Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District
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Main Infirmary Building shortly after construction
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5000 South 5th Avenue, Hines, Illinois |
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| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Architect | Schmidt, Garden and Martin; H. B. Wheelock |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000814 |
| Added to NRHP | October 9, 2013 |
The Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital is a special hospital in Hines, Illinois, United States. It helps military veterans who have served our country. The hospital campus covers about 174 acres. It also leases 60 acres to the Loyola University Medical Center.
This hospital started being built in 1918. The land was given by the Edward Hines Lumber Company. This land used to be a race track called Speedway Park. The hospital was first meant for soldiers injured in World War I. Edward Hines Sr. wanted it to be a hospital for veterans after the war. He worked hard to convince the United States Congress to take over the building in 1920. In 2013, 45 acres of the campus became a historic district. This means it's a special place listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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History
Speedway Park: From Race Track to Hospital Land
The story of this land in Hines, Illinois began in 1835. It was used for farming for many years. In 1914, a group called the Speedway Park Association bought 320 acres. They wanted to build a race track.
They built a 2-mile long wooden race track. Races started there in June 1915. It was one of the longest wooden tracks in the United States. Famous racers like Barney Oldfield and Louis Chevrolet competed there. The track was very popular at first. Up to 45,000 people would come to watch the races.
However, when the United States joined World War I in April 1917, the race track faced money problems. It was one of the first wooden tracks to close down. Most of these types of tracks closed by the 1930s.
Building a Hospital for Veterans
In December 1917, the Edward Hines Lumber Company bought the race track land. They bought it for Edward Hines Sr. When the U.S. entered World War I, the city of Chicago needed a place for a temporary military hospital. Edward Hines Jr., Edward Hines Sr.'s son, was killed in France during the war. To honor his son, Hines Sr. offered his new land for the hospital. It was chosen in September 1918.
Hines wanted to build a strong, fireproof hospital. It would help injured soldiers during the war. After the war, it would become a public hospital. Architects Schmidt, Garden and Martin and H. B. Wheelock designed the building.
When World War I ended in November 1918, the hospital was only partly built. There was no longer an urgent need for war casualties. For two years, Hines worked hard to convince Congress to take over the building. He wanted it to be a hospital for veterans.
Even though no official contract was signed, an investigation found there was a verbal agreement. With help from several Congressmen, the Senate voted to approve the project. They approved $3.4 million for the hospital. Hines also agreed to provide an extra $1.6 million. The transfer was approved in March 1920, and construction started again.
The hospital was first called U.S. Public Health Service Hospital Number 76. People also called it Speedway Hospital. On October 24, 1921, President Warren G. Harding renamed the hospital. He named it after Hines' son. It was the first American veterans hospital named after a person. The first patient was admitted on August 8, 1921.
Growing and Expanding (1920s–1940s)
The main hospital building was very large. It could hold 1,000 beds. By February 1922, it was almost full. The building was 50 feet wide but 2,040 feet long. This design allowed every room to get sunlight. It was also the largest fireproof hospital in the country. It had new technologies like an electric call system and an x-ray department.
Seven other buildings were built in 1921. These included a recreation building, a kitchen, and a power house. In April 1922, the hospital was moved to the new Veterans Bureau. By 1925, over 3,100 patients were admitted each year.
In May 1928, President Calvin Coolidge approved $1.1 million for Hines Hospital. This money helped them improve the hospital. They changed staff living areas into wards for tuberculosis and mental health. They also built new administration buildings and housing for employees. This made space for more beds in the main building, increasing capacity to 1,600.
The hospital grounds were also improved. They added a sunken garden, new streetlights, and new drives. A fountain called the Doughboy Fountain was added in 1931. It honored World War I veterans. In 1942, a memorial was unveiled for Medal of Honor recipient George Dilboy. By 1935, Hines Hospital became a leader in surgery for veterans. They performed over 14,600 surgeries each year.
During World War II, a new complex was built next to Hines. It had 83 buildings and cost $4.5 million. This was called Vaughan General Hospital. It was built on the land of the former Maywood Air Mail Field. It helped the Army with their needs. The first patient was admitted on August 1, 1944.
After the war, in April 1946, this new campus joined the Hines complex. This increased Hines' capacity from 1,600 to 3,253 beds. The new campus also allowed Hines to make some of its own medical equipment. It also started a medical research division. In 1946, Hines partnered with five medical schools to become a training center for doctors.
Modern Times (1960s to Present)
In 1962, 31 acres of Hines property were given to the State of Illinois. They built a new mental health facility there. This allowed Hines to use 280 beds for intensive care. Also that year, 60 acres of the Vaughan campus were leased to Loyola University Chicago. They built a new medical school there. The Foster G. McGraw Hospital opened on May 29, 1969. This partnership helped Hines have one of the best training programs for doctors among veterans hospitals.
The Vietnam War brought more injured veterans to Hines. Because of this, a new 1,200-bed hospital was built from 1966 to 1970. It replaced the old main building. A 120-bed Nursing Home Care Unit was finished in 1982. It helped older veterans from the World Wars. By the early 1990s, the hospital had 62 buildings. It included one of five Blind Rehabilitation Centers in the Veterans Affairs network. An 18-bedroom Ronald McDonald House was added in 1995. By 1996, the hospital had helped 900,000 patients. Newer additions include a new Blind Rehabilitation Center and a Spinal Cord Injury Center in 2005.
Recognized as Historic
The campus was recognized for its history in 1980. The Old Airmail and Postal Service Buildings were found to be important. They were considered for the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings might be the oldest mail airport structures in the United States. They were used by the Postal Service from 1922 to 1927. Charles Lindbergh flew the first air mail flight between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri from here in 1926. Today, these buildings are used as a garage and for storage.
In 2013, the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District was officially listed. This 45-acre district includes 26 of the early buildings on the campus.
