{"id":191,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:35","latitude":41.47348939999999828387444722466170787811279296875,"longitude":-87.064389099999999643841874785721302032470703125,"title":"Conrad and Catherine Bloch House","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/19c6caa3360d47e877ee1be954850c23.jpg","address":"608 Academy Street, Valparaiso, IN","all_locations":[],"zoom":9,"creator":["Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology"],"description":"The historic residential dwelling of Conrad and Catherine Bloch, owners of a thriving shoe business, was built in 1873. In 1923, the home was leased to Dr. Harvey Cook, who transformed the building into the last privately owned hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nHarvey Samuel Cook was born in Illinois in 1888. He began his medical education at Valparaiso University and later attended the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery. Shortly after opening a practice in Illinois, Cook joined WWI as a medic. During his time in the war, he came to understand the need to quickly get anesthetic to wounded victims. From this knowledge, Cook invented the hypodermic syringe, a medical device that drastically changed the world of medicine. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nFollowing the war, Cook established his own laboratory in Chicago to create the syringes. Later, he moved to Valparaiso and opened the Valparaiso Hospital and Sanitarium. Over twenty-five thousand dollars was spent furnishing the hospital with the most up-to-date and modern equipment. The fully functional hospital offered operations and x-rays, in addition to handling emergencies. Because of his failing health, Cook ceased working and the hospital shuttered its doors around 1934. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nToday, the Conrad and Catherine Bloch House and Valparaiso Hospital and Sanitarium building remain standing and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":[],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/19c6caa3360d47e877ee1be954850c23.jpg":{"id":1375,"mime-type":"image/tiff","title":"Conrad and Catherine Bloch House","description":"Courtesy of Indiana DNR","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/19c6caa3360d47e877ee1be954850c23.jpg"}}}