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Pennsylvania Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital is located at 800 Spruce Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106. Illustration by George Strickland. Engraving by Cephas G. Childs. 1828. Public Domain The original drawing of the Pennsylvania Hospital by George Strickland was engraved by Cephas G. Childs. In 1751, several distinguished individuals associated, and laid the foundation of the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first institution of the kind in the western hemisphere. The contributors to this valuable charity included Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Bond, Thomas Stretch, and Charles Norris, according to the source book, Views in Philadelphia and its environs, from original drawings taken in 1827-30, published by Cephas G. Childs in Philadelphia.1 Pennsylvania Hospital was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. History of the building Pennsylvania Hospital was originally conceived in 1751 by Dr. Thomas Bond as an institution "for the reception and cure of the sick poor...free of charge. It was funded by "matching grant" to donations of the people of Philadelphia by a Bill which the House passed unanimously on 7 February 1750. On September 2, 1751, Mathias Koplin donated the first plot of ground for the new The Pennsylvania Hospital in 1769. hospital. The first building was opened on February 6, 1752, on Market Street. In 1755, the cornerstone was laid for the East Wing of what would become the 1 Cephas Grier Childs, Thomas Birch, Thomas Sully, George Strickland, Hugh Reinagle, Thomas Doughty, J. R. Watson, et al., Views in Philadelphia, and its vicinity; engraved from original drawings (Philadelphia: C.G. Childs, 1827). hospital's permanent location at 8th and Pine Streets. In the winter of 1756, all of the hospital’s patients were transferred from the building on Market Street to the new building on Pine Street, which is the permanent hospital. The first admission of a new patient occurred on December 18, 1752.2 Two famous physicians where on staff at the hospital during the early 19th century including Benjamin Rush from 1783 until 1813, who was a medical teacher, and social reformer who worked close with Thomas Paine during the American Revolution. Also on staff from 1794 until 1816 was Philip Syng Physick who achieved fame through his surgical expertise.3 The exterior occupies the whole square between Eighth and Ninth, and Spruce and Pine streets, and fronts to the south on the latter. It consists of a central square park, united by two long buildings to two wings, running north and south, and parallel with the sides of the original Benjamin Rush Painting by Charles Wilson Peale 4 square. 1818, Public domain. Engraver, Exilious, John G. - Artist. Castner. Public Domain 2 Thomas G. Morton, Frank Woodbury, The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751–1895 (Philadelphia: Times Printing House, 1897). 3 "Pennsylvania Hospital History: Historical Timeline - 1751-1800," University of Pennsylvania, http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/timeline/1751. 4 Childs, Views in Philadelphia. On May 5, 1755, the east wing of the present edifice was commenced under their direction, and a block of marble was laid as a corner stone, bearing the following inscription: — "In the year of Christ MDCCLV George the Second happily reigning, [For he sought the happiness of his People] Philadelphia flourishing, [For its inhabitants were public spirited] This Building By the bounty of the Government, And of many private persons. Was piously founded For the relief of the sick and miserable. — May the God of mercies Bless the undertaking."5 The interior of the building during the early 19th century included the center building are a spacious hall and staircases, a library room, containing about six thousand volumes, and the apothecary's establishment which was an elegant amphitheater for surgical operations6 and is now a museum.7 The top floor of Pennsylvania Hospital is the home of the nation's oldest surgical amphitheater, which served as the operating room from 1804 through 1868. Surgeries were performed on sunny days between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm since there was no electricity at the time. The surgical amphitheater seats 180 and with those standing, up to 300 people might be present during any given surgical operation.8 Amphitheater in Pennsylvania Hospital, Photo by SE Florek. Copyright © 2020 by seFlorek. 5 Childs, Views in Philadelphia. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 Penn Medicine, “Pennsylvania Hospital: Virtual Tour: Surgical Amphitheatre,” http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/tour/tour5.html. Preservation Efforts Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929 - Compiler. Pennsylvania Hospital, Public Domain Throughout history, the hospital has served as a center for treating the war wounded. Patients were brought to the hospital for treatment in the Revolutionary War, the American Civil War and the Spanish American War, and units from the hospital were even sent abroad to treat wounded in World War I and in World War II in the Pacific. In 1957 the 44th Street and Market Street location was closed when the city exercises the right of eminent domain to bring the subway up through the hospital grounds and in 1959, the hospital built the North Building, a modern facility on the 49th Street and Market Street grounds, consolidating all patient facilities in one location known as The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital.9 In 1997, Pennsylvania Hospital's Board of Managers made the decision to merge with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The large health system helps to support the formerly stand-alone hospital with its network of resources. In 2001, Pennsylvania Hospital celebrated its 250th anniversary.10 9 "Pennsylvania Hospital History: Historical Timeline - 1950-Today," University of Pennsylvania, http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/timeline/1951. 10 Ibid. BIBLIOGRAPHY Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929 - Compiler. Pennsylvania Hospital. Scrapbooks. Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/44781. Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929 - Compiler, Exilious, John G. - Engraver, Exilious, John G. - Artist. Castner Scrapbook v.9, Hospitals, Charitable, page 1. Scrapbooks. Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/65406. Childs, Cephas Grier, Thomas Birch, Thomas Sully, George Strickland, Hugh Reinagle, Thomas Doughty, J. R. Watson, et al. Views in Philadelphia and its environs, from original drawings taken in 1827-30. Philadelphia: C.G. Childs, 1827. Morton, Thomas G.; Frank Woodbury. The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751–1895. Philadelphia: Times Printing House, 1897. National Historical Park Pennsylvania. NPS.gov. https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/index.htm. Penn Medicine. “Pennsylvania Hospital: Virtual Tour: Surgical Amphitheatre.” http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/tour/tour5.html. Penn Medicine. “Pennsylvania Hospital History: Historical Timeline - 1751-1800." University of Pennsylvania. http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/timeline/1751. IMAGE CREDITS: “PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL.” Illustration by George Strickland. Engraving by Cephas G. Childs. 1828. Public Domain. “The Pennsylvania Hospital as it appeared about 1769.” Complier: Samuel Castner, Jr. Scrapbooks. Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA. “Benjamin Rush Painting.” Charles Wilson Peale. 1818. Public domain. “Pennsylvania Hospital.” Artist, Engraver: John G. Exilious. Compiler: Samuel Castner Jr. Scrapbook v.9, Hospitals, Charitable, page 1. Scrapbooks. Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA. “Interior, Pennsylvania Hospital.” S. E. Florek. 2020. Philadelphia, PA. “Pennsylvania Hospital.” Compiler: Samuel Castner Jr. Scrapbooks. Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA. .
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