St. Margaret’s as it appeared from Adams Avenue circa 1925, at the same location as it existed in 1985. The structure on the right is the former residence of Alabama Governor Watts, and which became part of the St Margaret’s complex in its early years.
In 1975, St. Margaret’s was, and had been for many years, the premier hospital and deliverer of health care services to Montgomery; it had filled that role since the hospital’s founding here in 1902. It was a Catholic institution, and was operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The Order had its U.S. headquarters in Indianapolis, a parent order in France, but it was really answerable to the Vatican.
In 1998, now that it’s been turned into Humana, then Columbia, and now Baptist Downtown, it is difficult to grasp the dominance which St. Margaret’s exercised over the medical community in the 1950’s, and even into the 1960’s. “St. Margaret’s” trained virtually all of the nurses in the Montgomery area through the Sixties. The Sisters ran a tight ship and gave excellent nursing care. Every doctor of note practiced there, and the specialists tended to group their office nearby. All of my four daughters were born in St. Margaret’s Hospital.
The Order largely reconstructed its Montgomery facility in 1959 with Charles McCallie of Birmingham as architect. Five years later, when kindly Sister Scholastica was Hospital Administrator, Pearson, Humphries & Jones acquired the hospital as a client. Initially St. Margaret’s was a Bill Pearson patron, and he did the central boiler plant, the laundry and the School of Nursing. Yours truly joined the team in 1967 when we remodeled a section of the hospital into an intensive care unit. From that point forward, our work at St. Margaret’s became more technical, and because I ran the office hospital practice, the work there fell under my jurisdiction.
As the 70’s approached, despite the significant investments of the 50’s and 60’s, the downtown decay began to cast its shadow over the venerable old hospital. Baptist and Jackson Hospitals began to make gains in plant facility, clientele, and physician allegiance. Being located in what was, by then, a rundown neighborhood, St. Margaret’s naturally drew the bulk of the charity cases, and the Catholic nuns could not bring themselves to turn away the indigent patients. The white middle class became afraid of the neighborhood and was reluctant to visit there after dark.
Slowly the tide turned against the grand old institution, which by 1970 was hemorrhaging red ink. Its 250 beds had a reasonable occupancy rate, but too few were occupied by paying patients. The Daughters of Charity were facing a daunting challenge, and PH&J felt a keen client loyalty toward St. Margaret’s at its time of need. And, needless to say, St. Margaret’s was the flagship of our modest hospital practice, and gave our efforts needed big-city respectability.
-Charles Humphries (“Peril and Intrigue Within Architecture”)
This is one of many St. Margaret stories. The rest can be found here.
I was trying yo find information about sister Claire who worked at St. Margaret’s hospital in the late 50s. So far,this is the only post I’ve read do far ,but will continue searching.
She was do good to my family. I remember going to mass at the hospital chapel.
My youngest brother was named,Vincent de Paul.
My brother and I were born in st Margaret’s, 1941 and 1943. We were Harris Allen Powell and shelma jean Powell. Mother loved the hospital & we were raised Catholic. My brother passed away in 1984. I still attend Mass.
My grandmother, Helen Mercer, worked as a nurse, head nurse for many years at St. Margaret’s. In the 1930’s at 17 years old she left her home in Cleveland, TN to attend the nursing school. My grandma always said nice things about the good Sisters who ran the hospital. My mother was born at St. Margaret’s in 1942 along with my siblings and myself.
I wanted to know the name of the baby photographer that was used in December 1986. I had a son when I was a teen and he died after 8 days. I wanted to get photos of him if it were possible. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I graduated from St Margaret’s Hospital School Of Nursing in 1972. I was grateful for the opportunity to study and learn from the Educators, staff, Sisters and the hospital nurses. I am grateful to have served the people in my community for 47 years.
Do the last names Walgamont or Fulton sound familiar to you?
Where can I get my baby picture
It is sad to see such a fine wondrrful hopital gone forever to become just a memory..
I was a candy stripper there and in highschool..
Does anyone have any idea what St. Margaret’s Hospital did with all their record when they closed?
I was born there too and my birth certificate doesn’t specify what time I was born
I worked at St Margaret’s hosp from 1977-1985. My name at that time was Dorothy Lumpkin LPN-RN. I attended TSU montg for my degree. I called in 2012 to see about my retirement and was rudely informed to call back when I was 67. So, I am now 72 and would appreciate any info you may have on my pension? Would really appreciate an answer, thank you.
I was born at St. Margaret’s in August of 1946. In the summer of 1953 my family moved to Mobile. I have occasionally wondered why a hard core Baptist family would have had their first two children born in a Catholic hospital. Now I know.
I continue to live in Mobile County, and am grateful and proud to have been a tiny part of the history and story of St. Margaret’s.