Americus in Sumter County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Americus Colored Hospital
Photographed By David Seibert, January 24, 2011
1. Americus Colored Hospital Marker
Inscription.
Americus Colored Hospital. . One of the earliest hospitals in southwest Georgia devoted to the care of African Americans, the Americus Colored Hospital opened in 1923. The majority of the funds needed to build the hospital were provided by Dr. W.S. Prather. Practice in the hospital was open to doctors of all races and so provided opportunities for black doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who were unable to practice in many hospitals throughout the South. The hospital suffered financial difficulties throughout its history, but remained in use by the African-American community until Sumter Regional Hospital was constructed under the Hill Burton Act in 1953.
One of the earliest hospitals in southwest Georgia devoted to the care of African Americans, the Americus Colored Hospital opened in 1923. The majority of the funds needed to build the hospital were provided by Dr. W.S. Prather. Practice in the hospital was open to doctors of all races and so provided opportunities for black doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who were unable to practice in many hospitals throughout the South. The hospital suffered financial difficulties throughout its history, but remained in use by the African-American community until Sumter Regional Hospital was constructed under the Hill Burton Act in 1953.
Erected 2008 by Georgia Historical Society and the City Federation of Colored Women Club. (Marker Number 129-2.)
Location. 32° 4.63′ N, 84° 14.055′ W. Marker is in Americus, Georgia, in Sumter County. Marker is on J. R. Campbell Sr. Street just east of Cotton Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 133 J R Campbell Sr Street, Americus GA 31709, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The main entrance to the former Americus Colored Hospital building
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,029 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 4, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
