Medicine and Shockoe Hill*

MEDICINE AND SHOCKOE HILL* By HARRY J. WARTHEN, M.D. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA ICHMOND, like Rome, is beginning, only a few classes were held, built on seven hills. The ses- for the outbreak of the French Revolu quicentennial of the “’Hill to tion necessitated Quesnay’s return to the west of ‘Shockhoe' Creek" France and in his absence and without Ras an educational center couldhis have financial support, the local sub been celebrated last year, for in 1786, scribers were unable to carry out the according to a contemporary account in original program. the Virginia Gazette, the cornerstone I he Academy building became a the of Ouesnay de Beaurepaire’s Academy ater, the French gardens were divided was laid with the following inscription into building lots, and Shockoe Hill be in Latin:1 came known chiefly as the site of On this day, the 24th of June, 1786, Thomas Jefferson’s new State Capitol The Tenth of the Independence, and a fashionable residential section on Patrick Henry, Governor, the outskirts of early nineteenth cen Was laid by the Trustees the first stone of tury Richmond. Quesnay’s Academy This state of affairs continued until Which promises by its extensive utility 1845, when the Egyptian Building at To do honor to the projector’s ingenuity the corner of Marshall and College As well as to those who had the good sense Streets was completed and the Medical To patronize his scheme College of Virginia, then in its eighth J. Harvie, Mayor year of operation, and a department of Little is known today of the Che Hampden-Sydney College moved from valier Quesnay de Beaurepaire, that its former quarters in the Union Hotel half-legendary French veteran of the at Nineteenth and Main Streets to its American Revolution who envisaged a present location in Academy Square. national Academy of Sciences and Fine Why the Egyptian style was chosen by Arts, modeled after the French Acad the Medical College for its principal emy.2 His aim apparently was to erect building is still a subject for specula and in part endow an Academy in Rich tion. A possible explanation may be mond as a memorial to the friendship found in its architect—Thomas S. Stew existing between France and the Com art of Philadelphia. Three other “Ni- monwealth of Virginia at the close of lesque” buildings were erected about the the Revolutionary War. Quesnay’s same time: the Municipal Reservoir plans were accepted with enthusiasm and the old “Tombs” in New York and the central building was soon com City, and the Moyamensing Prison in pleted, with formal French gardens ex Philadelphia.3 While Stewart may not tending down the eastern slope of have designed these structures, he must Shockoe Hill. Despite this auspicious have been influenced by them, and it *A review of the role that Shockoe Hill has played in the medical life and history of Rich mond may be of interest at this time inasmuch as the year 1937 marks the centennial of the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and the bicentennial of the founding of the city. was probably at bis suggestion that the the War Between the States virtually Egyptian style was chosen. Only the converted it into a military hospital and “Tombs” and the Medical College are it continued in this capacity until 1864. now standing. A hospital was estab A history of the medical development lished in the Egyptian Building, and of Shockoe Hill would be incomplete despite the proximity of a medical without a more detailed account of the school under the same roof, the pri role this region played in the medical vate rooms and wards were filled with affairs of the War Between the States. patients; during the year 1857 two hun The greater portion of the fighting oc dred and fifty-seven bed cases were ad curred on Virginia soil, and Richmond mitted.4 was the chief medical center for the This infirmary soon proved inade Confederacy throughout the War. Prob quate and in i860 a new three-story, ably not less than a quarter of a mil seventy-five bed hospital was built lion sick and wounded soldiers from across the court at 1225 East Marshall both armies were cared for in this city Street on the site now occupied by the during the four years of hostilities. Saint Philip Hospital.4 The patients in The Medical College of Virginia was the infirmary were transferred to the the only medical school in the Con new hospital in the spring of 1861, federacy to continue operation through and the wards in the Egyptian Building out the War. The sessions were short were turned into lecture rooms and lab ened to four months and two classes oratories. Hardly had the new infirmary were graduated each year. About