In 1872 the rector of St. Marks Episcopal Church asked the women of the church to help solve the problem of two elderly and homeless parishioners. In response Mr. and Mrs. E.P. Fuller, in memory of their son, donated a house at the corner of Bond Ave. and Crescent St. to serve as a home for the needy persons. In 1875 the Fullers loaned a larger building on Weston Street, and in 1876 it was officially incorporated as St. Mark's Home and Hospital. This was the forerunner of Butterworth Hospital.

In 1887 Richard E. Butterworth donated land at the southwest corner of Michigan Street and Bostwick Avenue for a new hospital building. Butterworth died the following year leaving St. Mark's Home and Hospital a gift of $30,000 in cash and land. The cornerstone for the new hospital was laid March 1889 and the new hospital opened in April 1890. In 1894 the hospital changed its name to Butterworth Hospital, to honor its benefactor.

In 1902 the hospital became an independent corporation, no longer affiliated with St. Mark's Church. The hospital went on to become the largest in the City of Grand Rapids.

See Mrs. Russell’s history for more of this early history.