THE SACRED HEART HOSPITAL OF ORANGE, TEXAS
By W. T. Block
In 1890-1891 both Beaumont and Orange were emerging from frontier "cowtown" villages into industrial communities. Both cities had just completed electrical power and water and sewer connections, also an ice plant, a refrigerated slaughter house, and street car tracks. The 1890 census credited Orange with 3,200 inhabitants, only very slightly less than Beaumont, although each town claimed a population between 4,000 and 5,000.
Orange was also emerging from its violent past, which had included the Regulator-Moderator war of 1856, the civil riot of 1881, and of course, the "Hanging Tree." At that moment, a movement was then afoot to saw down the tree as the last surviving symbol of a frontier vigilante mentality. The city was incorporated, but another movement was clamoring to end the incorporation as unneeded. And amid the "politicking" for and against incorporation, the following press release appeared in Galveston Daily News of March 14, 1891, as follows:
"....The location of Sacred Heart Hospital is 2 blocks from the railroad depot on Green Avenue, with beautiful and large grounds for convalescents. The beds are all new. These Sisters (of Charity) do all the nursing and have charge of St. Joseph Infirmary in Houston, also St. Mary's in Galveston. The most experienced nurses have charge of the patients. The new hospital is one of the greatest boons ever to Southeast Texas. Rates: $1 to $2 daily, including nursing, medical care, and board and room...."
Only two months later (Galv. Daily News, May 31, 1891) another article added: "....The hospital here, one of the most comfortably and carefully kept, is growing in general favor and fills a genuine need. Under the care of the Sisters of Charity and the medical attention of Dr. F. Hydra, all formerly of Galveston, it inspires health by its neat, clear air, and its generous ministrations of its self-sacrificing attendants. Several serious cases of illness and injuries have been successfully treated in it, and through its instrumentality, much has been done to lessen pain and disease, while at the same time, isolating dangerous cases....."
The Orange community was shocked to learn on Jan. 22, 1892 (Galv. Daily News, Jan. 23, 1892) that: "....The Sacred heart Hospital, which was only fitted up ten months ago, at an expense of $2,000 for fixtures alone, will be removed from Orange shortly on account of lack of patronage. Some day the people will greatly regret their apathy and antagonism to such a worthy institution, and sincerely wish they had taken more interest and had manifested a more friendly feeling toward an establishment solely for the healing of the sick and injured laboring classes. The noble Sisters return to Galveston much aggrieved at the lack of appreciation accorded their endeavors.
"....During its brief existence, seventy patients were admitted. Many severe surgeries and medical cases were included in that number, with only four fatalities...."
It defies belief that anti-Catholic bigotry was a cause for the closing of the only hospital between Houston and Lake Charles. As a result, Orange would await almost three decades for the opening of the Frances A. Lutcher Hospital, although Hotel Dieu Hospital, with the same Sisters in attendance, was built in Beaumont in 1897.
Although two saloon rowdies ran the first priest (Fr. V. Quinon, who was soliciting funds) out of Orange in Feb. 1880, about 1,000 persons, half of Orange's 1880 population, attended the dedication of St. Vital's Catholic Church on Aug. 22, 188o. At that time, the church had only about 50 members.
Whether public apathy or religious bigotry and antagonism, or both, caused the closing of Sacred Heart Hospital, it was a public disaster both for Orange County and all of Southeast Texas in general, for Beaumont had no hospital prior to 1897.
W. T. Block. Used with permission.
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