Lake City in Florence County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Whitehead Infirmary

Photographed by Jane Ruschky, May 29, 2017

1. Whitehead Infirmary Marker

Inscription.
Dr. James Whitehead (1906-2004) was a graduate of Lake City H.S. and the Medical University of S.C. After completing his internship at Spartanburg General, he returned to Lake City where he practiced medicine for 55 years. In 1938 he oversaw the construction of this two-story building, which was built as a 14-bed obstetric hospital. With few other local options for professional medical care, however, Whitehead Infirmary quickly became the primary acute care facility in town.

Whitehead Infirmary was established at a time when childbirth was increasingly occurring outside of the home. By 1950 the majority of U.S. births took place in hospitals and Whitehead Infirmary was part of this shift in medical practice. In addition to obstetrics, Dr. Whitehead also performed general surgery and treated numerous victims of traumatic injuries. The infirmary closed in 1959, but Whitehead maintained a clinic here until his retirement in 1986.

Erected 2014 by Lynches Lake Historical Society. (Marker Number 21-41.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1938.

Location. 33° 52.26′ N,

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79° 45.039′ W. Marker is in Lake City, South Carolina, in Florence County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street (South Carolina Route 341) and Rodgers Street, on the left when traveling east on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 238 E Main Street, Lake City SC 29560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s Pee Dee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Ronald E. McNair Memorial Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ronald E. McNair (about 300 feet away); Lake City (about 600 feet away); Church Street / Main Street (about 700 feet away); a different marker also

Photographed by Jane Ruschky, May 29, 2017

2. Whitehead Infirmary Marker

named Lake City (about 800 feet away); Lake City Produce Markets / Lake City Bean Market (approx. 0.2 miles away); 139 & 141 E. Main St. (approx. 0.2 miles away); 137 East Main Street (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake City.

Photographed by Jane Ruschky, May 29, 2017

3. Whitehead Infirmary Marker

View of Whitehead Infirmary building

Photographed by Jane Ruschky, May 29, 2017

4. Whitehead Infirmary Marker

View of the street from the building

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2017, by Jane Ruschky of Columbia, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 872 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on June 6, 2017, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 30, 2017, by Jane Ruschky of Columbia, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.