New Life For The Old

After a length of time of inactivity and changes, there is life slowly returning to the former Phillips County Hospital, now referred to as the "old hospital" by many. The brick building stands at 417 South 4th Street East, and in recent years has been the target of vandalism and waterline breaks, and has been idle for years.

Recently, there has been activity and plans are being made for the historical building. The owners, in Washington, have contracted Jake Handley and his crew of Oren Mackey and Jordan Olson, to renovate the premises.

Work has started in the last couple months; sheetrock is being cleared out, walls are coming down, cupboards, desks and other interior items are removed and part of history.

The owner has plans to remodel the building and turn it into an apartment complex. New life for the old...out with the old and in with the new.

In a conversation with the owner, he laid to rest the speculations and ideas that were floating around ~ one was that the building was going to be used as a refuge facility, and with the nix on that idea, the community can rest knowing that illegals are not going to be living next to you or your family. Another comment was that it was going to be a youth center, while others were speculating it was being developed as a retirement center. Some off-the-wall, humor intended, social media remarks about a dispensary or strip joint were squashed.

Now inquiring minds can rest assured there are concrete plans by the owner to turn the once medical facility into apartments.

The hospital that now serves the community opened when this particular building was closed. It was in January of 1952, according to sources, that the then "new hospital" opened and began serving the county residents and others.

On January 3, 1952 the first baby was born after the doors opened, and Buddy and Esther Ruud welcomed their first of four daughter, Janice (Parsley) into the world. Prior to the hospital opening at the 417 S 4th St. address, the community was served by the hospital which then stood across the street directly east, where a vacant lot is, now owned by Heather Ost.

Countless Medical Doctors (MD) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Nurse Practitioner (NP) have visited clients and provided care for countless individuals.

The freshened new look will be appreciated. The community is fortunate the owners saw life where others only saw a structure near extinction. It will be a welcome-back addition to the community. No further information was disclosed as far as stages of the project, including the opening.