Party or no party, 125 is a special birthday Huntsville Hospital operated from a series of houses until 1926, when this 50-bed facility opened. It boasted all the modern amenities of the time, including one of the only elevators in the city.
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ometimes birthday parties get postponed or canceled, like the celebration that Huntsville Hospital had planned for 2020. It’s not every year that you turn 125, but thankfully it’s not every year that you have to deal with an uninvited guest named COVID-19. We all know, however, that the pandemic of 2020 has disrupted a lot more than celebrations. Regardless, it’s appropriate to note Huntsville Hospital’s 125 years of service to our community. While the last seven months have indeed been challenging, this season is not unprecedented in our history. In 1918, we dealt with another pandemic — the Spanish flu. Like COVID-19, the Spanish flu was worldwide. But unlike today, the medical resources were not nearly as advanced. There were few physicians in our community; ICUs with ventilators were non-existent; medications were limited in supply; personal
protective equipment was minimal; and testing capabilities were simply not available. The Spanish flu was the deadliest pandemic in history, infecting an estimated 500 million people worldwide — about one-third of the planet's population — and killing an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims, including some 675,000 Americans. Huntsville was not spared, but the community managed to survive along with its fledgling hospital. Since opening our doors in 1895, Huntsville Hospital has made it through pandemics, a national economic collapse, two World Wars, and a whole lot more. Huntsville Hospital is a survivor. You have to be to reach 125 years. You have to have people who are more committed to the mission than to their own success. When you consider the countless thousands of people who have served our patients over this period, you can’t conclude anything
less. It’s an unending relay in which generations of dedicated employees and physicians have taken care of generations of families. Looking back, we have come far, yet some things seem very similar. A snapshot from 1925, for example, shows the construction of a 50-bed facility on Madison Street. Today’s image might be the seven-story Orthopedic & Spine Tower being built on our campus. The times have changed as have the names and faces, but the goal hasn’t. Huntsville Hospital is a community hospital that exists to serve our community with the best health care that we can provide. While we did not have an opportunity to properly celebrate our 125th anniversary, we can pause for a moment and say, “Happy Birthday, Huntsville Hospital, and here’s to 125 more.” huntsvillehospital.org
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