History Of Iron Range Rehab Center

The Iron Range Rehab Center has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1954, when it opened inside a three-stall garage on the north side of the Virginia Hospital.  The Center began as a community service project of the Northeastern Jaycees, with the support from the Easter Seals, the Virginia Junior Chamber and other organizations.

Iron Range Rehab Center's first director was Raymond Rabideau, a nurse and physical therapist who served the organization until 1982.  "His dream was to have a Rehab Center to help the people of the Iron Range," said Peggy Germ, office manager.  "I learned a lot from him."  "Ray was instrumental in putting it together," said the Center's second director, Henry Tamminen. 

The Rehab Center expanded in 1956 and in 1970.  However in recent years, it had outgrown its 8,500 SF outpatient clinic space.   The non-profit, private organization, with a 12-member volunteer board of directors, had been collecting a building fund and planning an expansion for 10 years, then came the reorganization of the Virginia Regional Medical Center campus, which included the building of a new clinic.  A new Rehab Center fit into the plan, and the Center moved to the west end of the hospital.  The $2.5 million, self-funded project, consisted of some new construction and remodeling of existing space for the new 21,000-square-foot Rehab Center.  The facility, which opened in its new location on Feb. 12, 2007,  leases about half the space from the hospital and owns half on leased land.  Its affiliation with the United Way, from which it does not receive funding and continued support of the community, has allowed the center to become one of the "most established" organizations in the Virginia area, said Tamminen.