four opened its doors when the outbreak of hundred medical students were trained during this period; the majority of these children's hospital, was the residence were detailed to military hospitals about of James Kinniard during the War, and Richmond or assigned to field work the first floor of this home became a with the Army of Northern Virginia. military hospital following the Seven At the onset of the War, Richmond, Days Battle in June, 1862.5 No doubt which then had a population of less many other homes in this section were than forty thousand, was totally un used for the same purpose, for the prepared to take care of the trainloads houses were large and their owners of wounded who were brought to the were patriotic. Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto The large ground floor basement of mac Railroad terminal at Eighth and the First Baptist Church, erected on Broad Streets, and the Virginia Central the corner of Twelfth and Broad Streets Railway Station at the foot of Shockoe in 1841, became a clearing house for Hill on Seventeenth Street. Over one hospital supplies. The adjoining Syca thousand soldiers were admitted to the more Church on Eleventh Street be Medical College Infirmary at 1225 East came a military hospital during the first Marshall Street during the first eight year of the War.6 The “Richmond Fe months of the war.4 All types of build male Institute” on Tenth Street be ings, from tobacco factories to railroad tween Marshall and Clay became Gen shops, were converted into temporary eral Hospital No. 4, and cared for hospitals, and during the fighting about wounded commissioned officers.7 A gen Richmond in 1862 private homes were eral register for ambulant wounded was thrown open and received a large num established on Broad Street between ber of the wounded. The brick house at Ninth and Tenth Streets. 408 North Twelfth Street, now used as a The Chimborazo Hospital at the east nurses home for the adjoining colored ern end of Broad Street (which alone cared for over 77,000 patients4) was one twelve years ago, but the building with of several large general hospitals con its weather-beaten sign remained until structed in Richmond during the course last year, a reminder of Richmond’s first of the War, and these institutions grad specialty hospital. ually took over the functions of the In 1883, the Retreat for the Sick was small emergency hospitals on Shockoe moved to 305 North Twelfth Street. Hill and elsewhere throughout the city. This large residence was erected prior Following the War, the infirmary at to 1810 and at one time served as the 1225 East Marshall Street continued as Governor’s Mansion.7 The building was the teaching hospital for the Medical enlarged and the adjoining Ezekiel College of Virginia, although its man home,8 built in 1859 on the corner of agement changed frequently. It was suc Twelfth and Marshall Streets, became cessively called the Church Institute, the Nurses’ Home. The hospital con Retreat for the Sick, and the Old Do tinued in this location until 1920 when minion Hospital.4 Finally in 1903, after the Retreat was moved to its present lo forty-two years of arduous service to cation on Grove Avenue. These old the City, State and Confederacy, its buildings were recently torn down and doors were closed, and the present Saint the new Medical College of Virginia Philip Hospital was erected in 1920 011 Clinic is now being erected on their its foundation. sites. In 1879, the Richmond Eye, Ear and The year 1883 also saw the establish Throat Infirmary and Dispensary was ment of the first private hospital on organized.4 An old residence at 217 Shockoe Hill. In April of that year, St. Governor Street was chosen and this Luke’s Home for the Sick, with a bed was enlarged to accommodate twenty- capacity for forty-eight patients, was five patients. The infirmary was closed opened by Dr. Hunter McGuire on the northeast corner of Ross and Governor McClurg of pioneer medical fame. This Streets.4 The hospital was housed in the house has been changed but little dur old "Richmond House." formerly the ing the past century and a half and is an home of Dr. John Cullen, one of the excellent example of eighteenth cen founders of the Medical College of Vir tury Richmond architecture. ginia. This building was used as a sub In 1893 the University College of treasury during the War Between the Medicine was established by Dr. Hun States, and here the Confederate cur ter McGuire in two large residences rency was signed. The hospital con which occupied the north side of Clay tinued at this location until the present Street between Eleventh and Twelfth St.

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