Historical Reflections: The Medical Heritage Center Blog

St. Francis Hospital and Starling Medical College

Built in 1847 at 311 East State Street (present site of Grant Medical Center), this Norman Gothic structure was the first to combine patient care and clinical teaching in the same facility in the United States. St. Francis Hospital comprised two-thirds of the building with Starling Medical College housed in the remainder.

Starling Medical College (one of six predecessor schools to the OSU College of Medicine) was in operation from 1847 to 1907 and named in honor of Mr. Lyne Starling, who donated the land and $35,000 for the new building. During its tenure, the College had 2,600 graduates.

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.” Managing this facility proved to be overwhelming and the Infirmary closed in the 1850s. Because of the lack of medical facilities in Columbus at this time, local physicians organized a move to bring a group of nuns to the Columbus community to serve as health care workers in 1861. In 1865, a 99-year lease was granted to the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis to operate the hospital. In 1929, the Sisters organized a School of Nursing which moved to St. Anthony’s Hospital in 1955 when St. Francis Hospital closed. St. Francis Hospital was razed in 1957.

*Part seven of a seven part series highlighting the history of Columbus medical centers.

Starling-Loving University Hospital

In 1917, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees announced that the abandoned homeopathy building would be incorporated into a new hospital for the medical school. A modified English Tudor addition to the homeopathic building made the hospital operational in 1924. The building was renamed Starling-Loving University Hospital in honor of Mr. Lyne Starling, a community leader and benefactor of Starling Medical College, and Dr. Starling Loving, dean of Starling Medical College (1880-1905).

By 1926, with the addition of three wings, the hospital housed 296 beds, an operating amphitheater, laboratories, a maternity department and an outpatient clinic. The main purpose was clinical teaching.

When The Ohio State University Hospital was built in the 1950′s, all hospital practices moved there. Starling-Loving University Hospital was renamed Starling-Loving Hall in 1961. It no longer serves as a hospital facility but houses offices and classrooms.

*Part six of a seven part series highlighting the history of Columbus medical centers.

Mount Carmel Medical Center

Hawkes Hospital of Mt. Carmel was founded by Dr. W. B. Hawkes (1812-1883). He donated land and gave $10,000 in United States Government bonds. Before the building was completed, Dr. Hawkes died and Dr. John W. Hamilton (1823-1898) completed the work. Dr. Hamilton secured the services of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and formally opened the hospital in 1886. The hospital was located on West Street and Davis Avenue.

The first addition to the hospital was made in 1891. In 1906 a second building adjoining the old one was started. It contained a chapel and 120 additional private rooms for patients. Another building, consisting of 120 rooms with recreation halls, library, and three classrooms was erected and opened in 1921. This was the home for the student nurses. In 1934, on a lot to the west of the hospital, and connected with the hospital, a building for convenience of the Sisters was erected. It was a gift of Mrs. Neill Darrow.

From 1876 to1892, the hospital was operated in connection with the Columbus Medical College.

The Training School for Nurses was opened in 1903. The first graduates received their diplomas in 1906. Eight Sisters were included in the class. The school still exists today and is now the Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

Today this location is known as Mount Carmel West and is one of the four facilities that comprise the Mount Carmel Health System.

*Part five of a seven part series highlighting the history of Columbus medical centers.