The Ford Hospital, also called the Fifth Avenue Hotel, is located in downtown
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...
. Built in 1916 by Home Builders Incorporated, the
hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
was a privately operated facility built and operated by Dr. Michael J. Ford. Operating until 1922, it was the last small, private hospital in the city. Originally designed by James T. Allan, the building stylistically is a unique blend of elements from the Second Renaissance Revival and the Arts and Crafts movements. The building was sold and remodeled as the Fifth Avenue Hotel in 1929, a name referring to the nickname Douglas Street obtained after the installation of new electric lights in 1927. The building was again converted in 1987, and currently serves as
apartment
An apartment (American English), or flat (British English, Indian English, South African English), is a self-contained housing unit (a type of residential real estate) that occupies part of a building, generally on a single story. There are ma ...
s.
Notable cases
The hospital was instrumental in Omaha's treatment of the "Great
Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These symptoms ...
Epidemic" of 1919. That same year
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
Edward Parsons Smith
Edward Parsons Smith (September 30, 1860 – May 21, 1930) was the List of mayors of Omaha, Nebraska, mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, from 1918 to 1921.
Biography
Smith was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on September 30, 1860, and was a son of Edward S ...
was brought to the hospital on September 28, 1919. He was nearly lynched by a mob during the
Omaha Race Riot
The Omaha Race Riot occurred in Omaha, Nebraska, September 28–29, 1919. The race riot resulted in the lynching of Will Brown, a black civilian; the death of two white rioters; the injuries of many Omaha Police Department officers and civilia ...
that day.
[ Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 12/27/07.]
See also
*
List of hospitals in Omaha, Nebraska
Hospitals in Omaha, Nebraska have been integral to the city's growth since its founding in 1857. The city has a number of hospitals that were founded by religious groups, and has many medical centers resultant from the mergers of various hospital ...
References
External links
Historic postcardof the hospital.
Hospital buildings completed in 1916
Apartment buildings in Omaha, Nebraska
Defunct hospitals in Omaha, Nebraska
History of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska
Hospital buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Nebraska
National Register of Historic Places in Omaha, Nebraska
1916 establishments in Nebraska
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