Hillman Hospital: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
The idea of creating a charity hospital began with a group of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish women, the wives of Birmingham business executives, who formed the [[Daughters of United Charity]] to raise funds and oversaw its operation as the "Board of Lady Managers". They incorporated their venture as the '''Hospital of United Charity''' on [[March 9]], [[1887]]. The 28-bed hospital opened, in rented space in the [[Hughes Building]], on [[October 23]], [[1888]] and moved more than once over the next few years until a purpose-built 100-bed hospital building was constructed for it in [[1890]]. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed in a fire in [[1894]]. | The idea of creating a charity hospital began with a group of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish women, the wives of Birmingham business executives, who formed the [[Daughters of United Charity]] to raise funds and oversaw its operation as the "Board of Lady Managers". They incorporated their venture as the '''Hospital of United Charity''' on [[March 9]], [[1887]]. The 28-bed hospital opened, in rented space in the [[Hughes Building]], on [[October 23]], [[1888]] and moved more than once over the next few years until a purpose-built 100-bed hospital building was constructed for it in [[1890]]. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed in a fire in [[1894]]. | ||
Soon thereafter, [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] president [[Thomas Hillman]] donated a portfolio of stocks and bond funds valued at $20,000 to the hospital, stipulating that the monies be used equally for white and black patients. The hospital, once again leasing its space, was renamed in his honor in March [[1896]]. Beginning in [[1897]] Hillman Hospital was rechartered by the state and planning for a new building was begun. In [[1901]] property on the 600 block of [[20th Street South]] was acquired for the project and architects [[Charles Wheelock|Charles]] and [[Harry Wheelock]] were commissioned to design the building. Ground was broken on [[May 2]], [[1902]], and the four-story brick and limestone Hillman Hospital which still stands was dedicated on [[July 15]], [[1903]]. | Soon thereafter, [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] president [[Thomas Hillman]] donated a portfolio of stocks and bond funds valued at $20,000 to the hospital, stipulating that the monies be used equally for white and black patients. The hospital, once again leasing its space, was renamed in his honor in March [[1896]]. Beginning in [[1897]] Hillman Hospital was rechartered by the state and planning for a new building was begun. In [[1901]] property on the 600 block of [[20th Street South]] was acquired for the project and architects [[Charles Wheelock|Charles]] and [[Harry Wheelock]] were commissioned to design the building. Ground was broken on [[May 2]], [[1902]], and the four-story brick and limestone Hillman Hospital which still stands was dedicated on [[July 15]], [[1903]]. The [[Birmingham Medical College]] constructed its own facility adjoining the hospital at the same time. | ||
Ongoing financial shortages and the need to expand forced the Board of Lady Managers to sell the hospital property to [[Jefferson County]] in May [[1907]]. The first addition to the original hospital was completed in [[1913]], but did little to alleviate overcrowding as the [[Historical demographics of Birmingham|population of Birmingham]] continued to increase exponentially. A '''New Hillman Building''' was dedicated on [[January 15]], [[1928]] and a five-story outpatient clinic was constructed alongside the hospital, dedicated on [[November 19]], [[1939]]. | Ongoing financial shortages and the need to expand forced the Board of Lady Managers to sell the hospital property to [[Jefferson County]] in May [[1907]]. The first addition to the original hospital was completed in [[1913]], but did little to alleviate overcrowding as the [[Historical demographics of Birmingham|population of Birmingham]] continued to increase exponentially. A '''New Hillman Building''' was dedicated on [[January 15]], [[1928]] and a five-story outpatient clinic was constructed alongside the hospital, dedicated on [[November 19]], [[1939]]. | ||
Revision as of 13:33, 27 January 2014
Hillman Hospital opened in 1888 on Birmingham's Southside to provide medical care for the poor, regardless of race or gender, and remains as the oldest hospital in the city. It was named for benefactor Thomas Hillman in 1896. The property was sold to Jefferson County in 1907 and it became part of the Medical College of Alabama in 1945. It is now a part of the sprawling UAB Medical Center
The idea of creating a charity hospital began with a group of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish women, the wives of Birmingham business executives, who formed the Daughters of United Charity to raise funds and oversaw its operation as the "Board of Lady Managers". They incorporated their venture as the Hospital of United Charity on March 9, 1887. The 28-bed hospital opened, in rented space in the Hughes Building, on October 23, 1888 and moved more than once over the next few years until a purpose-built 100-bed hospital building was constructed for it in 1890. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed in a fire in 1894.
Soon thereafter, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company president Thomas Hillman donated a portfolio of stocks and bond funds valued at $20,000 to the hospital, stipulating that the monies be used equally for white and black patients. The hospital, once again leasing its space, was renamed in his honor in March 1896. Beginning in 1897 Hillman Hospital was rechartered by the state and planning for a new building was begun. In 1901 property on the 600 block of 20th Street South was acquired for the project and architects Charles and Harry Wheelock were commissioned to design the building. Ground was broken on May 2, 1902, and the four-story brick and limestone Hillman Hospital which still stands was dedicated on July 15, 1903. The Birmingham Medical College constructed its own facility adjoining the hospital at the same time.
Ongoing financial shortages and the need to expand forced the Board of Lady Managers to sell the hospital property to Jefferson County in May 1907. The first addition to the original hospital was completed in 1913, but did little to alleviate overcrowding as the population of Birmingham continued to increase exponentially. A New Hillman Building was dedicated on January 15, 1928 and a five-story outpatient clinic was constructed alongside the hospital, dedicated on November 19, 1939.
On June 4, 1945 Hillman Hospital and the nearby Jefferson Hospital, operated by the county, were merged into Jefferson-Hillman Hospital and jointly deeded to the University of Alabama for the newly-created Medical College of Alabama. As a teaching hospital, Hillman-Jefferson continued to serve indigent patients until the opening of Mercy Hospital in 1972. Since then it has housed the Lister Hill Library, the UAB School of Dentistry and administrative offices.
References
- Bethea, Helen (1928) The Hillman Hospital: A Story of the Growth and Development of the First Hospital in Birmingham, 1888-1907. Birmingham: Board of Managers of Hillman Hospital
- Holley, Howard L. & Eugenia Blount Dabney (January 1961) "History of the Hillman Hospital, Part I: The Hospital of the United Charities." De Historia Medicinae. No. 5, pp. 9-16
- Holmes, Jack D. L. (1974) A History of the University of Alabama Hospitals. Birmingham: University Hospital Auxiliary
- Satterfield, Carolyn Green (1976) "Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama" Jefferson County Historical Commission
- Pennycuff, T. L. (October 31, 2012) "Hillman Hospital" Encyclopedia of Alabama - accessed January 27, 2014
- Wright, A. J. (October 4, 2013) "Hillman Hospital & How It Became UAB Hospital" Birmingham Then & Now. Discover Birmingham - accessed January 27, 2014