The Pulaski County Hospital

The Pulaski County HospitalAuthor(s): Laura LewellynSource: The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Summer, 1947), pp. 145-154Published by: Arkansas Historical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40018643 .

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THE PULASKI COUNTY HOSPITAL

By Laura Lewellyn*

Little Rock, Arkansas

Nothing exemplifies a changing world more than the rapidity with which a charitable institution grows and over- grows and suffers deterioration: and then is rebuilt anew with higher standards of living. One such refuge for the destitute was born in the barracks behind the Old State House in Little Rock in 1875, moved into larger quarters from time to time until it evolved into the wide-spreading, well-equipped home known today as the Pulaski County Hospital.

Quite accidentally the institution was ushered into being through the efforts of a handful of Little Rock women calling themselves the Ladies Benevolent Associa- tion. According to the record kept for fifteen years by the President, Mrs. Maria E. Haynie, the women were: Mrs. E. J. Langtree, Mrs. Sallie Jordan, Miss Sofia Crease, Mrs. P. M. Rose, Mrs. Sam R. Allen, Mrs. Genevieve Wilson, Mrs. Craven Peyton, Mrs. C. S. Collins, Mrs. Thomas R. Welch, Mrs. Peay, Mrs. Barton, and many others.

The Ladies Benevolent Association had been organized a short time before 1875 f°r the purpose of relieving "the dire need of many women in Little Rock who had no work and who could not secure any. Many prominent and worth- while women of the city decided that by organized effort, work could be found, and a house to house canvass was undertaken; and much work such as nursing, laundering, and housekeeping was secured."1

It was not, however, until one summer day in the year

*Mrs. Lewellyn is a native of Kansas. She moved to Denver when she was a child. She attended the public schools and the University of Denver. She came to Arkansas in 1911. Although most of her time has been employed in educating and rearing three children, she has maintained her interest in cultural progress. She is the author of numerous articles and short stories.

aFrom a paper written by Mrs. Emma Porter of Little Rock, daughter of Mrs. Haynie.



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1875 that an event took place which taxed the mettle and ingenuity of these women to the utmost. Precipitately and unknowingly they turned their small-time charity into the founding of a county hospital.

On that day in the "midst of an epidemic of malarial fever a family of strangers, father, mother, and five little children who had come from the swamp lands of our state where there were many mosquitoes and much malaria, were brought to Little Rock in a wagon. As there was no hospital here, they, with their few belongings, were put down in the yard of the State House on Center and Markham Streets with the thermometer standing at 100 degrees in the shade.

"Mr. Charles Collins, a prominent lawyer, and Mr. Thomas C. Peak, then a justice of peace, who had offices just across the street, saw the poor sick people lying on the ground, and went to investigate. Others passing along stopped and were sympathetic. A collection was taken right then and enough money was contributed to be of material assistance.

"There were two rows of buildings back of the State House which had been erected as barracks after the Brooks- Baxter war, but which had not been used much. Some one prized open several doors of one of the barracks and hurriedly had two or three rooms cleaned up, necessary furni- ture, bedding etc., and a nurse and doctor gotten, and a supply of appropriate food for sick people."2

Soon after this emergency action the few who were looking after "these sick people found the problem too much for them and called in the Ladies Benevolent Associa- tion to take the responsibility." This was done. "Word got abroad that there was a charity hospital in Little Rock where any poor sick person would be cared for without money and without price, so many came."

After struggling along for a time with the support of the "Ladies" whose original membership of seven had increased to three hundred and whose drives for funds on business firms, religious congregations, and private citizens were constant, the hospital authorities solicited and obtained

*Ibid.



THE PULASKI COUNTY HOSPITAL j,~

the aid of the city and county. By 1878 Dr. James H. Lenow had been appointed County Physician and was among the first prominent doctors to look after the "Poor House/' as it was called in those days. Doctors James A. Dibrell, W. A. Cantrell, F. L. French, and John B. Bond also served in its behalf.

Problems of those days were many, diverse and vex- atious. Very like the criticisms appearing in today's press, a questioning of Mrs. Haynie's management came out in a daily newspaper in the year 1880. With spirit Mrs. Haynie replied: The county gave us $100 per month in county script worth $25. We have 43 patients in the hospital. We are not able to do impossibilities, but we are conscious of doing the best we can under the circumstances. If the city and county officers or any other persons think they can manage it in a more satisfactory manner, we will cheerfully turn the burden over to them.7'3

Evidently this straight talk exonerated the "Ladies" and produced more money for the management. Mrs. Haynie got permission from the state officials to build a hospital on the south end of a tract of ground from 4th to 7th Streets facing Woodlane, on the north side of which the State Penitentiary was located.

