The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-25

This sicrtoh of dedicated to the pres1-
annt and board OF managers of The
Retreat for Tho Sick: It Is written
In response to request from the
board that I would prepare sketch
| OF the Retreat. the sarno to De
placed among the contents or the
corr erstone bog Of the new building
which liz now under construction on
tho corner OF Grove avenue and Null
berry street
| In October 1876. tho late De Hun
ter Mcclure An eminent srystcian.
seeing the great need of hospital
where the sick and afflicted OF All
classes could he nursed and provided
/ for in the city of Richmond. applied
to Mrs Anna bella Ravensrro1t Jen-
ktna, wife Of William 4. jenkins, to
j found such an institution. Mrs. Jen-
! ktns needed only this incentive to
what had been a life dream with
her
! She secured the loan Of the build
/ ing at 1898 East Marshall street,
from the Medical college OF Virginia.
and Il was in this building that the
Retreat for the Sick was opened on
March Is, 1877,
In lending the building, the con-
1 ditious required that 1t should be
/ cited up as hospital open to all
/ sufTers without distinction of race
or creed Mrs. Jenkins accepted the
loan, but with practically nothing as
sTrred for its support. According
20 Mrs. Jenkins the house seemed
to her mot banquet hall deserted"
but perfect labyrinth OF dark and
gloomy apartm entS".
One room was put IN order. a few
seats borrowed and amid cherries
surroundings. Mrs. Jenkins 'sat and
iarxiousiy watched the open door" A
few incutrtng friends appeared and
after prayer for Divine guidance and
strength, the plans for the new hos
pital were presented 10 those present.
Some thought the subject too vague
and the Undertaking too stupendecus,
hut a few entered into the benevolent
spirit and rallied to It's support Mrs.
Jack Temple, was the first treasurer
and held this office for about thirty
years when declining health caused
her to resign from active duties
From Mrs Jenkins report on
March Is, 1875, tust one year after
the opening Of the hospital we got
rnd treated ~ s. patients. ttha, first one
having baen admitted on March g.
l1S7TJ Of whom thirty-four were
sailorr. and nineteen children There
@havo been marriage, birth, a bap-
Estis,n and aavcn deat tbs five OF which
cases were fncurabIe when brought
j.. into the house. Twelve f12) patients
were treated rrtIrety free OF charge.
Thus ended the first year OF The Re-
: treat for The Sick.
In 1888 the college needed thefr
huildinr. and It became necessary foi
tho board To secure other quarters
, for their hosrital, the present loca
tion at $40 North Twelfth street, wa.
bought from tire yancv estate TIL
I eite Of the present building original.
was occupied as the French academy
The FIRST Art academy founded I,
| America whoee founder and prcei
dent was Chevalier Alexandra Mari
Quesnay Dc Beaurepaire. a youn
=, French officer IN the American arn1
of the Revolution.
II This house having been built NOR
! than a century, was not suitable +
the needs, but I3 new rooms ant
three large wards were added. il
r 1893 the property at the corner o
Twelfth and Marshall street. whicl
adjoins the hospital grounds was sc
o cured for a home for nurses Mrs
= Jenkins remained president of tn
= board OF managers until her dealt
|
!. ceedcd by Mrs Annie Warren VIII
- filled tho place efficiently and tn
y members of the board who worke'
4 with her felt keenly their loss whel
she died.
I Miss Mary Norwood. was elected +
succeed Mrs. warren, and she Is still
the beloved president ef the board
s Her untiring Efforts and love for tn
= Retreat for the Sick has acromplishe
untold good, This hospital holds tn
= record for being the oldest monde
A nomnational hospital In The South
iIs board Of managers r. composed o
9 women who represent ali denomina
toms in the city.
The Retreat has served Richmon
y for fnrty-twe years, and ii has to It
a credit. more than 100,o 600 days q
charity service 10 Richnonds poor
t nosides absolute charity there ar
d many people. Of moderate circum
stances who being unable to pay tn
= usual rates OF private hospitals, dur
e ing this dime have be@n provided 70
= according to their means. Not unit
= the hospital had entered It's forfeit
iycar had It avpr made IA general ap
poai for iinauciai aid7--that was dur
7 ing 19iT whom "A campaign commit
tee led by Dr. w, y Oppenhimei
| esaa launched la se"Ere funds I
J build A. larger and thoroughly moder
a hospital the demands on the presen
one being far IN excess Of its capacity