Wheeling in Ohio County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Wheeling Hospital
Treating Union and Confederate Soldiers
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, January 1, 2022
1. Wheeling Hospital Marker
You are standing at the site of Wheeling Hospital during the Civil War. Local doctors and the Catholic Bishop Richard V. Whelen founded the hospital on March 12, 1850, 11 years before the war began. At first, the hospital was located in a building near the Visitation Nuns convent and then was moved several times. In April 1853, the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived as nurses and also assumed the care of orphans. Three years later, the hospital move from Fifteenth Street to the former Michael Sweeney mansion here in North Wheeling.
In the spring of 1864, with the bloodletting of the Wilderness and other battles, the U.S. Army needed more beds for the wounded. In April 1864, Wheeling Hospital was designated a "post hospital" with acting surgeon Dr. John Kirker in charge. A local physician, Dr. John Frissell, served as assistant surgeon. Forty-seven military patients in the Athenaeum prison had already been transferred here, and then, on July 6, two hundred wounded soldiers arrived unexpectedly. The sisters gave up their beds, and the orphans were moved to a house on Wheeling Island. Many of the wounded were housed in tents
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[Captions:]
This painting by Anne Hazlett Foreman shows 23 year-old Sister Ignatius Farley nursing a wounded soldier. -Courtesy Wheeling Hospital Archives
Wheeling Hospital enlarged the Michael Sweeney mansion with several additions after the Civil War. The hospital was razed in 1929. Courtesy Wheeling Hospital Archives
Gov. Francis H. Pierpont appointed Dr. John Frissell medical superintendant of the military prisoners and soldiers stationed at Wheeling. Frissell later served as chief surgeon of Wheeling Hospital and was the first presiden of the West Virginia Medical Society.
Dr. John Frissell
Courtesy Wheeling Hospital Archives
Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, January 1, 2022
2. Wheeling Hospital Marker
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 4.964′ N, 80° 43.558′ W. Marker was in Wheeling, West Virginia, in Ohio County. It could be reached from Main Street (West Virginia Route 2) north of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Wheeling WV 26003, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Northern Panhandle and in the High Valley. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Civil War Nurses (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Wheeling Hospital (a few steps from this marker); Women's Aid Societies (within shouting distance of this marker); Mount Wood Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); McColloch’s Leap (approx. ¼ mile away); The Mingo (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hugh E. McConkey (approx. 0.3 miles away); 612 Main Street (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheeling.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2022, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 794 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on October 13, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 3, 2022, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
