Saint Joseph in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Red Cross Hospital

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

1. Red Cross Hospital Marker (Side A)

Inscription.
In 1899, because black physicians were barred from treating patients at public or church hospitals, Drs. W. T. Merchant, Ellis D. Whedbee and R. B. Scott founded Red Cross Hospital at Sixth & Walnut Street. In 1905, it moved to 1436 S. Shelby St. and offered training programs for black nurses and physicians.

Mary E. Merritt - first female and black nurse registered in Ky. was superintendent and head nurse until 1945. Blacks in Ky. cities that did not provide hospital facilities were treated here. In early 1960s, local hospitals desegregated, increased operating costs led to its decline. Closed in 1976 as Community Hospital.
Metro CW Cheri Bryant Hamilton

Erected 2018 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2534.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 38° 13.625′ N, 85° 44.512′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Saint Joseph.

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It is at the intersection of South Shelby Street and Lydia Street, on the right when traveling south on South Shelby Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1436 South Shelby Street, Louisville KY 40217, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Louisville Cotton Mill / Germantown Mill Lofts (approx. 0.2 miles away); Off Shelby / Shelby St. Streetcar Barn (approx. ¼ mile away); Schnitzelburg / Dainty (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Vincent de Paul Parish / D.X. Murphy (1853-1933) (approx. 0.4 miles away); William Shakespeare Caldwell / The Caldwell Sisters (approx. 0.4 miles away); Shelby Park Neighborhood / Shelby Park Branch Library (approx. half a mile away); St. Matthew Church / Act of Compassion

Red Cross Hospital Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

2. Red Cross Hospital Marker (Side B)

(approx. 0.6 miles away); Heroism at Little Big Horn / Saddler Sergeant Otto Voit (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Red Cross Hospital in 1920 image. Click for more information.

via Kentucky's Historic Institutions, 1920

3. Red Cross Hospital in 1920

Kentucky's Historic Institutions
Click for more information.

Red Cross Hospital Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

4. Red Cross Hospital Marker

Former Red Cross Hospital image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

5. Former Red Cross Hospital

View from across Shelby Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,357 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on February 9, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on December 1, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.