The Crumbling St. Agnes Hospital
At one point in time, St. Agnes Hospital was the only place in Raleigh for African-Americans to get healthcare. The former hospital holds a wealth of Raleigh history, but is also as the location of several sad events related to segregation and other artifacts of the Jim Crow era.
The hospital first opened its doors in 1896. Students of Saint Augustine’s College quarried and laid the stone in 1909 that makes up this towering building standing near the corner of Oakwood Avenue and State Street. There were two was a notable tragic event that took place here.
Medical care was segregated. Rex Hospital on the corner of Wade Avenue and St. Mary’s Street served the white population. It had better facilities and better health care than St. Agnes Hospital, the care center for blacks on the campus of Saint Augustine’s College. St. Agnes hospital also had a school of nursing. According to Mr. Hunter at least two tragic events occurred at this hospital because of segregation and the lack of resources at this hospital.
In the 50’s Charles Drew, the man who found the way to preserve and store blood plasma, fell asleep at the wheel while traveling through Raleigh on his way home to Washington, DC. In the resulting accident he was seriously injured. He was taken to St. Agnes Hospital. He needed blood plasma to save his life, but the technology he invented was not available at St. Agnes and he was refused admission to Rex because he was black. He died on April 1, 1950, as a result of this cruel irony.The first black heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Johnson, also died at St. Agnes Hospital because they lacked the technology that could have saved his life. It was available at Rex Hospital.
Not only was St. Agnes a place for those to get medical care (whether they had money or not), but it also was a nursing school as well. Coupled with Leonard Medical School (the nation’s first four year medical college), Raleigh was leading the way for African-Americans to bring healthcare to those across the state that had little access to it.
The hospital was shut down in 1961, after a segregated area of Rex Hospital was opened around the same time. It has sat in disrepair ever since, now essentially only a shell of a building. There doesn’t appear to be one event that led to the utter collapse of the non-stone part of the structure, but it is so empty on the inside that it seems as though it burned in a fire.
There are plans to renovate the building to become the St. Agnes Health Disparities Institute. It’s estimated to be in the several millions of dollars to make this historic structure usable once again.
UPDATE / 07.24.08
Frank Stasio of The State Of Things on WUNC recently aired a story about the history of black doctors and the recent apology by the AMA for the long history of excluding African Americans from its ranks. In the episode, the legend of Dr. Charles Drew was addressed. It was exposed as a myth that he died as a result of segregation. Additionally, it doesn’t appear that he even died at St. Agnes, but at a hospital in Burlington.
Charles R. Drew was a black surgeon who pioneered techniques for preserving blood plasma that saved countless lives during World War II. Later he became medical director of Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1950, while driving three other black doctors to a conference in Alabama, Drew fell asleep at the wheel. The car swerved and rolled over, breaking his neck and crushing his chest. According to legend, he desperately needed a blood transfusion, but doctors at a hospital in Burlington, North Carolina, refused to admit him, and he died.
This story is told in several black history books and has been repeated by Dick Gregory, among others. But it isn’t true. Morris spoke with Dr. John Ford, one of the passengers in Drew’s car. “We all received the very best of care,” Ford said. “The doctors started treating us immediately.”
Drew didn’t receive a transfusion because his injuries wouldn’t permit it. “He had a superior vena caval syndrome–blood was blocked getting back to his heart from his brain and upper extremities,” Ford said. “To give him a transfusion would have killed him sooner. Even the most heroic efforts couldn’t have saved him. I can truthfully say that no efforts were spared in the treatment of Dr. Drew, and, contrary to popular myth, the fact that he was a Negro did not in any way limit the care that was given to him.”
However, segregation and substandard equipment and care in the medical field lasted more than one hundred years. Thousands of untold stories exist of those who died because they didn’t have access to the best medical care available at the time simply because of the color of their skin. It is something that should still remain written for posterity to remind us all of the effects of discrimination and racism.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS feed
Subscribe to posts by Email
Sign up for the Newsletter
07/15/2008
These pictures are freaking sweet. I didn’t even know this place existed, keep up the good work.
07/16/2008
I remember learning about Dr. Charles Drew as a child, and his unfortuanate and ironic death. It’s remarkable this place is still standing. They should really make a monument of it this building. It should be called the Dr. Charles Drew Health Disparities Institute.
07/16/2008
Wow. I went to St. Augustine’s College for four years. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I never knew about those two facts. I remember looking at the building all the time wondering if they were just waiting for it to fall down on its own or something. Although it is property of the college, I think the city of Raleigh should try to help out with renovating or restructuring since it is a historic building and has major significance in Raleigh’s history.
07/20/2008
How about the alumni of St. Aug’s take some responsibility for this? I would think a partnership between the city and the college could get something done … of course, the last time they tried that the track/football stadium was ‘shoved’ out to the beltline.
Seems to me there’s a concerted lack of leadership at St. Aug’s to get anything done about this piece of history. Similarly, the city won’t move on it until someone brings an idea to the table.
Surely, the community, African-American or not, can see the value of this landmark? It’s an absolute travesty that it sits in such disrepair.
