From Houses to Hospitals
Improving Healthcare in the 1920s
Showing Through July 2023
Richard & Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum
Festivities for Good Samaritan Medical Center’s 100th anniversary were curtailed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an event that led to questions about how and why healthcare changed radically during and after World War I. From Houses to Hospitals examines how Palm Beach County’s modern healthcare system developed, expanding during the Roaring ‘20s.
As the medical field adopted new standards of care, Americans became aware of how quickly diseases could spread. They supported the efforts of their physicians to build first-class accommodations for all, even as they remained segregated. In West Palm Beach, wealthy winter residents, Black and White citizens of more modest means, and newspapermen all joined the call to raise funds for Good Samaritan and Pine Ridge hospitals. Soon everyone was clamoring for better facilities.
The Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum
Admission is FREE to the public. The museum is located on the 2nd floor of the restored 1916 Courthouse at 300 North Dixie Highway, in downtown West Palm Beach.
Interesting topic. Will there be a presentation?
Our docents are able to give presentations on this exhibit during tours. If you are interested in scheduling a tour, contact Rhonda Gordon at rgordon@pbchistory.org
I see that “From Houses to Hospitals” will no longer be an exhibit after July 2022. Is there a video of the exhibit that I could buy as there is no way I will be able to visit WPB from Georgia this year. My father, Dr Wilbur Ogden Arnold was on staff at Good Samaritan & St Mary’s from 1925 until his death in 1945. He was in practice with Dr. Roy Cooley in offices at 118 Myrtle St & 535 So Flagler Drive. My mother, Olive Schell Arnold was a Laboratory and Xray technician at Good Samaritan from around 1933 until they married in 1936. I am fascinated by this subject and had great hopes of getting down to see the exhibit to no avail.
Thank you, Elaine
Thanks for noticing that, Elaine. We are actually keeping it up into 2023, since the pandemic ups and downs kept many people from seeing it. I will update the website. I hope this helps!
I have some old nursing school year books from Good Sam if you would like them.”The Cap”
My husband’s grandfather was a doctor in the 1930’s and 40’s his office was in the Comeau building .Dr.Olen Broward Hazen,MD.
Thank you, Susan, for thinking of us! Please contact our Chief Curator, Debi Murray, at dmurray@pbchistory.org or 561.832.4164 ext 105. I will let her know as well.