Isaac D. Burrell facts for kids
Isaac David Burrell (born March 10, 1865 – died March 21, 1914) was an important early African-American doctor and pharmacist. He lived and worked in Roanoke, Virginia. He helped many people in his community.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Becoming a Doctor
Isaac David Burrell was born on March 10, 1865. His family lived on a farm in Chula, Virginia, in Amelia County, Virginia. He likely grew up as the son of a former slave. He first went to Lincoln University (Pennsylvania). Later, he earned his medical degree (M.D.) in 1893. He studied at the Leonard Medical College of Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Helping the Community
After finishing medical school, Dr. Burrell moved to Roanoke. In 1893, he started his own medical practice. He became one of the few doctors who treated African-American patients in the city. His practice grew and became very successful.
Dr. Burrell also opened a drugstore. For many years, it was the only drugstore owned by an African-American in southwestern Virginia. His pharmacy was on Gainsborough Road. It eventually became the largest African-American-owned pharmacy in the region.
His Family Life
Dr. Burrell's wife was Margaret Barnette Burrell (1873–1970). She was from Lynchburg, Virginia. Margaret was also a respected leader in Roanoke's community. She graduated from Hampton Normal & Industrial Institute. After that, she became a teacher at Roanoke's Third Ward School. The Burrells first lived on Gainsborough Road. Later, they built a large house on Patton Avenue NW. Margaret was known as a very talented and friendly lady.
A Lasting Legacy
The Need for a Hospital
Dr. Burrell became very ill and needed surgery for gallstones. Because African-American patients could not be admitted to Roanoke's white hospitals, he had to travel far. He took a train 220 miles to Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Sadly, he died there on March 21, 1914, shortly after his surgery. He was buried in the Williams Memorial Park Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.
Dr. Burrell's death showed a big problem. African-American patients in Roanoke needed their own hospital. White hospitals, like Roanoke Memorial, would not treat them. This sad event inspired several African-American doctors in Roanoke. They decided to open a hospital for their patients.
Burrell Memorial Hospital
The new hospital was named Burrell Memorial Hospital in honor of Dr. Burrell. It started as a small facility with ten beds on Henry Street. In 1919, a big flu epidemic made it clear that more space was needed. So, in 1921, the hospital moved to a larger building. This building was the former Allegheny Institute.
In 1955, a new, modern brick hospital was built. A women's group helped raise money for it. Burrell Memorial Hospital was special because it was built without support from white organizations. It also had the first nursing school for African-Americans to be officially recognized in Virginia.
Hospital Closure
During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement brought many changes. White hospitals began to accept African-American patients. Because of this, Burrell Memorial Hospital closed its doors in 1978.
Discoveries from the Past
Archaeologists later studied the place where Dr. Burrell's pharmacy once stood. They found more than 30,000 old items! These included bottles that still had pills and Elixirs inside them. These discoveries help us learn more about life in Roanoke long ago.
