Knoxville General Hospital
March 17, 2020
Open in 1902, Knoxville General Hospital, the first big hospital ever built in Knoxville, was located just northwest of downtown. It was central to the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, which afflicted over 8,000 Knoxvillians and stressed the hospital's capacities. It also played a role in dealing with other disasters, like the 1904 New Market train wreck. Knoxville General is remarkable in women's history in that its earliest superintendents were women, who had critically responsibilities here even before they could vote.
It closed in the early 1950s, when many of its roles were taken over by the new UT Hospital. Today, the Knox County Health Department's location on Dameron Avenue occupies part of old Knoxville General's campus. Shared by: Chad Cooper.
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19 Comments
Is there any way to retrieve a newborn baby photo of someone born at Knoxville General? My father was born there in 1949 and I would love to have a copy of his if it exists.
Pic please if there is one 07/22/1948
Was Knox General the Polio care hospital in 1950?
Borneo in 1950 at the hospital
What hospital is this County located in
I have some photos taken when my mother was in training at the Knoxville General in the early 1930s. Would you be interested in some scans?
Hi Malcolm,
That would be amazing! You can send them to nicolestahl@knoxhistoryproject.org.
Thanks so much!!
Iva it’s located in Knoxville
We have a decade-long research project underway to document the history of KGH and other hospitals in the region. See http://kgh.knoxcotn.org/
The Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing museum exhibit and archives would be extremely interested in adding high-resolution versions of your photos and any other stories, documents, or memorabilia you might be able to share in digital text or media format. See http://kgh.knoxcotn.org
Knoxville General Hospital had the only Contagion Unit in the region during the polio epidemic. Several nurses, students, and other staff contracted polio from exposure to patients.
I was born at the hospital in 1953. All my siblings were born at home, of course the hospital closed before I was ever old enough for a visit. There were eleven children in my family, I was the 7th son, the eleventh child.
I was born at General Hospital in 1945
I was also born at Knoxville General Hospital May 1, 1946
This building was later converted to Serenety Manor Nursing Home
My mother had an aunt named Rosa Ball who I was told also a street preacher who attended Central Church of God
According to the Knoxville Journal, a daughter was born to a Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lee at or around March 16, 1955. Is it possible to get the mother’s and child’s name. If a picture is available, that would be so wonderful. Thank you so very much.
Linda Montgomery
I was borned at General Hospital May 26 1953. My Dad and Mom lived in the big two story House on Barnard Street on right about a block from where the 911 center is now. I am a true Londaleain. and a Golden Bear
I was born on Feb. 19, 1953 at this hospital. My family lived in Powell in Knox County. My parents, Kenneth H. Weaver, Sr. and my mother, Mary Elizabeth Weaver are both deceased. I now live in Montevideo, Uruguay. My delivery doctor and family doctor was
Lawrence Cruz from Powell. I am just saying hello.
My very best to all of you,
Jon Ivan Weaver
My mother, Elsie, the youngest of five, was the first in her family to be born in a hospital. This one!
Her birth certificate lists 211 Dameron and the house is still there. They also lived on Hinton Street next door to the Catholic priest, and on Cedar Street before moving to Fountain City.
She turned 100 last month. What a blessing!
I was born there in 1954.. we lived right next to the hospital.. it would be great if there’s access to photos of birth pictures