KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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African-American Physicians
(Marker Number: 1928)

County: Fayette
Location: 118 North Broadway, Lexington

Description: Site of office building which housed prominent African-American physicians and pharmacy. Among the doctors who practiced here between 1909 and 1930 were Obed Cooley; Nathaniel J. Ridley; J.C. Coleman; John Hunter, first African-American surgeon at St. Joseph's Hospital; and Joseph Laine, who later founded a medical clinic in Louisville. Presented by Professor Doris Wilkinson, Historical Sociologist at University of Ky.

(Subjects: African American | Hospitals | Physicians)

Courthouse a Hospital
(Marker Number: 756)

County: Boyle
Location: Main St., Danville, Courthouse lawn, US 127, 150

Description: Boyle County's first courthouse erected here, 1842, destroyed by great fire of 1860. This building completed 1862. First occupied by Union forces as hospital after battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862. On 11th a Union force drove CSA from fairgrounds, thru town, skirmishing all way. CSA armies gathered at Bryantsville, started back to Tenn. on 13th. See over.

(Subjects: Civil War | Courthouses | Hospitals | Perryville, Battle of)

Dr. James E. Randolph (1888-1981)
(Marker Number: 2152)

County: Kenton
Location: St. James AME Chirch, 120 Lynn St., Covington

Description: Born in Missouri, Randolph earned a medical degree from Meharry College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1917. He moved to Covington in 1922 and opened an office on Greenup St., where he practiced for 59 years. He was the first African American physician at St. Elizabeth Hospital and the first to be admitted to the Campbell-Kenton Medical Society.

(Reverse) Among Dr. Randolph’s several honors are the La Salette Academy’s Gold Medal for service to the community (1976) and the Eastside Neighborhood Park that bears his name (1974). In 1997, he was posthumously inducted into the Northern Ky. Leadership Hall of Fame. Randolph is buried at Mary Smith Cemetery in Elsmere, Ky.

(Subjects: African American | Hospitals | Physicians)

Eastern State Hospital
(Marker Number: 1033)

County: Fayette
Location: Newtown Pike, Lexington

Description: The second State Mental Hospital built in the U.S. Established by legislative act of Dec. 4, 1822, which named commissioners to buy and operate it in Fayette County. They acquired The Fayette Hospital organized in 1816. "The Lunatic Asylum" opened May 1, 1824. It has been continuously operated by the Commonwealth since. By 1913, it was named Eastern State Hospital.

(Subjects: Hospitals)

Frontier Nursing
(Marker Number: 558)

County: Leslie
Location: Hyden, Courthouse lawn, US 421

Description: Mary Breckinridge founded the Frontier Nursing Service, 1925. Midwives from England helped to bring medical service that saved hundreds of mothers and babies of "remote hollows and hills of Clay, Leslie and Perry counties." 1928, a 28-bed hospital opened in Hyden and in 1939 Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery founded, one of three such schools in U.S.

(Subjects: Hospitals | Schools)

Gov. Simeon Willis (1879-1965)
(Marker Number: 1815)

County: Boyd
Location: Between 1608 and 1612 Bath Ave., Ashland

Description: Judge on Kentucky's highest court 1927-1933; Governor 1943-1947. His administration extended State Park System, increased funding for education, expanded TB hospitals, ended most toll bridge charges, founded Postwar Planning Comm. and Comm. on Negro Affairs. Born in Ohio, he moved to Ky. as a child and later practiced law in Ashland, living at 1608 and 1612 Bath Ave.

(Subjects: African American | Civil Rights | Hospitals)

Jennie C. Benedict
(Marker Number: 2142)

County: Jefferson
Location: 1830 South Third Street, Louisville

Description: Noted chef, caterer, and author was born 1860 in Louisville. She began her career in 1893 and in 1900 opened Benedict's restaurant and tearoom on South 4th Street. Entrepreneur Benedict was invited to join Louisville Board of Trade, 1903. Best known as creator of "benedictine," a sandwich spread that remains a Kentucky food specialty.

