The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1953-08-08
Work Begins
On ]. BurreII's
New Hospital
DIR. J. Il. Roberts Speaks At Ground
Breaking Ceremonies Sunday

Inc long expected and anxiously awaited BEGINNING
OF the new Burrell Memorial Hospital came TO rea1+
iasC sunday afternoon when Dr. j. H. Roberts one of
the cofounders of the institution broke the ground for
the beginning of the work
The building is estimated to cost e. COG ooo M
Crowds witnessed the well-planned Ground brooli mo- w
gram Dr. L. c. Downing chief surgeon at the bosnta1
was the principal speaker for the occasion
Rev. A. l.. James, chairman of this snecal nroor
committee, presided over the meeting A laroo ho
oi distinguished leaders of the community were recoo
nized. WIZ ie'0e
.sgg
Or D. H. Roberts, who broke the ground, delivered
the following speech:
Rev: James, Members of the Trustee Board, Officers
and Fellow Citizens: ~
The citizens of Roanoke have anxiousy awaited the
construction of the two hospitals The Memorial
Crippled Childrens Hospital and The Burreu hrenoor
Inc memorial and Crippled Childrens Hospital had its
Official beginning several days ago.
So we have gathered here this afternoon to break b
ground for the new Burrell Memorial HOSPITAL
The hospital growth of Roanoke has been q slow nro
sreSSlVe one When we to Roanoke i'm October
I'LL the present Burrell Memorial would be on par and
perhaps little better than the Roanoke Citv Hosnita
of that period.
The Burrell Memorial Hospital named for DR. + D
koanokes second physician of group had it's
Official opening March 49, 1915 in small frame buil6
ing on Henry Street. purchased by five doctors of
group and turned to the hospital association for
rent free.
Inc present Burrell Memorial Hospital building was
formerly the Old Allegheny Institute Many of Roam
oKe leading citizens attended this institute For napv
years this building used for orphanage It was
closed during World War due the fact that the man
in charge such pro- German The building was va
cant for several years need not describe to Won the
condition of the building
may be wrong but the idea of the CITY turninp this
building over to our group for hospital came from
MI Armstrong, carpenter who lived half block from
IilS pud1ng After many meetings and conferences the
city fathers headed by Mr. Angel voted to deed the
Old Aeghany Institute to association to have and
to hold long the association conducted q boero1
In return the association to have and to maintain
at all times certain number of hospital beds for citv
cases This provision if strictly enforced wold bavo
closed the hospital it's opening Such calamity ,yos
averted by the big heartedness of DR. Armistead the
city physician for long period, who always kept the
load light
This hill surrounded with natures perfect nicture
frame of the rising peaks of the ending of tho R pid
ana beginning OF the Allegheny Mountains with the cit
vi hOaoKe spreading like carpet the midprOunds
WIN l Mountain In the distance with it's star forever
oeSpeakng Roanoke-The Star City of the South will
soon be bedecked with the new BurrelI Menoorio Hos
ptaI. -i $50.
would like to leave with the Trustee BOARD fo.
ChOughC ana consideration my conclusion: Namely The
new hospital with it's added bed capacity with ire roo
up TO date equipment and facilities and it's Increased
perSohei VIII mean much increase in the cost of it's
operation and maintenance. Like all hospitals of this
type IL VIII not be self-supportng Funds must be OBJ
famed from other sources. SO the Board has the task
and the duty of instituting and outlining program of
Public Relationship to Argument the regular bosntal
revenue for the hospital and to clear the opeyano
deficit for the old one