Bath VA Medical Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home–Bath Veterans Administration Center Historic District
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Bath VA Medical Center.jpg
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 76 Veterans Ave., Bath, New York |
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| Built | 1878-1879 |
| MPS | United States Second Generation Veterans Hospitals Multiple Property Submission |
| NRHP reference No. | 12001208 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 2013 |
The Bath VA Medical Center is a special hospital in Bath, New York, run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This means it helps take care of people who have served in the United States military, called veterans. It works with the University of Rochester School of Medicine and has smaller clinics in other towns like Elmira, Wellsville, Coudersport, and Wellsboro. This important place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, which means it's recognized as a historic site.
Contents
A Special Home for Veterans
The story of the Bath VA Medical Center began in 1877. It was first set up by a group called the Grand Army of the Republic. This group was made up of veterans from the American Civil War. In 1878, the property was given to New York State. It was then greatly expanded and reopened in 1879. Its new name was the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Bath.
Caring for Civil War Heroes
At first, the home was a place for New York veterans of the American Civil War who had been disabled. As these brave men grew older, the home became more focused on caring for the elderly. It became a geriatric facility. In 1907, the number of residents reached its highest point with 2,143 veterans living there. By 1928, the number of residents had gone down to 192.
Serving Veterans Through the Years
Veterans from other wars also received care at the facility. These included soldiers from the Spanish–American War and World War I. Between 1879 and 1932, more than 32,000 veterans were treated at the home. Right next to the home is the Bath National Cemetery. Many of the veterans who lived at the home are buried there.
The VA Takes Over: A Modern Medical Center
In 1929, the United States federal government took over running the home. They changed its name to the Bath Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The U.S. Veterans Administration was created in 1930. In 1932, the hospital and its land were officially given to the VA.
Today, the Bath VA Medical Center mainly helps veterans who visit for appointments. It is mostly an outpatient facility. The center can care for up to 440 patients. It provides important services to more than 12,000 veterans each year.
Gallery
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Original hospital building in 1910.
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Barracks and Mess Hall building.
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Inside a ward with some residents.
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The dining room where veterans ate.
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The kitchen area inside the facility.
- Robert E. Yott, From Soldiers' Home to Medical Center (2006) ISBN: 9780976883210.Learn more about the book