Mr. Haynie, husband of the progressive President, was a building contractor and gave his services in super- vising the building of the new hospital. He hauled "lumber from a county farm seven miles out on Arch Street Pike and 'with these straight-up-and-down boards' fashioned two buildings near the old Penitentiary on the grounds where the graceful State Capitol now stands."

One of the problems at the new site was getting water. It had been carried from a spring half a mile away. To pay for a well nearby, the children of the city, dubbed "Cheerful Workers" were pressed into service. They ac- complished this mission.

But no amount of money was ever sufficient. Mrs. Haynie was made matron of the hospital and carried on

8 Arkansas Gazette, July IS, 1880. Mrs. Haynie kept a scrapbook and cut out the accounts of her work faithfully.

Most were from the Arkansas Gazette. Some were from the Arkansas Democrat.



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with indefatigable zeal. Her appeals for help cried out repeatedly in the newspapers. "Blankets," she would state, "we need a whole bale of them for the invalid poor. We need hay to refill beds." Every year in the fall drives were conducted by sending out wagons from door to door to receive donations for the poor. "The city is prosperous and provisions abundant," the Ladies would announce through the Press, "and if something is not done before cold weather there will be great suffering among the poor. Let everybody give something."

The newspapers revealed the names of the givers to the "Poor unfortunates." Among them were Fay Hempstead, the Wrights, the Browns, the Pfeifers, Cohens, Worthens, Winifields, Halliburtons, Logan H. Roots, the Newtons, the Davis' and many, many more. At one Christmas time the list of items taken to the hospital ran thus : "A washtub of toys, sweet potatoes, confections, tobacco, clothing, tarle- tan bags filled with mixtures. German papers, a gallon of whiskey, several yards of flannel, books."

"The little ones at the Poor House were very, very happy," so the newspapers said.

Despite the generous donations, despite Mrs. Haynie's vigorous efforts the hospital could not keep up with its load of responsibilities. In 1882 a reporter for the Gazette had written: " The hospital is totally inadequate both in size and nature ... is utterly unfit by reason of the want of proper care and attention to patients and wretched diet it furnishes. Physicians say it is no more than a charnel house for men to crawl into and die ... it is a disgrace to the community."

Mrs. Haynie replied : "I have held the position of un- aided manager of the institution for some years past. I wish to make a few statements : Although the hospital is a box house, it is more comfortable than homes throughout the country and if it is not what it ought to be, I have done the best with the means we have had. The food is good, sound, wholesome. We cannot pay nurses, we have no money from the state although taking in poor from all over ..."

Mrs. Haynie was not asked to resign. She set out in quest of new funds. Soon, in the year of 1882, she had made



THE PULASKI COUNTY HOSPITAL j .g

arrangements with the Marine Department of the Federal Government to establish their home for "steamboat men" from which the hospital was to receive $1.00 for each sailor sent there. This Marine hospital was then a part of the County Hospital for several years. Dr. Len Gibson, selected as a Government representative, was the physician of that department. All medicine and needed supplies were sent from Washington, D. C.

For ten years on the two acres of land leased by the State to the Ladies Hospital they ran this house of mercy as best they could. In 1890 after fifteen years of service to the public the Association turned over their trusteeship to Pulaski County, and upon the proposal of Judge Wilbur F. Hill, the building of a new hospital was ordered. The Pettefer Brothers were the contractors; Orlopp and Kus- ener were the architects. M. A. Orlopp was appointed Commissioner and superintended its erection at a cost of more than $87,000. It was located just west of the city limits near the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad tracks.

Records in the county court house show this structure was begun in January, 1890, and completed in 1892. "Ba- sins/' ran the specifications in the Pulaski County Quorum Court entry, "will be of Tennessee marble slabs with oval bowls, Fuller cocks and chain stop plugs. Tubs will be six-foot porcelain-lined iron, set upon short iron legs ; plugs and patent overflows. Sinks will be 18 by 36 inches of soap- stone with Fuller self-closing bibbs supported on iron legs. The one in the kitchen will be 24 by 48 inches and all plumbing will be done in a neat and handsome manner with all the pipe work exposed."

