Firmin Desloge Hospital facts for kids
Firmin Desloge Hospital is a famous hospital building in St. Louis, Missouri. It opened in 1932. The hospital was started by a group called the Jesuits from Saint Louis University and the Sisters of Saint Mary.
The hospital was named after Firmin V. Desloge, who was a very generous person. He gave money to help build it. The hospital was created to help people who were poor and anyone else who needed medical care. It was the main hospital for the St. Louis University Medical Center for many years. A new hospital building opened in 2020.
Contents
Building a Special Hospital
How the Hospital Started
In 1930, Saint Louis University received a large gift of $1 million from the will of Firmin Vincent Desloge. He wanted this money to be used for a new hospital. It would serve the university and replace an older hospital called St. Mary's Hospital.
Firmin Desloge's wife, Lydia Desloge, also gave $100,000. This money was used to build a beautiful chapel right next to the hospital.
Designing the Building
The hospital building was designed by architects Study, Farrar and Majors, along with Arthur Widmer. They used a style called Modern Gothic Revival. This style often includes pointed arches and tall, slender designs.
Construction started in the fall of 1930. The building was expected to cost about $1.25 million. A special ceremony was held on June 22, 1931, when Archbishop John Glennon laid the first stone, called the cornerstone.
The hospital building is very tall, reaching ten stories high. The bottom two floors are covered with light-colored limestone. These parts stick out a bit and have Gothic-style arched doorways. Above these floors, the building steps back. It has many windows and brick sections. The very top of the building has a unique, steeply sloped roof made of copper.
The hospital was officially opened on November 3, 1933. At the opening, Firmin Desloge's son, Firmin (III), pointed out the copper roof. He said it was a "good cap" because the family's wealth came from lead, which is similar to copper.
The hospital's chapel, known as Desloge Chapel, was designed by a famous architect named Ralph Adams Cram. It has beautiful stained glass windows made by Emil Frei and sculptures by John Angel. The chapel was officially blessed later that same year.
How the Hospital Worked
Serving the Community
The Sisters of St. Mary helped run the new hospital. It had 206 beds, which was quite a lot for the time. Most rooms were for two patients, and some were private. This was different from many hospitals then, which often had large open rooms with many beds.
Firmin Desloge Hospital was also special because it welcomed African Americans. It even served as a nursing school for African American women. This was very important for providing healthcare to everyone in the community.
In 1959, Saint Louis University took over full management of Firmin Desloge Hospital. At this time, Firmin Desloge Hospital and other nearby buildings were all renamed Saint Louis University Hospitals.
In 1983, the Desloge family gave more money to light up the hospital's unique copper roof. This was to celebrate the hospital's 50th anniversary.
Modernizing the Hospital
As time went on, the hospital needed more modern facilities and equipment. So, a new part of the hospital was built right behind the original Firmin Desloge Hospital. This new section cost $39.1 million. The first patients moved into the new addition on January 30, 1988.
In 1998, Saint Louis University sold the hospital and its chapel to a company called Tenet Healthcare Corp.
Later, in 2015, the university bought the hospital back. They then gave it to SSM Health, a healthcare system. The hospital became known as SSM St. Louis University Hospital.
Today, the original Firmin Desloge Hospital tower is still used. It holds doctor's offices and administrative spaces. The famous copper roof remains a well-known landmark in St. Louis.
What's Next for the Hospital?
Plans for the Future
In 2015, SSM Health announced plans to spend $500 million to rebuild and expand the hospital. There was some talk about possibly tearing down the old 1933 hospital tower. However, SSM officials said they had not made a final decision.
A member of the Desloge family, Christopher Desloge, started a project to save the old hospital building and chapel. He thought it could be used for new purposes. For example, it could become a museum about the history of African American healthcare and nursing in St. Louis.
Many groups supported saving the hospital. These included the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Landmarks Association of St. Louis. They said the building was very important to St. Louis's history and architecture. They also believed it could be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Efforts to Preserve the Building
In February 2016, 31 different groups sent a letter to SSM Health. They strongly urged the hospital to preserve the building. These groups included the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Institute of Architects.
The Foundation for Commercial Philanthropy, a non-profit group connected to the Christopher Desloge family, even offered to lease parts of the tower. They suggested turning it into a center for new non-profit organizations. They also planned to raise millions of dollars to help pay for its preservation. This would help reduce the financial cost for SSM.
In May 2016, the Landmarks Association called Firmin Desloge Hospital and Chapel the most endangered historic buildings in the city.
However, in September 2016, the St. Louis City Planning Commission met to discuss SSM's plans. SSM Health suggested that the historic Desloge tower could be renovated to hold medical offices. A representative from SSM Health said it was "highly likely" that the tower would be converted into office space.
In November 2016, St. Louis University shared a large redevelopment plan for a big area in midtown St. Louis. This area includes the Desloge Hospital Tower. The plan includes spaces for medical and educational uses, offices, and research facilities. The planning commission approved this plan. According to news reports, the iconic Firmin Desloge tower seems safe for now, as the plan does not include tearing it down.
