James Walker Memorial Hospital School of Nursing - Epitome Yearbook (Wilmington, NC)

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sisted of Drs. William J. Love, G. G. Thomas, T. C. Burbanks, W. J. H. Bellamy, J. C. Sheppard, A. H. Harris and R. D. jewett. This city-county hospital con- tinued until it was replaced in 1901 by the erection of the original building of the James Walker Memorial Hospital which is still standing and functioning today. This original building, which at the time of its construction and for years after- ward was considered the finest and most modern hospital building in eastern North Carolina, was built and given to the people of Wilmington and New Hanover County by Mr. james Walker, a stonemason, contractor and builder, who was born in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland, April 29, 1826. He came to this country at twenty years of age and settled in Washington, D. C . Mr. Walker was sent to Wilmington in 1857 to construct the U.S. Marine Hospital which stood for years near 8th and Num Streets. ln later years he also constructed numerous other buildings in Wilmington including the First Presbyterian Church, which was con- sumed by fire in 1926, and the D. R. Murchison residence on South Third Street which is still standing. Mr. Walker resided at 1602 Market Street. A year be- fore his death which was March 15, 1901, he conferred with his physician, Dr. W. J. H. Bellamy, and with other friends in reference to his desire to establish a public park as a gift to the City of Wilmington, but he was induced to supply a still greater local need, that of a public hospital. The first brick laid for the erection of the James Walker Memorial Hospital waslaid by Mrs. Helen Lane, matron of the City-County Hospital on May 22, 1900, and according to the newspaper account of May 23, 1900, the laying of the founda- tion was done in an unceremonious manner. Although in failing health, Mr. Walker personally supervised the construction of the hospital until his untimely death which was prior to the completion of the hospital on June 1, 1901. Upon completion the hospital consisted of fifty beds, a laundry and a heating plant. A male ward occupied the north wing of the ground floor and was called Ward D, the women's ward occupied the south wing of the second floor and was called Ward C. The hospital management, according to Mr. Walker's wishes, would forever remain free from political controlg the city and county would appropriate sufficient sums of money for the care of indigent sick and injured of said city and county. A Board of Managers was appointed, three members by Mr. Walker, three mem- bers from the county and three members from the city. Afterwards new mem- bers were to be appointed by the Board of Managers. The original Board of Managers of the hospital consisted of Mr. Walter G. McRae, Mr. M. J. Corbett, Mr. W. H1 Sprunt, Mr. George R. French, Dr. W. J. H. Bellamy, Mr. Sam Bear, Mr. M. S. Willard, Mr. D. C. Love and Mr. J. H. Rehder. The last named was elected to replace Dr. C. P. Bolles who found it impossible to serve longer on account of other pressing business. The first su- perintendent was Dr. Thomas R. Little. On February 5, 1902, a Charter was 5

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flfiotory of gamers qoalker qfnemorial geoopifal anal School of cnuroing By Dr. Robert M. Fales The W. W. Lane Hospital established in 1875 and the City-County Hospital founded in 1881 were predecessors of the James Walker Memorial Hospital. In 1881 the City of Wilmington and County of New Hanover obtained through a N. C. State Legislature Act permission to establish a hospital and proceeded to buy a tract of land in the northeastern part of the city known as Klein's Garden Company. This tract of land already had a wooden building erected on it, and this building was used as the original hospital and was added to as time went along. This hos- pital was located at Tenth and Fanning Streets, and Dr. W. W. Lane was appointed superintendent and surgeon-in-chief. The visiting surgeons and physicians con- 4

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granted james Walker Memorial Hospital to organize and maintain a school of nursing. The first superintendent was Miss Lillie Heller QMrs. Thomas R. Littlej. The first class was composed of two students - Miss Florence Hayes QMrs. Morris Caldwellj and Miss Alberta Robinson. Mrs. Caldwell had the dis- tinction of being the first person to obtain a certificate of registration issued to a graduate nurse trained in a North Carolina School. She was registered in New Hanover County, july 1, 1903. The second class was made up of three students and each year the number has increased. As the years have passed, literally hundreds of intelligent and dedicated young women have followed in the footsteps of these two original graduates and have been graduates of this school which is one of the oldest in North Carolina. As years have passed, additions to the hos- pital have been made. A new building which now is known as the Sprunt Ward and consists of 35 beds, was built for the colored patients in 1904. This wing originally included the dispensaryand until 1921, the second floor was the Nurses' Quarters. This addition was the donation of Mr. W. H. Sprunt, who saw and realized the need for such a division for the colored people of Wilmington and New Hanover County. The total cost of this addition was ten thousand dollars. In 1915, Mr. Samuel Bear gave as a donation the Contagious Ward, named the Bear Building. This building was demolished about 1942 or 1943. Part of the present Nurses' Home is located on the original site of the Bear Building. The third addition made to james Walker Memorial Hospital was in 1917, namely the Marion Sprunt Annex, a Maternity and Children's Ward of 33 beds. Money for this addition was furnished by Dr. james Sprunt in memoriam to his daughter, Marion, whose name it bears. The Women's Ward was moved to the second floor of this building. The Nurses' Quarters over the Colored Ward became too crowded, and the need for a separate Nurses' Home was realized. This time the city desired to erect a permanent memorial to the Rev. A. D. McClure of St. Andrews Presby- terian Church. The Nursing School was close to the heart of Dr. McClure so in 1921 the city donated 5100, 000 as a memorial to be used to builda modern Nurses' Home to accommodate fifty nurses. ln 1926, the number of nurses had increased so that the home had to be enlarged. ln 1937, the capacity of the home was in- creased and again in 1943. A new wing was added to the north end of the original building in 1937 which increased the capacity of the hospital to 185 beds. This addition is known as Up- per Hall A, Lower Hall A and the basement houses the X-ray department. 6