Further specifications for gas light installation, and for the water supply, indicated the advance science had made by this date. The people thought they had at last planned adequately for the "paupers." The Ladies Benevolent As- sociation was no more, but the silver thread of their sym- pathy never ceased to be woven in new ways by the hands of friendly women.

The inmates had scarcely been transferred from their crowded quarters to their roomy new home than a Board



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of Women Visitors, made up of prominent Little Rock women, was appointed by Honorable Jacob Erb, who had succeeded Judge Hill.4 On March 3, 1892, Mesdames Rose, Rottaken, Mitchell, Miller, McCain, Burkley, Blass, Gray, and Sophia Crease, made the first inspection of the place and expressed great delight over the lovely surroundings of the "Unfortunates."

The well-built brick main building was destined, like those in the past, to become overcrowded only too soon. Two other structures had to be added. The one on the north, added in 1894 was constructed by convict labor which fact in time produced appalling conditions. The second built in 1 90 1, was used exclusively as a hospital. It had many small rooms for patients and airy large wards. On the third floor there was an operating room.

Negro quarters consisted of several, elongated, one- story, unpainted apartments at the back. There was a laundry plant. Several isolated cottages for both white and negro tubercular cases were furnished. Near the kitchen stood a small hut where vast amounts of vegetables were prepared. It was called the "peeling room/7

Through the years the "Visitors Board" came faithfully to look in upon the old and ill, bringing presents and cheer. Church organizations, including children's "sun- shine" bands and other charitable associations carried on this practice of remembering the homeless. Thanksgiving and Christmas times were as of old especially celebrated. And while the old made up the bulk of the population, there were always children tied through unfortunate circumstances to their elders.

As the heads of the new hospital some physicians served only short terms. Among these were: Doctors W. T. Joyner, J. J. Robertson, R. B. Christian, and Felix G. Lusk. Dr. W. P. Illing, on the other hand, was superintendent from 1893 *° I9°7- Others following him were: Doc- tors Joseph P. Sheppard, Cowley S. Pettus, G. K. Mason, Robert B. Harris, M. P. McNeil, Paul M. Fulmer, John R. May, and Dr. Armour K. Wayman. At different times

*From an article written by Diana Sherwood for Arkansas Gazette on June 25, 1944



THE PULASKI COUNTY HOSPITAL jj-j

the capable wives of the superintendents have served as matrons to the great benefit of the patients.

One of the most important improvements inaugurated at the new hospital came about ten years after its opening. "In the year 1901 when a training school for nurses was set up in Little Rock, Dr. W. P. Illing, superintendent of the Pulaski County Hospital became interested in it for his hospital. An old document, reveals provisions for this school. It reads : "Whereas, W. P. Illing, Edwin Bentley, R. W. Lindsey, W. R. Stark, J. A. Dibrell and others, have filed in the office of the clerk of the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, their constitution of articles of Association in compliance with the provisions of law, with petition for incorporation, under the name or style of Tulaski County Hospital Training for Nurses' they are therefor hereby declared a body of politic and corporate, by name and style aforesaid, with all powers, privileges and immunities granted in the laws thereunto appertaining."4

The document bears the official seal of the Circuit Court. It is dated November 29, 1902, and signed by J. J. McEvoy, clerk. Lectures were to be given by the staff of the Medical College and the same as given nurses at Roots Hospital.

All this was in the days of the "horse and buggy doctor." For a time they faithfully drove through mud or dust over the long country road leading to the County Hospital to give lectures. When it was found to take too much time from other faculty duties and from private practice, arrangements were made for the nurses from the County hospital .to come into Roots for the lectures. With the classes thus enlarged, they (the Training School nurses) were moved to the Medical College which adjoined the hospital." (The City Hospital).

Stories told about the County Hospital reveal its many "ups and downs." For the most part it had been the object of conscientous care, but it had also known shameful neglect. There were good and bad officials. Efficient and inefficient doctors administered to its needs.

As the years went by it became again fearfully overcrowded. A deadly deterioration set in the North Unit.



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There the wall would have collapsed but for large wooden blocks braced on the outside, attached to iron rods on the inside of bedrooms. This was the ward for old men and one can imagine them having terrifying dreams within those crumbling walls.

