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2011 Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places
Across the state, some of the most fascinating buildings, embodying impressive institutional architecture at the center of communities’ memories, are health facilities. These buildings were often the most imposing and state of the art properties in their areas, but as medical practices have rapidly changed, the purpose-built facilities have fallen out of use, and struggle to find a new purpose.
One example of such a facility is Morton Health Center (Tulsa): This was the first African American hospital in Tulsa. Originally built as the Moton Memorial Hospital (in honor of Robert Russa Moton, a former President of Tuskegee Institute and the founder of the hospital) in 1941 by the City of Tulsa, this facility replaced an earlier municipal hospital. In 1983, the name was again changed to Morton Health Center to honor W.A. Morton, M.D., a prominent African American physician who had dutifully served at Moton. The hospital eventually outgrew its home and in 2006 moved into a brand new facility, leaving the building empty. Promising news for the building is the recent awarding of a $200,000 grant to the City of Tulsa to clean the site of any hazardous substances. This clean-up means that the building can be then sold and repurposed.
Another important example is the Okmulgee Colored Hospital (Okmulgee): The Okmulgee Colored Hospital was the first “colored” hospital in Oklahoa and remains the only such structure still standing in the state. Notable for the provision of medical care for African Americans by African Americans, the hospital was built between 1922 and 1923 with over $25,000 in donations from various African American individuals and organized clubs. The hospital operated as a segregated medical facility until 1956 and served various ensuing functions. The ambulance entrance was walled off for office space, the upstairs once served as a youth center, and Deep Fork Community Action, an antipoverty agency, operated for several years on the first floor. The two-story, 18-room facility was condemned by the town of Okmulgee in the 1990s and is currently unused, though local interest in its preservation is strong.
A similar story is that of the Franklin Hospital in Claremore. Built in 1927, this was the first purpose-built hospital in the area and served all of Rogers County. The hospital is remembered fondly for its efforts to provide service to any patients, regardless of their ability to pay, but closed its doors with the advent of a more modern hospital in 1955. Today, the building sits empty at a busy intersection, a prime location for redevelopment into a new use; however, this prime location means that it is also threatened with demolition, as the existing structure’s challenges, such as maintenance needs and a lack of parking, may prove too much for a would-be developer.
A final example is Eastern State Hospital (originally Eastern Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane): Vinita: Built in 1912, this hospital was constructed with funding from Oklahoma State Legislature. When it opened, the hospital housed over 300 patients, and employed doctors from across the country that were widely recognized for their pioneering efforts in the treatment and care of mentally ill patients. Over the years the original 3 building complex grew into a much larger configuration that included separate hospital wards for male and female patients, a barn, greenhouse, fire station and sewage plant, and an employees’ dormitory. Changes in the way mental health institutions are run caused the facility to close in the 1990’s, and since then it has been empty. Today, a portion of the facility is occupied by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, but there are numerous abandoned buildings within the complex.
One example of such a facility is Morton Health Center (Tulsa): This was the first African American hospital in Tulsa. Originally built as the Moton Memorial Hospital (in honor of Robert Russa Moton, a former President of Tuskegee Institute and the founder of the hospital) in 1941 by the City of Tulsa, this facility replaced an earlier municipal hospital. In 1983, the name was again changed to Morton Health Center to honor W.A. Morton, M.D., a prominent African American physician who had dutifully served at Moton. The hospital eventually outgrew its home and in 2006 moved into a brand new facility, leaving the building empty. Promising news for the building is the recent awarding of a $200,000 grant to the City of Tulsa to clean the site of any hazardous substances. This clean-up means that the building can be then sold and repurposed.
Another important example is the Okmulgee Colored Hospital (Okmulgee): The Okmulgee Colored Hospital was the first “colored” hospital in Oklahoa and remains the only such structure still standing in the state. Notable for the provision of medical care for African Americans by African Americans, the hospital was built between 1922 and 1923 with over $25,000 in donations from various African American individuals and organized clubs. The hospital operated as a segregated medical facility until 1956 and served various ensuing functions. The ambulance entrance was walled off for office space, the upstairs once served as a youth center, and Deep Fork Community Action, an antipoverty agency, operated for several years on the first floor. The two-story, 18-room facility was condemned by the town of Okmulgee in the 1990s and is currently unused, though local interest in its preservation is strong.
A similar story is that of the Franklin Hospital in Claremore. Built in 1927, this was the first purpose-built hospital in the area and served all of Rogers County. The hospital is remembered fondly for its efforts to provide service to any patients, regardless of their ability to pay, but closed its doors with the advent of a more modern hospital in 1955. Today, the building sits empty at a busy intersection, a prime location for redevelopment into a new use; however, this prime location means that it is also threatened with demolition, as the existing structure’s challenges, such as maintenance needs and a lack of parking, may prove too much for a would-be developer.
A final example is Eastern State Hospital (originally Eastern Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane): Vinita: Built in 1912, this hospital was constructed with funding from Oklahoma State Legislature. When it opened, the hospital housed over 300 patients, and employed doctors from across the country that were widely recognized for their pioneering efforts in the treatment and care of mentally ill patients. Over the years the original 3 building complex grew into a much larger configuration that included separate hospital wards for male and female patients, a barn, greenhouse, fire station and sewage plant, and an employees’ dormitory. Changes in the way mental health institutions are run caused the facility to close in the 1990’s, and since then it has been empty. Today, a portion of the facility is occupied by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, but there are numerous abandoned buildings within the complex.
Health Facilities
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