Saint Joseph Hospital history

St Joseph's Hospital began in 1875 when the Sisters of Mercy took over the operations of the Forest City Marine Hospital in what is now the historic district.

The original education mission expanded in 1883 to include hospital administration and healthcare, homes for the young and elderly, pastoral and social work, and many other ministries.

The Telfair Hospital for Females was built in 1884 and opened two years later.

Created in 1886 through the estate of Mary Telfair, the hospital became Candler's obstetrical unit.

The Sisters of Mercy came to Phoenix in 1892 to open a parish school.

Two months later, the Sisters had raised sufficient funds to build a "real hospital." On March 19, 1895, a stake was driven into the ground to mark the site of what would become a hospital housing 24 private rooms that opened onto porches.

Construction of the administration building began in 1899.

1901 - The hospital expanded (the Annex); the name became St Joseph's Hospital.

In 1908, a small group of the Sisters of St Joseph of Rochester, New York, along with several local physicians and community leaders, established St Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira, New York.

1913 - The Flannery Memorial Wing opened.

1930 - Savannah Hospital was acquired by the Georgia Hospital Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and renamed in honor of the Bishop, Warren A. Candler.

1931—Archbishop Thomas Hickey dedicates the new medical wing, making St Joseph’s a 245-bed facility.

The Franciscan Sisters’ healing ministry was brought to Tampa in 1934 with the founding of St Joseph’s Hospital near downtown Tampa.

1946—Chemung River floods, causing $350,000 in damage.

In November 1947, a fundraising campaign began to raise money to build the new hospital.

The modern, spacious facility opened in July of 1953.

1954—Women’s Auxiliary organized to sponsor projects and services for the benefit of the hospital and patients.

1956—Judge Daniel Donahoe spearheads a fund drive to raise $1 million for expansion and renovations.

1958—New intensive care facilities open, an extended care unit added 1 year later.

In 1960, it joined with Candler General Hospital and later moved into its current facility in midtown Savannah.

In 1961, ground was broken for the hospital's iconic twin towers structure.

1965—Doctor Alan Mahood performs Elmira’s first corneal transplant and the first open-heart surgery takes place in Elmira at St Joseph’s

1969—Construction for the Medical Arts Building begins.

1970—Operation People Committee (OPPY) founded to promote communication between the hospital, media and community.

1972—Operation Outreach, lead by Clarence Brobst raises $2.5 million to establish the Twin Tiers Rehabilitation Center and the John E. Sullivan Pavilion

1977 - Neuroscience opened its Oto-Neurology department, now known as the Center for Oto-Neurology.

1980 - Candler Hospital moved to its current location on Reynolds Street.

1984—The St Joseph’s Hospital Foundation is incorporated and becomes the main fundraising organization.

1986 - Hospital surgeons won the right to perform open heart surgery at St Joseph's.

1997 - St Joseph's Hospital entered into a joint operating agreement with Candler Hospital and together formed St Joseph's/Candler, the region's largest and most experienced health care provider.

1999—The “Hand in Hand” capital campaign targets $3 million for technological upgrades, rehabilitation center renovations, expansion of the Skilled Nursing Facility and relocation of the chapel.

2000—STARS expanded to help teenagers and parents with Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Treatment

2004—Kidney Center opens for patients in need of dialysis.

Saint Joseph's new state-of-the-art hospital opened in December 2014.

One of 29 United States teaching hospitals recognized for top performance and quality by Leapfrog (2016)