Early Hospitals in Sanford

Early Hospitals in Sanford. . (side 1) , Plant System Hospital , The first hospital in Seminole County was operated by the Plant System Railroad, providing medical care for railroad employees and the community in the 1890's. It was located at West 9th Street in Sanford. In 1901 the Railroad Hospital was moved to Waycross, Georgia, leaving Seminole County without a hospital for 18 years., Fernald Laughton Memorial Hospital , George and Mabel Fernald lived at 500 Oak and 5th Street in Sanford. George was the founder of the Fernald Hardware Company. After his death in 1916 Mabel donated the house to the county in memory of her husband and her mother, Elizabeth Laughton. It became known as the Fernald Laughton Memorial Hospital. In 1945 the hospital's facilities were moved to the Sanford Naval Base. The base closed in April of 1951 and the hospital facilities were moved back to 500 Oak in September and remained there until 1956. (Continued on other side). (side 2) (Continued from other side). Seminole Memorial Hospital , In January, 1956, the third hospital in Seminole County's history was dedicated with more than 4,000 local residents in attendance. The first patients were five babies that were moved from the old 500 Oak building to the new facility at 1101 E. First Street during lunch. On January 30, 1956. It was re-named the Seminole Memorial Hospital and remained under that name until 1982., In 1980, the County sold the rights to operate the Hospital which led to the development of the Central Florida Regional Hospital located on 17/92 on Lake Monroe. It opened in June 1982., The County renovated the old Seminole Memorial Hospital building and it has served as the County Services Facility since July 22, 1984, when the first Board of County Commissioners meeting was held.