History Of Yoakum Hospital Now On Display

If you are a history buff, you're gonna love what they've done at the hospital in Yoakum. The history of the Yoakum Community Hospital is now on public display. The hospital recently unveiled a History Hallway in its main building. "The hospital has a lot of history, and we felt like we needed to share it with the community. It's their hospital," administrator Karen Barber told the Victoria Advocate.

The display is divided into historical segments starting in 1922 with the opening of the first hospital. That segment runs through the 1930s. Other segments include the 1950-60s, 1980s-90s and 2012-tomorrow. Each segment of the display is adorned with photographs from that era as well as other hospital memorabilia, such as a bill from 1960. A large timeline dominates the center of the exhibit, displaying the hospitals historical highlights.

Barber, who has been at the helm of the hospital for about six years, said 2012 also marks the 90th year of the first hospital in Yoakum and the 15th year at its present location at 1200 Carl Ramert Drive. Part of the display also includes plaques that were on doors of the old hospital. The late Jim Witte, a former hospital board president, had them stored in his barn, Barber said. "I'm really proud of this part of the display," said Barber, who began working at the hospital as a registered nurse 20 years ago. The 25-bed facility has been a critical access facility since 2004 and services include labor/delivery, a surgery department, a swing bed program and physical therapy, Barber said.

The History Hallway also includes an architect's drawing of a planned medical office building that Barber hopes is completed by this time next year. "The History Hallway is a look at where we began as well as a look into the future," she said.