Fordham Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fordham Hospital |
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|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | Fordham, The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°51′33″N 73°52′53″W / 40.85922°N 73.88135°W |
| Organization | |
| Care system | Public |
| Funding | Government hospital |
| Hospital type | General |
| Affiliated university | Fordham University |
| Network |
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| Services | |
| Beds | 387 (in 1976) |
| History | |
| Closed | July 15, 1976 |
| Demolished | 1976 |
Fordham Hospital was a very important hospital in the Bronx, New York City. It was the first public hospital to open in the Bronx, way back in 1892! Before Fordham Hospital, all the public hospitals in New York City were in Manhattan.
When it first opened, Fordham Hospital was on Valentine Avenue. This area was not very developed, which made it hard for patients and their families to get there. So, in 1898, the hospital moved to a new spot on Aqueduct Avenue and St. James Place.
A New Hospital Building
On May 11, 1907, Fordham Hospital moved to an even bigger, brand-new building. This new location was about 4 acres (1.6 hectares) in size. It was right next to what was then called St. John's College, which is now Fordham University.
The famous architect Raymond F. Almirall designed this new hospital building. The hospital and Fordham University worked closely together. For example, the person in charge of the hospital was also the head of Fordham's medical school. This medical school opened in 1913. Students studying to become doctors at Fordham University often worked and learned at Fordham Hospital.
Art Inside the Hospital
In the mid-1930s, something special happened inside the hospital. A government program called the Federal Art Project helped pay for artists to create beautiful murals. Murals are large paintings directly on walls. Artists Emily Newton Barto and Elizabeth Deering painted these murals at Fordham Hospital.
Why Fordham Hospital Closed
Fordham Hospital closed its doors on July 15, 1976. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, which owned the hospital, made this decision. Many people in the community were very upset about the closure. They held protests, including a "sit-in" where people refused to leave the hospital to show their disagreement.
Important leaders, like Robert Abrams, who was the Borough President of the Bronx at the time, also spoke out against the closure. However, the hospital still closed. The building was torn down shortly after. Today, the land where Fordham Hospital once stood is now a parking lot for Fordham University. The city decided that the new North Central Bronx Hospital would serve the community, replacing both Fordham Hospital and Morrisania Hospital.
