Liberty in Liberty County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Yettie Kersting
Photographed by James Hulse, September 25, 2022
1. Yettie Kersting Marker
Inscription.
Yettie Kersting. . Henrietta "Yettie" Kersting was born in Giddings, Texas, on October 17th, 1863, daughter of Louisa (Johnson) and Henry Kersting, a German immigrant farmer. Yettie received a public education and early business experience in Lee County. At the turn of the century she settled in the prosperous oil boomtown of Liberty and quickly established a millinery business. With her business thriving, she saved her money and soon made investments, primarily in real estate. She acquired a two-story building across from the courthouse, moved her millinery business to the lower floor, rented half to another business and maintained her own rooming house upstairs. Eventually Yettie opened the White Kitchen Cafι, which she operated until her retirement in 1940., Her vision of a hospital came to fruition in 1935, when at age seventy-two she left the bulk of her estate to the people of Liberty County for a hospital. In 1940, construction of one unit of the hospital was started at a cost of $18,000. This first hospital clinic, located on Sam Houston Street, was dedicated on October 18th, 1941, and fittingly received Yettie Kersting as its first patient. Five weeks later on November 22, she died in the hospital she had founded and given to "The relief of suffering humanity.", Yettie Kersting's memory is firmly rooted in the community of Liberty and the hospital that her dedication, thrift and generosity made possible. Her philanthropic endeavors in the community still resonate today. She envisioned a medical facility dedicated to the health needs of citizens, no matter their financial circumstances or ethnic background. Through hard work, selfless demeanor and love for her community, this early businesswoman made a great impact.
Henrietta "Yettie" Kersting was born in Giddings, Texas, on October 17th, 1863, daughter of Louisa (Johnson) and Henry Kersting, a German immigrant farmer. Yettie received a public education and early business experience in Lee County. At the turn of the century she settled in the prosperous oil boomtown of Liberty and quickly established a millinery business. With her business thriving, she saved her money and soon made investments, primarily in real estate. She acquired a two-story building across from the courthouse, moved her millinery business to the lower floor, rented half to another business and maintained her own rooming house upstairs. Eventually Yettie opened the White Kitchen Cafι, which she operated until her retirement in 1940.
Her vision of a hospital came to fruition in 1935, when at age seventy-two she left the bulk of her estate to the people of Liberty County for a hospital. In 1940, construction of one unit of the hospital was started at a cost of $18,000. This first hospital clinic, located on Sam Houston Street, was dedicated on October 18th, 1941, and fittingly received Yettie Kersting as its first patient. Five weeks later on November 22, she died in the hospital she had founded and given to "The relief of suffering humanity."
Yettie Kersting's memory is firmly rooted in the community of Liberty
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and the hospital that her dedication, thrift and generosity made possible. Her philanthropic endeavors in the community still resonate today. She envisioned a medical facility dedicated to the health needs of citizens, no matter their financial circumstances or ethnic background. Through hard work, selfless demeanor and love for her community, this early businesswoman made a great impact.
Erected 2019 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 22403.)
Location. 30° 4.134′ N, 94° 47.878′ W. Marker is in Liberty, Texas, in Liberty County. It is at the intersection of North Travis Street and Magnolia Street, on the left when traveling north on North Travis Street. The marker is located on the east side of the hospital building near Travis Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1353 North Travis Street, Liberty TX 77575, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bryan Neyland Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pryor Bryan (approx. 0.3 miles away); Luke Bryan (approx. 0.3 miles away); City Cemetery
3. The view of the Yettie Kersting Marker from the street
Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 408 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