07/24/2008
I ride my bike past this building almost every day. And everyday I wonder why this exceptional building hasn’t been restored. I hope the community can come together to make that happen. We should, however, be careful in including the city (they may want to tear it down to make room for empty condominiums and yuppy bars).
07/25/2008
I’ve been following this project since it began back in 1991, and the real story behind this “restoration” is as sad as the way the building now looks. Let me just say it’s not about funding; the money’s there. Since 1991 the following grants have been conferred: $3 million in combined funds from the United Negro College Fund and U.S. Department of the Interior; a city of Raleigh grant for $100,000; $769,000 from the National Park Service which was matched by a grant from the UNCF Special Programs Corp.; $250,000 from Glaxo-Wellcome; $225,000 from Lilly Endowments; $20,000 from Rex Hospital; and $50,000 from private pledges. By 2001, when the contractor walked off the job over nonpayment of bills by the college, more than $1 million had been spent. Nothing at all has been done on the project since then. It seems to me that the real problem here is abysmal mismanagement and questionable expenditure of earmaked monies by St. Aug’s. (Go to the N&O archive and search St Agnes hospital if you want to read all the gory details.) A 2003 price tag estimate to complete the restoration came to $7+ million– Doesn’t look like anything will be happening to move this project forward anytime soon. In the meantime Raleigh citizens have some pretty evocative ruins to contemplate, (Does anybody else see wartime Berlin here?) Thanks for documenting this John!
07/26/2008
Last time I talked with Marc Newcom (a couple of months ago) at St. Augs, the plan to turn it into a health center was back on track. That could just be wishful thinking.
07/31/2008
I am impressed with your site, and some of the fascinating aspects of Raleigh you find. I grew up in Raleigh and love to see some of the old historical places explored and hopefully being preserved.
One thing I did want to comment on was the story of Dr. Charles Drew that is included with the feature on St. Agnes Hospital. Being a historian, I want to ask you to research the facts of his death, especially the part on him being denied treatment at the local hospital due to his color. This is an Urban Legend, that was propagated by an erroneous episode of the M*A*S*H TV show.
According to his widow, he received the best possible medical treatment possible, at Alamance County General Hospital, after his car accident. My source is a web page from the Charles Drew University. (see below)
http://www.cdrewu.edu/_022/_html/about_us/charles_drew.htm
07/31/2008
Brian – Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to comment on this article.
I am fully aware of the myth of Dr. Drew being an urban legend. I was made aware of it after this article was initially published, as I heard it on NPR. If you’ll notice at the end of the article I provided an update on July 24th, with a link to the Straight Dope debunking the myth.
I now realize I should strike through the original text that is propagating the myth.
Thanks again for writing!
11/23/2008
I was born in this hospital January 21, 1961. My mom said it was snowing that Saturday when she went into labor with me. She lived at that time near Old Stage Road, and she remember them admitting her because of the weather. After it was shut down, she said it became an office building for Saint Augustine College. Now it’s just a shell of a building. I wish thre was something we could do as black afro americans to restore this building that has such a strong history for us…
11/24/2008
It’s a shame that North Carolinians can afford to restore the “slave block” in Fayetteville, old office buildings, highways and tear down old buildings that are less than 15 years old, but they can’t restore a hospital full of history for black americans. It doesn’t surprise me though. The state should foot some of the bill, like it would if it was any other building that houses the history of white america. Face it, it’s all a part of the past…
03/27/2009
Why don’t the blacks put in the money and the work to restore this building? The college has already failed once. Millions of dollars have already been poured into it and look where it is. Waste of money and a big time failure on this college (again). Now they want more money and more help again. And what will happen? 10 years from now the building will be worse off looking then it is now. Why waste more of our money?
05/01/2009
I think this hospital is even more significant than most realize. During the 1920s a Dr. Hubert A. Royster, a Raleigh surgeon, was Head of Surgery at this institution and I have historical documents that testify this to be the beginnings of the eugenics movement in NC. Dr. Royster was also a surgeon at Rex and Dorothea Dix where he performed numerous asexualizations and sterilizations on mentally ill women and AA women. Let me know if you want more detail – I wrote a thesis paper at Duke on this.
05/17/2009
How can I contact John from Duke who wrote a thesis paper on sterilizations, asexualizations and Dr. Royster? I have also done quite a bit of intense research on these subjects and would like to exchange some information. Can you contact him for me through email?
05/17/2009
Irene – I have sent an email to both you and John so that you may exchange information about St. Agnes Hospital.
06/01/2009
Does any one know if there was a fire? I know the hospital was shut down but what happened to this building? Buildings just dont become a shell. Please if some one knows, email me. Also email me where you got your info on what happened to the building. thank you so much!!!! (matrix3121@aol.com) please make the subject St. Agnes hospital
06/01/2009
No, there was no fire. The hospital was closed in 1961, and the building used for various purposes over the years after that time. By 1991, when the “restoration” effort began, it had already been abandoned and boarded up. In the 1990s, as a part of the “restoration,” the building was gutted to its stone walls, and has stood as you see it now since 2001.
