Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bedford Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District
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Building 2
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bedford, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1928 |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000977 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 2012 |
The Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a special hospital for military veterans. It is also known as the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital. This hospital is located in Bedford, Massachusetts. It is part of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which helps people who have served in the military.
When it first opened in 1928, the hospital was built to help veterans with mental health needs. Over time, it grew to offer many different medical services. A very important person named Edith Nourse Rogers, who was a member of Congress, helped make sure the hospital could also care for women veterans starting in 1947. Because of her efforts, President Jimmy Carter later renamed the hospital in her honor.
Contents
A Look at the Hospital Buildings
The main part of the hospital is its Main Building. This large, three-story brick building was built in 1928. It still serves as a place where veterans receive medical care today.
Key Buildings from the Early Days
- Administration Building: South of the Main Building, this was also built in 1928. It's where many of the hospital's important offices are located.
- Former Kitchen and Dining Hall: West of the Administration Building, this building was also built in 1928. It used to be where patients ate their meals. Now, it holds offices and storage.
- Acute Care Building: Built in 1929, this building is west of the old dining hall. It is now called the Nursing Home Care Unit. This is where veterans receive long-term care.
Other buildings on the campus are smaller. They are mostly located north and south of these main buildings.
A Historic Place for Veterans
In 2012, a large part of the hospital's campus became a historic district. This means the area is special because of its history and important buildings. The district includes the main hospital buildings and other structures. These include homes for staff and buildings for utilities and maintenance. Most of these buildings were built by 1947. Some even date back to 1928, when the hospital first opened.
This historic district is a great example of an early VA hospital. It shows how hospitals were designed to help veterans with mental health conditions back then.
See also
- Northampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- List of Veterans Affairs medical facilities
