St. Francis Hospital and Starling Medical College, c. 1865

Built in 1847 at 311 East State Street, this Norman Gothic structure was the first combined medical school and hospital in the United States (St. Francis Hospital/Starling Medical College). Initially lacking funding to complete the hospital part of the building, Dr. Richard L. Howard, a Starling Medical College trustee, provided money to open the “Howard Infirmary.” Unfortunately, managing this facility proved to be overwhelming. The infirmary closed in the 1850s.

Because of the lack of medical facilities in Columbus, local physicians organized a move to bring a group of nuns to the Columbus community to serve as health care workers in 1861. In February 1865, a 99-year lease was granted to the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis to operate St. Francis Hospital.