06/19/2009
A few years ago, while researching my family’s history, I came across my aunt’s engraved graduation invitation from St. Agnes’ Senior class dated 5/27/1936. I assumed that St. Agnes was located somewhere not far from the Phila. area as this was where my family was from. It wasn’t until recently, when I came across an old photo of my aunt in her nurse’s uniform with the stamp “finished by Siddell Studio, Raleigh, NC”, that I realized that St. Agnes was located in NC. I never knew my aunt, but the family story was that she could not graduate from a school she had started to attend in Phila., so she went to another school. No living person in my family knew anything other then that about her. Unfortunately, my Aunt Doris contracted TB from a patient in the hospital and died in Raleigh in 1938, at the age of 23. I googled St. Agnes Hospital because I wanted to learn more about it. I had no idea of the rich history associated with this institution. Thank you for the article as it gives me a great perspective on my aunt’s life which I will include as I document my family’s legacy.
07/18/2009
I was born there. :) I enjoyed reading the historical info! Thanks!
09/08/2009
I was born and raised in Raleigh NC. My older brother was born in St Agnes. It would be great if the community could come together and preserve this important piece of history in our city.
10/27/2009
I attended Saint Augustine’s College, and as a history major I was aware of the rich history regarding Saint Agnes Hospital. While I was there it was being utilized. I agree this is a very significant part of (American History)and it should be saved.
10/27/2009
How can I contact Bernard Patterson? I taught at St. Augustine’s for 30 years and suspect I may know him. As a history major, he may be interested in assisting with the project.
Irene R. Clark
10/27/2009
On June 19, 2009, “Brenda” said that her “Aunt Doris” was a nurse at St. Agnes and died at age 23. How can I contact Brenda. I feel certain that I have located her Death Certificate of 1938, with related information. Can we also exchange email addresses?
Irene R. Clark
09/12/2010
My grandmother was a nurse at St. Agnes. It’s sad that with all the black star power (Oprah, Michael Jordan, Dick Gregory, et al.,) this historic building has not been restored. Where, who are the advocated of this restoration project?
12/05/2010
I was born there we used to pick plums and blackberries. The white boys used to chase us. we used to sneak in the building and play with with the specimens in the jars. This was before the gym I got stiches on my chin from the old lady dr I’m 53 years old.
good job
01/10/2011
I was born there and my mother told me many stories about St.Agnes. In 2009 she was laid to rest at the age of 88. When I’m in Raleigh and I ride by this structure those memories play heavy on my mind and the fact of knowing that this is where my life began. Please let me know what I can do to be a part of this restoration.
06/12/2011
I was born at the St. agnes hospital june 30, 1946 This article told me alot of things I did not know. I was told by my mother who is now 93, that the boxer Jack Johnson died at St. Agnes on the day I was born. Is that true or false?
06/13/2011
Jack Johnson was reported to have died at St. Agnes. The date of his death was June 10, 1946 (not June 30).
06/20/2011
According to a history written about Saint Agnes Hospital in the National Medical Journal in 1961, the facility was opened at the instigation of the wife of the President of Saint Augustine’s College in 1896. The facility later absorbed the patient population of Leonard Hospital which had formed in 1913, but later closed in 1916. The piece gave a nice history of the hospital and the nursing school and appeared to contradict the oral history that the patients were moved to a segregated wing at Rex Hospital. It appears in actuality that the patients and physician staff were incorporated into the newly opened Wake Memorial Hospital. Urban folklore indicated that the patient’s were segregated initially at Wake, but I’m trying to get that nailed down by somebody working on the 50th anniversary history being put together for the hospital. As for integration at Rex, I’ll probably have to do a little more research at the state archives.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2641988/pdf/jnma00693-0004.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2621951/pdf/jnma00849-0027.pdf
01/16/2012
my son was born at rex hospital on febryary 4, 1975 and i think i was born there on november 21, 1954. not sure because i was adopted. would like to know how to find out if i was born there
02/18/2012
I’m a Raleigh photographer/videographer and I’m interesting in filming here. Does anyone know who I can get in touch with about this?
Julianna
12/09/2012
Saw this building tonight for the first time. Driving by, we took some pictures and it is amazing all of the “orbs” with faces in the pictures! I had to find out what this buidling was…and am astounded to learn about it’s history and why so many orbs would be in the pictures there! I hope they restore this building…there’s way too much history here to let it go to waste.
04/20/2013
Thank you for posting this information. I have been researching my mother’s family for the past few months and recently discovered that a cousin of mine was a Intern/Doctor at this hospital according to the 1930 census. It is great to see there is actual documentation about this hospital online. Thanks for sharing it.
04/22/2013
I think that it’s great to be able to preserve a monument like this. Regardless of how much preservation can be made to this building the “true” preservation is seeing how so many people are connected to it. I have goose bumps just hearing your stories!
04/22/2013
I would like to correspond with TW214 [April 20, 2013] about the cousin who was and Intern/Doctor based on 1930 US Federal Census; as well as Tara [9/12/2010] whose grandmother was a nurse at St. Agnes. Can we exchange email addresses??
04/22/2013
I was born at St. Agnes Hospital June 30, 1946