Springerville in Apache County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
White Mountain Hospital
Erected by Round Valley Positive Action Tourism Committee and Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 18.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Arizona, Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 34° 7.894′ N, 109° 17.202′ W. Marker is in Springerville, Arizona, in Apache County. Marker is on South Mountain Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 South Mountain Avenue, Springerville AZ 85938, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. James Hale Shooting (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Madonna of the Trail (about 800 feet away); El Rio Theatre (approx. 0.2 miles away); Springerville World War I Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Becker's Transcontinental Garage (approx. 0.2 miles away); Arizona Cooperative Mercantile Institution (approx. 0.2 miles away); Presbyterian & Catholic Churchs (approx. ¼ mile away); Baldonado Home (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springerville.
More about this marker. This is Marker Stop #18 on the Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour.
Regarding White Mountain Hospital. In 1939 motion picture star Edward Arnold, who was best known for his roles as despicable villains, financially backed his son-in-law, Dr. William F. Orlando. The building, built from 1933-37 with funds from the Works Progress Administration, was scheduled to open in 1937 but lacked a physician, adequate plumbing and needed weather stripping. It did not open for two more years when Dr. Orlando and Arnold put in a bid to lease the building. The agreement’s terms were that Dr. Orlando would lease the building for 10 years, make the needed repairs and installations to the building, pay $20 a month and treat the area’s poor for free.
This twenty-bed facility, constructed with lava rock, served Round Valley for many years.
Source: The Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour Brochure.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,129 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.