History
In the mid-19th century "the hospital was suggested ... by Elisha Goodnow, who, by his will, dated July 12, 1849, gave property to the city valued at $25,000, for establishment of a free city hospital in Wards Eleven or Twelve." Architect Gridley James Fox Bryant designed the first hospital, built 1861-1864 on Harrison Avenue in the South End. It was renovated in 1875, and again in 1891-1892.
As of 1905, the hospital consisted of " the hospital proper, on the area bounded by Harrison Avenue, East Concord Street, Albany Street and Massachusetts Avenue, containing 430,968 square feet, or 9.9 acres; the South Department, 745 Massachusetts Avenue, containing 125,736 square feet, or 2.9 acres; the ambulance station, boiler and dynamo house, coal-pocket and wharf, Albany street, containing 69,785 square feet, or 1.6 acres; the convalescent home, Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, containing 610,500 square feet, or 14 acres; and the relief station, Haymarket Square, 8,507 square feet, or 0.2 acres."
As of 2008 the buildings at 818 Harrison Avenue are partially extant: "some sections of the original hospital remain here and there within the hodgepodge of later construction."
Read more about this topic: Boston City Hospital
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