POINT PLEASANT — Pleasant Valley Hospital has been a staple of Mason County and surrounding counties for many years.

And on Saturday, Sept. 19 PVH will celebrate 50 years of operation with a 50th Anniversary Celebration. The event is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at the National Guard Armory.

A VIP reception also will be held at 6 p.m. for the event’s gold table sponsors. The evening will pay tribute to those that have helped build PVH to what it is today as well as recognize current employees and the board of trustees. In addition, the event will feature entertainment by the band, The Esquires.

Al Lawson, JD, President and CEO of PVH, described the celebration as being particularly important because of the emphasis that will be given to the leaders that began PVH as well as spurred the hospital’s growth.

“For me personally (the anniversary celebration) is very exciting. I feel very fortunate to be here and to celebrate the hospital’s 50th mark — it will be a celebration of people who continue the hospital’s success and the ones that came before to organize where it is now,” Lawson said. “I am looking forward to continued growth, continued community involvement and continued expansion of services... It is a wonderful thing for a community of this size to have a hospital present with a variety of services.”

Amy Leach, PVH community relations director, described the celebration as being meaningful to her in many ways. According to Leach, she was able to take part in the hospital’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and has seen the facility grow tremendously in the last 10 years. In addition, as a native of Mason County, Leach said that she was pleased to see the hospital reach the 50th year mark.

“I was born in this hospital, and to see it reach (50 years) — I take it very personally. To be a small community hospital, we are experts at what we do,” she added.

The anniversary celebration also will highlight how the hospital has changed and grown over the years. The history of PVH spans from visions of a modern medical facility that spurred community leaders to action more than 50 years ago when a 5.4 acre tract of land was purchased with $5,000. In January of 1955 plans were drawn for a 40 bed hospital to be constructed and fully equipped at an estimated cost of $550,000. Ceremonies on Sept. 4 , 1959 marked the dedication of the community oriented hospital.

Once it opened, PVH was comprised of two levels, with one story wings extending from each side. In 1969, a new wing double bed capacity was created, which provided for a new obstetrics department, nursery, radiology department, physical therapy department, operating rooms, kitchen, cafeteria, conference room, chapel, entrance and lobby. The hospital experienced more growth in 1972 with a five bed, semicircular, glass-enclosed intensive care coronary unit, and in 1976 the South Tower opened adding eight physician office suites and 76 beds.

The Pleasant Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which is a 100 bed skilled nursing facility, opened in 1978 to serve the needs of the elderly in the community. In 1984, a $1.9 million medical office building, located adjacent to the hospital, was dedicated. During this time period, the main lobby was renovated and a gift shop, currently operated by the Pleasant Valley Hospital Auxiliary, was added.

Pleasant Valley Hospital Home Medical Equipment was opened in 1985, and the Wellness Center opened as well. The Wellness Center was then moved to a renovated building in 1994. In 1995, PVH expanded its facility with “Project 21,” which added 14,200 square feet of new building and 12,000 square feet of remodeled area.

In the past 10 years since the hospital’s 40th Anniversary Celebration there have been several updates and changes. According to Lawson, in the past few years the hospital has added a new entryway and renovated the lobby, ER, radiology laboratory, South I and NRC. In addition, a 64 Slice CT, MRI, mobile PET SCAN and other equipment have been added.

PVH also has expanded their service area. With this PVH physicians and employees are not only living in Mason County, but in Gallia County, Ohio, Meigs County, Ohio, Putnam County and Jackson County.

In addition, PVH continues to be one of the largest employers in Mason County. According to Lawson, there are 771 employees and the hospital brings in $80 million of revenue. He described the hospital as an “economic engine” to the community.

Lawson also emphasized the relationship between the community and the hospital, and said that the hospital’s growth and expansion of services are all for the betterment of the local area. He also praised the PVH Auxiliary and volunteer chaplains who donate their time and energy to the hospital.

For more information on PVH or the anniversary celebration, call the hospital at 304-675-4340.