In the hospital proper walls and plumbing went bad and became a blight on the conscience of the community. The newspapers again got busy with their criticism of the conditions. Conscientious doctors and nurses could not keep the standards of health up in the "poor house/' that had seemed so elegant in 1892.

By 1 94 1 Judge Burlingame had ordered the erection of another new and modernly equipped home. A plot of ground rising to the west of the old place was purchased at the cost of $30,000 and the project started. Judge C. P. Newton, his successor, carried on, giving much time to the construction of the building. There were innumerable dif- ficulties and delays because of war and war priorities: Ground was broken for the foundation on August 18, 1941. The public was invited to inspect the finished product on October 31, 1943.

Before this opening date, however, an interesting if belated rite took place. Mrs. Wayman, wife of the Super- intendent, realizing that no strong box had been embedded in the foundation stone, hurriedly collected some items of historical significance which were lodged and sealed in a pillar of the new building near a second-story right-hand window.

If at some future time this structure is razed to build again a bigger and better edifice there will be much of interest for future historians. There will be found here the brief story of the Ladies Benevolent Association written by Mrs. Porter, daughter of the indomitable Mrs. Haynie, the president and leader of the founding mothers. There will be found an autobiographical sketch of Judge C. P. Newton and snapshots of the new hospital under construction. Copies of January and February magazines will tell the stirring story of Japan's treacherous attack at Pearl Harbor. There are Yearbooks of the Bay View and Prodeo Women's Clubs. There is a list of payroll and patients'



THE PULASKI COUNTY HOSPITAL JC-o

names residing in the institution. There are clippings from newspapers with headlines of World War II. A Bible is there. Within it were placed the signatured bookmarks of almost half a hundred persons, patients, nurses, doctors, that designate his or her personally chosen passages from the Book of Books.

This latest Pulaski County Hospital stands high on Roosevelt Road on a ten-acre tract of land. In October, 1943, one hundred and eighty patients were transferred from their insanitary surroundings to a new haven where many clean rooms, fresh air, and modern equipment again provided for better living. It is a far-flunged two-storied edifice built round an inner courtyard. Two hundred and thirty-five persons can be cared for here. Walls everywhere are light and clean. Cement floors are painted gray. Plumb- ing is up to date. Beds were renovated and made restful at the time of the transfer. A well-equipped kitchen sends out good food to be enjoyed in a light, attractive dining room.

On the second floor there are a surgical supply office, and X-ray room, a modern operation room, and a place for young mothers and a nursery. Nurses live on this floor. One wing forms an isolation ward for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Negroes have similar wards and dining rooms and receive the same treatment for their ills.

The basement of the hospital has a curious spell all its own. Here are the giant pieces of machinery that generate comfort and pleasure for the whole institution. Here are huge boilers, automatically controlled, the power plant, and the refrigeration facilities. Here is the indispensable laundry serving several county units as well as the home. Well- equipped and modern, it turns out an average of 10,000 pieces monthly. A sewing room where new garments are made and where old ones are mended occupies one sunny corner.

Not far off is a cheerful department where "out- patients" may come for treatment and for medicine. This custom which has existed from the early days has widened into care for inmates of the county farm, and in certain



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instances to young sojourners in the Detention Home which is located near the Hospital.

Life stories of the patients who have found themselves here in their old age, coming from those who lived here in 1875 or those of 1946, vary little in general human reactions. Registered at over sixty years are most of the men and women. Some claim ninety years or even a hundred. Their backgrounds, as they recount them, may reveal fabulously rich lives, but for the most part they have been pitifully poor. It is certain they are made as much at home here as conditions will permit.

Those who are able-bodied have a large grassy front lawn upon which to stroll and benches beneath great shady trees upon which to relax. For others not so active there are glassed-in porches, breezy in summer, and warm and sunny in winter, cheerful meeting places for social chats. Happiest among these people are the few who are able to work a few hours a day for which they receive a small salary.

The general meeting place, the chief joy and pride of those who can enter it, is a good-sized auditorium in the basement. Daily some religious service is held in this pleasant space, sponsored by some church organization. The patients themselves conduct a prayer meeting every Tues- day night under the guidance of a chaplain. With its high- ceiling, and a stage, it is a far cry from the first "Chapel" that Mrs. Haynie had so insisted must be erected as one of her "straight-up-and-down-boards" houses on the old penitentiary grounds.



Documents

The Pulaski County Hospital