammany Parish Hospital.

Why it is significant: Family has always been central to the culture of the Northshore, and so it was only fitting that St. Tammany Parish’s first full-service community hospital greeted its first baby – Cathy Ann Arnold -- with pomp and circumstance.

That included the gift of a small sterling silver mug engraved with her name, her birth date – Dec. 2, 1954 – and the words “1st Baby” printed just above “St. Tammany Hospital.”

Now Cathy Arnold Kemp, she visited the hospital recently to reminisce about the Arnolds’ status as St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s first family and the special place it still holds in the hearts of her parents, Ottis Arnold Sr. and Catherine Gregoire Arnold.

Of course, she also brought that cup with her.

It’s a little tarnished now, a little dinged up. But it has pride of place in her home, as it has for the past 70 years.

Now, seven decades and some 60,000 births later, St. Tammany Health System has become the premiere place for maternity care on the Northshore – and that little mug is a precious part of St. Tammany Health System’s history, as the one that started it all.

Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.

Next week Installment No. 41: Walking the walk

Last week – Installment No. 39: A St. Tammany time capsule

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