Woodlawn Infirmary
The Woodlawn Infirmary was a 3-story, turn of the century brick edifice built in 1896 at 515 55th Street South in Woodlawn. By 1921, the Hospital Realty Corporation of Woodlawn sold stock in order to operate a 75-bed private hospital in the structure. Officially called the Woodlawn Hospital, it remained known to most as the Woodlawn Infirmary.
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.
Woodlawn Hospital closed by the 1940s, and the structure reopened later 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
- Wolfson, Hannah. (November 2, 2005). "City approves new homes at infirmary site." The Birmingham News