The Old Yoakum Community Hospital - History
For more information email us at oyhgroup@gmail.com
The history of Yoakum Community Hospital began in 1922. The people of Yoakum decided that the community needed a hospital and with the impetus provided by a donation of land and cash by the late John Huth, construction began. Initially, the hospital was owned by the City of Yoakum and was operated by lay people. After only a short period of time, the economy began to decline. The hospital also slowly began to decline and was no longer able to support itself. Having but little income, it became a detriment to the City.
Mr. C. C. Crutchfield, the City Manager at the time, decided that the best hope for the future of the hospital was to change its management. He and the City Commissioners agreed to ask the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Victoria to take over the management of the institution, which occurred in 1933.
A short time later the hospital rooms needed to be re-painted and new furniture was needed but there was no money. It was for this reason that the ladies of Yoakum organized an Auxiliary. There were approximately 200 members who paid $1.00 dues annually. The money was used to buy oxygen equipment, instruments, and various hospital supplies. The ladies would visit the hospital two or three times a week to help make sponges, cotton balls, and all hospital supplies. They YCH Auxiliary has been, and continues to be, a strong part of our hospital since its earliest day.
In the next decade, the hospital grew in stature and reputation, adding services and personnel, and providing a wonderful service to the community of Yoakum. By 1949, the hospital was felt to be too small to accommodate its increasing load of patient and plans for enlarging it were undertaken.
By the 1960s, there was the need for more space, more patient rooms, and new ancillary facilities, and construction was completed on the second expansion in 1966. This included an all-new x-ray department, emergency room, and lab facilities, plus modern rooms with the latest in patient care. The architects for that project were O'Connell and Probst from Austin, the same firm who prepared the plans for our new hospital.
The 1980s brought additional hardships to hospitals with a major change to the government reimbursement for Medicare patients, which constituted a major portion of the business. In early 1984, the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament sisters determined that they could no longer own and manage the facility. Consultations between the Hospital Board, the City Council, and members of the Medical Staff were held. The decision was made to seek another sponsor for the facility. This sponsor turned out to be the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio. An extensive renovation was carried out to modernize and update the facility.
In February of 1996 the Yoakum Hospital District assumed responsibility from the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in order to proceed with building a new facility. The community of Yoakum passed a $7 million bond for the construction of a new facility that would have fewer inpatient beds but larger out-patient services.
July 1997 marked the completion of the new 53,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility and the end of operation at the Old Yoakum Hospital. Thus beginning the journey into the paranormal for this building.
The building is NOT open to the general public, it is a privately owned scientific research lab. The location is not for amusement purposes it is for scientific study of the paranormal and is private property. Trespassers will be prosecuted.
The Hospital is available for legitimate paranormal groups to further their research into the paranormal. Contact OYHG for the application form. The application form is located at www.coletinn.com/application.html. At OYHG's and the Owners discretion we may host public tours of the property stay tuned to this fan page for public events.
There is a booking (donation) fee to enter, also, any and all persons will have to submit a waiver of release of liability to gain access. No waiver no access! The building is in primitive condition which means no restrooms, no water, no heat, no air conditioning, however there is limited electricity at the location. For more information and or tour of the building contact Old Yoakum Hospital Group at oyhgroup@gmail.com
OYHG is a Non Profit Organization based in Victoria Texas any and all monies (donations) collected for investigations goes to further research equipment, supplies and compensation to the property owners for allowing all of us access to this location.
Lease Terms:
Private Investigation - One Night $350 Donation. Two Night Investigation $550 Donation.
For your Public Invited Event/Investigation (for profit) $750 Donation per night.
Private Function (film location) $350 Donation per day
Tags: Historical Place