BUFFALO, NY--Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is celebrating 120 years of cancer care in Western New York.
On Wednesday, they preserved some of its history in a special celebration. The cancer center put together a time capsule that will be buried in Kaminski Park and opened 100 years from now.
CEO and President of the cancer center, Candace S. Johnson, PhD, said, “Today, we mark a momentous occasion. We have been serving cancer patients in this community for 120 years. In that time, Roswell Park has remained steadfast to the revolutionary vision of its founder, Dr. Roswell Park, who set out to understand cancer, discover ways to treat it and put an end to the suffering it causes. Since 1898, our team has worked together to reduce cancer’s burden and give hope to so many.”
Staff, patients and community members, including 2 On Your Side put messages of hope and special items in the time capsule. It will be opened in 100 years.
How much of Roswell's history do you know?
Roswell was founded 120 years ago. It's the first institution in the world that focused entirely on cancer research. It had never been done before.
In 1898, it was known as the Pathological Laboratory of the University of Buffalo. It changed names a few times, but never lost that focus.
The institute's first hospital, called the Cary Pavilion, opened in 1913. It was located at Oak and Carlton streets and had 30 beds for patients, plus an outpatient clinic.
The New York Times said it was "the most modern of hospitals... perhaps the most electric and automatic institute in the city of Buffalo and the state of New York."
The man behind it all, was Dr. Roswell Park, the founder.
This cancer institute first took his name in 1946, when it became Roswell Park Memorial Institute.
In January 2018, the hospital changed its name to the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. "We are a new Roswell Park with new ideas, new energy and new goals," says center President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD. in a released statement at the time. "We need an identity that speaks to who we are and what we mean to people. And we have that now."