1204 N. Mound Photographs
1204 N. Mound 2013 Summer Survey Information
- Address: 1204 N. Mound
- Name: Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital
- Date: 1928
- Block: 45
- Lot: 48, 47
- Description: Opened on December 11, 1928, the Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital was the first hospital built in the city of Nacogdoches. The original building was built on land donated to the city by Itasca Blount, the wife of Edward A. Blount, who donated the land between 1915-and 1920. In addition to land for the hospital, Mrs. Blount also donated land for the purpose of a city park. In order to fund the building of the hospital, the city sold its electrical system for $150,000 dollars. Additionally, many citizens of Nacogdoches donated money for the hospital including then Stephen F. Austin Teachers College president Alton Birdwell. The hospital opened to a grateful city in December 1928, and officially accepted its first patients a few days later. Between 1937 and 1949, the hospital made several renovations and building additions to adapt to changes in the field of medicine. In the 1950s, the hospital fell into financial troubles, and was struggling to stay open. In order to help its falling budget, the hospital applied for federal grants, but did not meet the requirements to get them. Over the next nine years, the hospital continued to attempt to get federal aid, and it successfully did in 1963. In order to received the federal funds, the hospital had to reclassify itself from a rural hospital, to a intermediate hospital. This allowed the hospital to include the number of beds at smaller hospital in Sabine and San Augustine counties to its own to reach the qualifications for federal aid. With federal money secured, the board of directors proposals extensive renovations and additions to the hospital. With a price tag of $1.2 Million dollars, the proposed project angered many citizens of Nacogdoches. The complaint that many of the citizens had was that the project would place the cost all on the county of Nacogdoches despite the fact that hospital also serves Sabine and San Augustine counties as well. A city wide vote was called for the project's approval, and despite opposition against it, the project was approved and construction began. The project was finished in 1967, and on February 1, 1967, the hospital was rededicated to men and women who served in any war. However, many citizens of Nacogdoches were still upset about the cost of the project, and petitioned the city for a solution. In 1968, the city applied for the creation of a county hospital district, and on June 12, 1967 the Texas Legislator passed House Bill 1208 will called for the creation of the Nacogdoches County Hospital District. On April 8, 1968, a county judge order a county wide for vote occur for three items, the creation of the hospital district, the election of a board of a trustees, and the approval of a $590,000 federal bond for the hospital. The people of Nacogdoches approved of the hospital district and its board of trustees, but voted against the bond money for the hospital. Despite receiving the money, the hospital district pushed forward it it's plan to expand. From 1968 to 1993, the district bought many of the nearby properties and demolished the houses that were located on them. The district used the newly gained land to build the Nacogdoches Diagnostic Center, the Earl Elliot Medical Complex, and the Cousson Medical Building. In addition, parking lots were added to accommodate more cars and traffic. The hospital to this day continued to expand, and is currently building a new $40 Million dollar emergency center.
Click here for the property's Time Line
Click here for a 1929 Sanborn Map
Click here for a 1920 Hoya Land Map
Click here to see Pictures of New Construction
Click here for a 1940 Hoya Land Map
Click here for a 1960s Land Map (Part 1)
Click here for a 1960s Land Map (Part 2)
Click here to see a 1928 Daily Sentinel Article about the hospital's opening
Click here to view an example Wayside Exhibit for the hospital