South Carolina's Navy Hospital: Does It Exist?

South Carolina is home to the Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District, a portion of the Charleston Navy Base that included a collection of buildings connected with the medical needs of the Navy base. The Charleston Naval Hospital was built in 1917 and commissioned in 1917, with 19 temporary wooden buildings and a bed capacity of 250. The hospital was continually expanded and upgraded, especially during World War I and World War II, to meet the medical needs of the Navy base and the surrounding community. In 1973, a new Naval Regional Medical Center was opened, replacing the Charleston Naval Hospital. Today, the Charleston Naval Hospital buildings sit abandoned, but they hold significant architectural and historical value, reflecting the design principles of the time and the unity of Spanish Colonial and Mission styles.

Charleston Naval Hospital's history

The Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District is a nationally significant site that reflects the United States' efforts to provide medical support for the Navy during World Wars I and II. The district comprises 32 buildings, including treatment facilities, service buildings, and residential units, located in the northwest corner of the former Charleston Navy Base.

The history of the Charleston Naval Hospital began in 1902 when the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery purchased 96.5 acres of land adjoining the northwest side of the Navy Yard in Charleston, South Carolina. Initially, medical services were provided in "'hospital'" tents near the Marine Corps Post Exchange. In 1905, a Marine Sick Quarters was established in the same area.

In 1917, construction began on the original Naval Hospital, which was commissioned on July 31, 1917. The hospital consisted of 19 temporary wooden buildings with a bed capacity of 250. Due to an increased patient load, additional beds and buildings were added in 1918, expanding the bed capacity to 1000.

During World War II, the first permanent hospital facilities were constructed at the base. The hospital buildings from this era featured a Spanish Colonial style of concrete block covered with terracotta tiles. The Charleston Naval Hospital played a crucial role in providing medical support during the World Wars, and it continued to serve the Navy community until the 1990s.

In the early 1990s, Charleston Naval Hospital experienced its zenith as a tertiary military treatment facility. In 1992, the hospital employed over 1,200 personnel and had delivered over 1,300 babies, performed more than 3,000 surgeries, admitted 9,000 patients, and treated over 365,000 beneficiaries. However, with the end of the Cold War and defence budget cuts, the Charleston Naval Base was marked for closure in 1993, impacting the hospital's operations.

In 1996, the Charleston Naval Base closed, and the hospital structures along the Cooper River were abandoned. Despite their historical significance, the buildings have remained untouched and continued to decay. Efforts to preserve and restore the structures have faced challenges due to their poor condition and the cost-prohibitive nature of restoration.

Charleston Naval Hospital's architecture

The Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District in South Carolina is an intact collection of thirty-two buildings, including treatment facilities, residential quarters, and support buildings. The hospital was authorised by the Naval Emergency Fund Act and was built by the Charleston Engineering & Constructing Co. Construction began on June 1, 1917, and the hospital was commissioned on July 31, 1917. The hospital consisted of 19 temporary, wooden buildings with a bed capacity of 250. These buildings included one administration building, one office building, one building for women nurses, nine ward buildings, one galley, a mess hall, garage, laundry, power house, stores house, and recreation hall.

The Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District is architecturally significant for buildings and structures that reflect the time periods in which they were constructed, corresponding to large building periods at the Charleston Navy Base during the First and Second World Wars. Two residential buildings and support structures date from the First World War and exhibit Craftsmen Bungalow features. Many of the naval hospital buildings dating from the 1940s bear the same Spanish Colonial style of concrete block covered with terracotta tiles. The majority of buildings have a unifying architectural language that incorporates both Spanish Colonial and Mission style forms with Modern details and materials.

The hospital was continually used until March 2, 1973, when the Naval Regional Medical Center was dedicated. The new 10-story hospital had a 500-bed capacity and 375,000 sq ft of floor space. The new hospital served approximately 73,000 eligible patrons. In March 1973, the new Naval Hospital was completed and occupied, costing over $18.5 million.

The Charleston Naval Hospital site contains landscape features that convey the monumentality of the property. The extended south lawn features concrete walkways with trees, shrubbery, and the L. Mendel Rivers Plaza. The combination of Brutalism and New Formalism adds to the particular character of the building, resulting in a local landmark that rises above the surrounding community.

Charleston Navy Base

The Charleston Navy Base, established in 1901, was developed on the site of the former Chicora Park in what is now North Charleston. The U.S. Navy purchased a 400-acre site along the west bank of the Cooper River, seven miles north of Charleston. By World War I, employment at the base had peaked at 5,600. The base would go on to provide defence for the United States, employ over 100,000 people, build 256 vessels, and contribute millions of dollars to the area's economy.

The Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District is a portion of the Charleston Navy Base. The hospital was originally commissioned in July 1917 and consisted of 19 temporary wooden buildings with a capacity of 250 beds. By September 1918, 14 additional buildings had been constructed, increasing bed capacity to 1000. The hospital remained in continuous use until 1973, when a new Naval Regional Medical Center was opened. During the early 1990s, the hospital experienced its zenith as a tertiary military treatment facility, employing over 1,200 personnel and delivering over 1,300 babies.

The Charleston Naval Hospital District is also notable for its architecture, with buildings reflecting the time periods in which they were constructed during the First and Second World Wars. The majority of the structures incorporate Spanish Colonial and Mission styles with modern details and materials. Two residential buildings and support structures date from World War I and exhibit Craftsmen Bungalow features.

In 1993, hearings for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) began, resulting in a significant reduction in the Navy's presence in North Charleston. The Charleston Navy Base closed in 1996, and the former base was transformed into a multi-use federal complex. Today, Joint Base Charleston supports 67 Military Commands and Federal Agencies and provides services to over 20,877 acres.

Medical services at the hospital

South Carolina is home to the Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District, which includes a collection of buildings connected with the medical needs of the Navy base. The hospital was originally built in 1917 and consisted of 19 temporary wooden buildings with a 250-bed capacity. Over the years, the hospital has undergone various upgrades and expansions to meet the needs of the military personnel and their families.

In the early 1990s, Naval Hospital Charleston thrived as a tertiary military treatment facility. In 1992, the hospital employed over 1,200 personnel and delivered a wide range of medical services, including obstetrics, surgery, inpatient care, and outpatient treatment. The hospital also had a Family Practice Residency Program that produced 185 graduating interns and 149 graduating residents from its inception in 1973 until its final graduation in 1994.

The Charleston Naval Hospital is an eleven-story pre-cast concrete building designed in the Brutalist style with New Formalist elements. The building features a concrete-framed tower on top of a large brick base with recessed windows, showcasing the characteristic features of Brutalist architecture. The hospital campus includes not only the main hospital complex but also service-related buildings, residential buildings, and recreational facilities.

The hospital was continually upgraded and expanded over the years to meet the medical needs of the Navy base. During World War II, the hospital was expanded to include additional buildings in response to the increasing demand for medical services. The site also includes a recreation building constructed in 1944, featuring beautiful mural-adorned walls, including a gigantic mural depicting life-size Navy, Marine Corps, and Red Cross figures.

In 1973, a new 500-bed Naval Hospital was completed and occupied, offering improved patient care with advanced facilities and amenities. This new hospital served approximately 73,000 eligible patrons and was equipped with intensive care units, operating rooms, delivery rooms, and a cardiac care unit, all supported by life-support systems. The new facility also had central heating and air conditioning, a central dictating and transcribing system, a central oxygen and vacuum system, and televisions in patient rooms.

The hospital's current status

The Charleston Naval Hospital, located in North Charleston, South Carolina, has a long history dating back to the early 1900s. The hospital was originally established in 1902 on land purchased by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery from the city of Charleston. Over the years, the hospital expanded and upgraded its facilities, especially during World War I and World War II.

The hospital was in continuous use until 1973 when a new Naval Regional Medical Center was dedicated. This new hospital, located at the intersection of Rivers and McMillan Avenues, had a 500-bed capacity, 375,000 sq ft of floor space, and modern amenities. It served approximately 73,000 eligible patrons.

The early 1990s marked the peak of Naval Hospital Charleston's status as a tertiary military treatment facility. In 1992, the hospital employed over 1,200 personnel and had delivered an impressive number of healthcare services. However, starting in 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) hearings resulted in a significant reduction in the Navy's presence in North Charleston. The number of active-duty personnel and their family members in the area decreased drastically by the end of Fiscal Year 1995.

Today, the Charleston Naval Hospital structures are abandoned and in ruins. The hospital district is architecturally significant, reflecting the time periods in which the buildings were constructed, including the First and Second World Wars. The majority of the buildings feature a unifying architectural style that blends Spanish Colonial and Mission styles with Modern details. The hospital's 11-story concrete structure, designed in the Brutalist style with New Formalist elements, is a local landmark.

While the hospital is no longer functional, its history and impact on the community are preserved through initiatives like the South Carolina Picture Project and oral history videos capturing firsthand accounts of those associated with the hospital and the Navy Yard Charleston.

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