Woodlawn Infirmary: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Woodlawn Infirmary.png|center|thumb|800px|Woodlawn Infirmary]] | [[Image:Woodlawn Infirmary.png|center|thumb|800px|Woodlawn Infirmary]] | ||
The '''Woodlawn Infirmary''' was a 3-story | The '''Woodlawn Infirmary''' was a 3-story brick hospital building at 515 [[55th Street South]] in [[Woodlawn]]. In [[1921]] the [[Hospital Realty Corporation of Woodlawn]] sold stock in order to operate a private 75-bed private hospital in the area. The facility treated patients who paid a monthly subscription. | ||
A sensational [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1929|murder]] occurred at the hospital in December [[1929]] when club owner [[W. Ross Keith]], who had stabbed and shot at his wife, Betty, the night before, came into her room and, following an argument, fired three bullets into her chest and then shot himself in the arm. | A sensational [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1929|murder]] occurred at the hospital in December [[1929]] when club owner [[W. Ross Keith]], who had stabbed and shot at his wife, Betty, the night before, came into her room and, following an argument, fired three bullets into her chest and then shot himself in the arm. After [[1931]] it was officially called the '''Woodlawn Hospital''', though it remained known to most as the Woodlawn Infirmary. | ||
Woodlawn Hospital closed by the 1940s, and the structure reopened | Woodlawn Hospital closed by the 1940s, and the structure reopened by the end of [[World War II]] as the '''Woodlawn Highland Apartments'''. | ||
By [[2000]], the apartments were no longer actively managed and vacant, boarded-up units were being used by squatters. On Saturday, [[June 22]], [[2002]], a two-alarm fire broke out in the structure resulting in severe damage. It took about 60 firefighters to control the blaze. | By [[2000]], the apartments were no longer actively managed and vacant, boarded-up units were being used by squatters. On Saturday, [[June 22]], [[2002]], a two-alarm fire broke out in the structure resulting in severe damage. It took about 60 firefighters to control the blaze. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
* Jones, Melanie. (November 13, 2002). "Old burned infirmary has hazy future." {{BN}} | * Jones, Melanie. (November 13, 2002). "Old burned infirmary has hazy future." {{BN}} | ||
* Jones, Melanie. (December 18, 2002). "Woodlawn Infirmary on demolition list." {{BN}} | * Jones, Melanie. (December 18, 2002). "Woodlawn Infirmary on demolition list." {{BN}} | ||
* Ford, Gene A. & Thomas M. Shelby (September 2005) "An Architectural and Historical Survey of the Woodlawn Highlands Historic District, Birmingham, Alabama" University of Alabama Museums. Office of Archaeological Research | |||
* Wolfson, Hannah. (November 2, 2005). "City approves new homes at infirmary site." {{BN}} | * Wolfson, Hannah. (November 2, 2005). "City approves new homes at infirmary site." {{BN}} | ||
[[Category:Woodlawn]] | [[Category:Woodlawn]] | ||
[[Category:Former hospitals]] | [[Category:Former hospitals]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1921 establishments]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1921 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1930s disestablishments]] | [[Category:1930s disestablishments]] | ||
[[Category:2003 demolitions]] | [[Category:2003 demolitions]] | ||
[[Category:55th Street South]] | [[Category:55th Street South]] | ||
Revision as of 16:16, 18 January 2015
The Woodlawn Infirmary was a 3-story brick hospital building at 515 55th Street South in Woodlawn. In 1921 the Hospital Realty Corporation of Woodlawn sold stock in order to operate a private 75-bed private hospital in the area. The facility treated patients who paid a monthly subscription.
A sensational murder occurred at the hospital in December 1929 when club owner W. Ross Keith, who had stabbed and shot at his wife, Betty, the night before, came into her room and, following an argument, fired three bullets into her chest and then shot himself in the arm. After 1931 it was officially called the Woodlawn Hospital, though it remained known to most as the Woodlawn Infirmary.
Woodlawn Hospital closed by the 1940s, and the structure reopened by the end of World War II as the Woodlawn Highland Apartments.
By 2000, the apartments were no longer actively managed and vacant, boarded-up units were being used by squatters. On Saturday, June 22, 2002, a two-alarm fire broke out in the structure resulting in severe damage. It took about 60 firefighters to control the blaze.
Although it was listed by the Jefferson County Historical Commission, the Birmingham City Council decided to accept bids for its demolition in December. The structure was finally demolished in summer 2003. In November 2005, a private developer bought the site and subdivided it for a 12-home development called Crest Parc.
References
- Jones, Melanie. (November 13, 2002). "Old burned infirmary has hazy future." The Birmingham News
- Jones, Melanie. (December 18, 2002). "Woodlawn Infirmary on demolition list." The Birmingham News
- Ford, Gene A. & Thomas M. Shelby (September 2005) "An Architectural and Historical Survey of the Woodlawn Highlands Historic District, Birmingham, Alabama" University of Alabama Museums. Office of Archaeological Research
- Wolfson, Hannah. (November 2, 2005). "City approves new homes at infirmary site." The Birmingham News