(Reverse) A founder of Louisville's Business Women's Club by 1899; published Blue Ribbon Cookbook 1902. As social reformer for women and the poor, Benedict collaborated with Jennie Casseday in founding King's Daughters & Sons Training School for Nurses at City Hospital; and an infirmary for women.

(Subjects: Hospitals | Louisville | Women)

Local Humanitarian
(Marker Number: 1503)

County: Metcalfe
Location: Summer Shade, Jct. Nobob-Summer Shade Rd. & KY 90

Description: Dr. C. C. Howard, an outstanding physician and citizen of Barren County, was born in Summer Shade, Kentucky, 1888. Began his medical career in Glasgow. He opened a private hospital there, 1914, and later helped build Glasgow's first community hospital. Dr. Howard encouraged passage of an act which created 6 regional tuberculosis hospitals in Kentucky. See over.

(Reverse) Local Humanitarian - Dr. Howard was instrumental in the establishment of Rural Kentucky Medical Scholarship Fund. Among the numerous awards he received were the Governor's Medallion for outstanding leadership in the field of rural medicine and the Kentucky Medical Association's first Distinguished Service Award. In 1947, he opened the Howard Clinic. Died, 1971. Over.

(Subjects: Hospitals)

Prentice School
(Marker Number: 542)

County: Jefferson
Location: 525 S. 6th St., Louisville

Description: On this site stood the George D. Prentice School, which was one of nineteen in Louisville that were commandeered for use as hospitals during Civil War. Worden Pope, an early Louisville civic and political leader, built his home here ca. 1830. It housed the Kentucky School of Medicine from 1887-1914 and later the Stevens School for Retarded Children.

(Subjects: Civil War | Hospitals | Schools)

Saint Joseph Infirmary
(Marker Number: 2042)

County: Jefferson
Location: Louisville, Eastern Pkwy., W. from Preston St.

Description: In 1836, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth founded a hospital on Jefferson St. called St. Vincent Infirmary. When facility moved to Fourth St. in 1853, the name changed to St. Joseph Infirmary. To meet growing needs, a new 325-room facility opened here in 1926. Internationally renowned surgeon Dr. Irvin Abell Sr. based his practice at St. Joseph.

(Reverse) St. Joseph Infirmary - The School of Nursing, which graduated 1,540 nurses, operated here, 1926-1971. The facility was sold to Extendicare, 1970, and main building razed ten years later. Services moved to Audubon Medical Center on Poplar Level Rd. The surrounding St. Joseph Neighborhood is named after infirmary. Presented by St. Joseph Neighborhood Association, CARITAS Medical Center, and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

(Subjects: Hospitals | Sisters of Charity of Nazareth)

Site of Winnie A. Scott Hospital
(Marker Number: 2025)

County: Franklin
Location: 228 E. 2nd St., Frankfort

Description: The Women's Club Hospital Company, with community support, established a hospital here on Dec. 26, 1915. It was named for Winnie A. Scott, a local teacher instrumental in its founding. The facility was the only Frankfort hospital serving African Americans until desegregation of King's Daughters Hospital in 1959. Presented by Frankfort Civic Organizations and the Ky. African American Heritage Commission.

(Subjects: African American | Hospitals | Teachers)

The Frankfort Barracks
(Marker Number: 2061)

County: Franklin
Location: Shelby & New Sts., Frankfort

Description: The barracks, established in April 1871, and the command moved here in December of that year. Buildings were erected on Alexander Goldsmith Brawner's five acres known as Coleman's Spring lot. Post consisted of barracks, guardhouse, baking oven, and two one-story hospitals. Presented by Franklin County Trust for Historic Preservation.

(Reverse) The Frankfort Barracks - The purpose of the barracks was to provide a military presence and the protection of African Americans in the area. The post quartered members of the 4th and later the 16th U.S. Inf. Regiments. The Frankfort Barracks District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Presented by Franklin County Trust for Historic Preservation.

(Subjects: African American | Frankfort | Hospitals | National Register of Historic Places)