Ephraim McDowell House facts for kids
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Dr. Ephraim McDowell House
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Dr. Ephraim McDowell House and Apothecary
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 125–127 S. 2nd St., Danville, Kentucky |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1795 |
| Architectural style | Federal style |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000355 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 12, 1965 |
The Dr. Ephraim McDowell House is a very important historical home in Danville, Kentucky. It was once the home of a famous doctor named Ephraim McDowell. This house is special because it was where Dr. McDowell performed the world's first successful surgery to remove an ovarian tumor in 1809. This amazing operation happened without any anesthesia, which was a huge deal back then! Because of its history, the house was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966.
Contents
About Dr. Ephraim McDowell
Early Life and Education
Ephraim McDowell was born on November 11, 1771, in Rockbridge County, Virginia. When he was about 13 years old, his family moved to Danville, Kentucky in 1784. He studied medicine with Dr. Humphrey in Staunton, Virginia. Later, he traveled to Scotland to attend medical lectures at the University of Edinburgh from 1793 to 1794. He also studied privately with a surgeon named John Bell. In 1795, he returned to Danville, Kentucky, and started his own medical practice.
Community Leader and Surgeon
Dr. McDowell was an important person in his community. He helped start Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville. He was also one of the founders of Centre College in Danville. In 1817, Dr. McDowell became a member of the Philadelphia Medical Society. He was known for his surgical skills.
The First Ovarian Surgery
On December 13, 1809, Dr. McDowell examined a patient named Jane Todd Crawford. She had a very large tumor in her abdomen. On Christmas morning, 1809, Dr. McDowell performed a groundbreaking surgery in his home. He removed a 22.5-pound (about 10 kg) tumor from Mrs. Crawford. This was done without any pain medicine or modern germ-killing methods. Mrs. Crawford recovered well and went home 25 days later. She lived for another 32 years after the surgery. This was the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor ever performed in the world.
History of the McDowell House
Building and Early Ownership
The Dr. Ephraim McDowell House was built in three main parts. The first part, a brick section, was built between 1792 and 1795. Dr. McDowell bought the house in late 1802. He then added the front part of the house, which was made of wood, between 1803 and 1804. In 1820, he added a small brick office next to the back porch. The house was also updated around this time.
Decline and Restoration Efforts
After Dr. McDowell passed away in 1830, the house was sold. For a short time, it was home to the president of Centre College. However, over the years, the area around the house became run-down. The house itself fell into very poor condition. Dr. August Schachner, a doctor from Louisville, led the effort to buy and restore the house. In 1921, he visited the house and saw how bad it had become. He noted that Dr. McDowell's original office was being used as a shoe-shining booth. The room where the famous surgery took place was being used as a dump for ashes.
Preservation and Public Opening
The Kentucky Medical Association bought the house in 1935. They then gave it to the state of Kentucky. The state had the house restored by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a government program. The restored house was officially opened on May 20, 1939. In 1948, Kentucky returned the property to the Kentucky Medical Association.
The Kentucky Pharmaceutical Society helped restore the Apothecary Shop, which was Dr. McDowell's pharmacy, in the late 1950s. They received help from the Eli Lilly Foundation. The shop was furnished with items donated by the Pfizer Laboratories. It was dedicated and given to the Kentucky Medical Association on August 14, 1959.
