Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-31
The Alexandria Hospital

I; When one comtcnlplates leaving Al,
! old home home for new one he nat,
uraliy thinks first of the climatic con
ditions in connection with the rreser-
walton Of his health and that OF thos>
dear 70 hi13 Not only does he look
fcr the conlitionS that lessen the
cause OF sickness, bat also investigates
the institutions which care fer hin
once lie hasr lost his health.
The Alexandria Eosp-ra:, hand
some, modern brick editice which is
situated CT Duke street between
Washington ami Columbus streets,
had It's origin in IN humble homo OF
the city in the gear 1872.
Miss Julia Johns first opened the
doors Of the Alexandria Hospital il
the private home Of DR.. Francis Muir
ply, which is still standing OH Duke
street near Fairfax. Miss Johns was
the daughter Of Bishop Johns ard
was the ideal woman to become the
founder OF such an institution. One
writer has said Of her, "Shc was rear
ed in a Christian home by God-loving
and Cod-fcaring parents; she was
by nature and ancestry, the embodi.
E:cnt Of ali that was good and noble. '
The original medical staff of the
Infirmary las it was known) was
made up of Dr.. NJ. NJ. Lewis, Dr.. r. c.
Powell and Dr. William Gibson.
The small institution struggled
along and at times it seemed that this
worrny scheme must be given up.
After several years of the Ditterest
struggle it removed to a small house
or upper King street. Here its affairs
began to brighten and several years
later it was again removed to upper
Duke street 10 the old Slave Pen. An
apartment house now marks the spot)
In the Slave Pen quarters the medi-
cal staff was enlarged by the addition
Of Dr.. George klipstcin and DR.. VIM.
NJ. Smith. This was in 1881.
In 1854 the institution was moved
into the "Orphanage" and Widows
Home" at Wolfe and Royal streets.
These two buildings were given by
C.e city to the hCEpltal boaru, having
practically no use Tor either. y tnlru
guiding was then erected by the diff
fercnt Circles OF Kings daughters
which formed Il connecting INK be-
tween the two. Thus the hospital pro-
crossed. a few years later Iour more
rooms were added TO the annex, built
Il! memory OF Miss Christine Mueller,
= trained nurse.
The real success Of the hospital has
been attributed to the wonderful per-
some! OF noble women who have been
connected with it III various stages oil
Us evolution. Among those who
stand out prominently il its dcvcl-
opmcnt are Miss Julia Johns, OF whom
mention has already been made.
She served as president Of the board
Of managers for eleven years. Then
Miss Eliza Miller, d daughter Of
Robert Miller, served for two years.
She was followed by Miss Eliza Smith
VINO gave twenty OF her life, serving
as president. Mrs. Mary g. Boothc
followed Miss Smith, giving seventeen
years of diiigcnt service in the office
vi president OF the board.
Not only is the success due to the
efforts OF the board of managers, but
there arc many others who have given
many weary hours of earnest en-
deavor toward the accomplishment OF
their purpose III the progress of the
institution. Among those who stand
out prominently are Miss Alice Col
lI,.c
Marjorie Adamson, Mrs. Rebecca Bal
lenger, Miss Mite klipstein and Col
oNel Arthur Herbert. Mrs. Adamson
established the Training School for
Nurses, equipped the hospital with a
modern heating plant ana furnished
many other necessities Of q modern
.osG.Isi. 1t vas during her admin
iStration as matron that the status
y the institution was changed from
that Of en- iniirm.ry to that Of d hos
rital.
II September of 1916 the corner
stone Of The new building was laid,
4ron the land 50 generously donated
b. Edward l.. Daingcriield, by Alex
nav ashington Lodge, No %, o.
-Aason3 aHliG sc-ncs % pC!AD and
art2@dor. This lodge was escorted
~ IT, I'D Dominion Commandery Of
the Knights Templar. The trowel
used N this ceremony was the same
one George Washington used in the
laying Of the cornerstone OF the Nat
iona! Capitol.
T;ro years Later, or in 1918, the
building was completed and the in
stitut!on moved 70 its present GUAR
tcrs. Since that time the hospital has
grown wonderfully, and now has q
competent staff composed of the bcs5
Of the citT's physicians. 1t has a
training school for nurses; free
wards: q modern operating room;
an May department.; modcrnly
equipped laboratory Cor research
work; and. in short, it has everything
requisite for NEST efficient work.
hlc&andl:&ns feel proud that with
ii Inc boundary of their city there
is such al Institution as the Alcxan-
dria Hospital, the sole duty Of which
is t. alleviate the distress Of suffer
Ing humanity. They are proud Of the
history Of this inGis?oHS;bic institu-
Y | l. l.,