CityView Magazine

64 October 2021 FAYETTEVILLE HISTORY Fayetteville's first hospitals BY WEEKS PARKER I n 1896, Dr. John Henry Marsh and Dr. Jacob Franklin Highsmith organized the Marsh-Highsmith Sanatorium, North Carolina's first private hospital. e 14-bed facility was located on Green Street near the corner of Green and Old streets, and the right-side entrance was across the street from the McNeill Milling Company. In 1900, Mrs. Eva S. Cochran from New York purchased the former home of Dr. Ben Robinson, which was to the right of the Marsh-Highsmith Sanatorium and built a charity annex which was connected to the hospital. In March 1904, Dr. Highsmith became the sole owner of the sanatorium and at that point the name was changed to Highsmith Hospital. Ethel Howard was one of the first nurses who graduated from Marsh- Highsmith Nursing School about 1915. She died at age 35 of tuberculosis, In 1906, the original Highsmith Hospital was destroyed by fire and then rebuilt. e new hospital was one of the finest in the state and covered the entire block from Market Square to Old Street where the First Citizens Bank now stands. In 1924, the Highsmith Hospital on Green Street had a total of 75 beds, which was vastly inadequate for the large number of patients who came to Fayetteville from all over the state. For many years, Dr. Jacob Franklin Highsmith had dreamed of establishing a newer, larger hospital overlooking the city. On April 8, 1926, his dream came true when a 100-bed hospital bearing his name was opened in Haymount. e hospital was named Highsmith Hospital. In June 1963, the name was changed to Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital in honor of both Dr. Highsmith and Dr. omas Rainey, who, until his death in 1961, dedicated 40 years of his life to the practice of medicine at Highsmith Hospital. e old Highsmith Hospital building on Green Street was later converted into the Millbrook Hotel, and subsequently torn down to make way for the First Citizens Bank. In 1912, Dr. Seavy Highsmith, a general practitioner, and Dr. omas Marshall We hope you enjoy this recurring feature by history buff Weeks Parker, who owns an impressive collection of local memorabilia and photos that he has agreed to share with CityView readers. A former Presbyterian Junior College Band Director, Parker is the author of 12 books on a variety of subjects including "Fayetteville, North Carolina: A Pictorial History." Ethel Howard, inset, was one of the first nurses who graduated from Marsh-Highsmith Nursing School about 1915. Rebuilt after a fire in 1906, Highsmith Hospital was one of the finest in the state and covered the entire block from Market Square to Old Street.

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