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

Red Cross Hospital

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

1. Red Cross Hospital Marker (Side A)

Inscription. Click to hear the 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.

Location. 38° 13.625′

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

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

2. Red Cross Hospital Marker (Side B)

N, 85° 44.512′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. Marker 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.

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); Shelby Park Neighborhood / Shelby Park Branch Library (approx. half a mile away); St. Matthew Church / Act of Compassion (approx. 0.6 miles away); Heroism at Little Big Horn / Saddler Sergeant Otto Voit (approx. 0.6 miles away); Louisville Cemetery / William Walker, Sr. (1860-1933) (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Also see . . . Red Cross Hospital. From the Kentucky Historic Institutions project. (Submitted on December 1, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Red Cross Hospital Marker image. Click for full size.

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

3. Red Cross Hospital Marker

Former Red Cross Hospital image. Click for full size.

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

4. Former Red Cross Hospital

View from across Shelby Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 41 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on December 1, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.