Lincoln Hospital-Durham, NC
THE FIRST Lincoln Hospital was erected on the corner of Proctor Street and Cozart Avenue with a gift of $8,550.00 from Mr. Washington Duke. The plant was completed in July 1901 and was opened for patients in August of the same year. Mr. Washington Duke first had in mind the erection of a monument, on the campus of Trinity College, now Duke University, to the memory of the Negro slaves for the part they played in the dark days of the Civil War. The late Dr. A. M. Moore, Durham's first Negro physician, together with Mr. John Merrick and Dr. S. L. Warren, convinced Mr. Duke that a hospital for the descendants of the slaves would be more serviceable.
Through the years the hospital proved its merit and gained public support and confidence until larger quarters were needed. Messrs. J. B. Duke and B. N. Duke, sons of Mr. Washington Duke, offered to give $75,000.00 for a new building provided a like amount would be raised in the community of Durham. It was during the campaign to raise the additional $75,000.00 that the whole community evidenced its appreciation of the work the hospital was rendering the community. Both white and colored citizens, as well as the County and City Governments, responded to the appeal, and the required funds were raised. The new Lincoln Hospital was completed in November 1924 and was opened to patients in January 1925.
The cost of the site for the new building was $8,500.00, almost as much as the cost of the original hospital. The land was paid for by Messrs. John Sprunt Hill, J. B. Duke, B. N. Duke, and George W. Watts. Credit for securing the present site is due entirely to Mr. John Sprunt Hill.
The Nurses' Home, a modern, well-appointed tapestry brick building, was added to the hospital later as a gift from Mr. B. N. Duke in memory of his son, Angier B. Duke. This structure was erected at a cost of $25,000.00, and contains bedrooms, reception rooms, class rooms, recreation room, laundry, library and science laboratory. Mrs. Mary Duke Biddle, daughter of Mr. B. N. Duke, has made donations from time to time for improvements to the home.
Lincoln Hospital has had only three superintendents during its thirty-eight years of service to the community of Durham and vicinity. The late Dr. A. M. Moore was its founder and first superintendent, and served in that capacity until his death in 1923. His interest was definitely centered in Lincoln Hospital and during the twenty-two years that he served he never accepted any compensation for his services. At his death he bequeathed three houses on Cozart Avenue to the hospital. The income from these houses is to be used to help worthy girls who are desirous of taking nurse training, and to help indigent patients. The income from this property has amounted to $7,500.00. The widow and daughters of Dr. Moore, together with their husbands, donated the equipment and furnishings for the nurses' home at a cost of $1,500.00.
Dr. Moore was succeeded by the late Dr. Charles H. Shepard as superintendent. The task of organizing the new hospital fell to Dr. Shepard, who was a highly efficient administrator. It was during his superintendency that Lincoln Hospital was approved by the American Medical Association, for the training of interns, and by the American College of Surgeons. Lincoln Hospital also attained national recognition at this time as one of the leading Negro hospitals in the country.
The success of Lincoln Hospital has been largely due to the guidance and help of several other people, namely: Dr. S. L. Warren, who was one of the founders of the hospital, and is still serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Warren not only helped to secure the funds to make the hospital possible, but has labored tirelessly in the interest of Lincoln Hospital.
Miss Patricia H. Carter, R.N., came to Lincoln Hospital in 1912 succeeding Miss Julia A. Latta as Superintendent of Nurses. Miss Carter served in that capacity until 1935 when she was made Assistant Superintendent of the hospital. Her life has been given entirely to the care of the sick and the training of student nurses. The spiritual and cultural qualities of her life have influenced the many students whom she has taught.
Although not connected with the hospital professionally, no one is more interested in its welfare than Dr. C. C. Spaulding, President of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. As a member of the Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Finance Committee, he has worked untiringly for the advancement of the institution..
Note: This information above is from the: LINCOLN HOSPITAL
Thirty-Eighth Annual Report
1938-Published June 1939
1301 Fayetteville Street-Durham, North Carolina
You Can Read More From The 38th annual Report Here:
Source: https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/lincoln38/lincoln38.html