DUANE
Duane's take
Here's the story as the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, some places earn their reputation quietly — over decades, one child at a time. This is one of those stories.
It starts with the Shriners. Full name: the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. They organized a board with a bold idea — a whole system of charity hospitals, spread across the United States.
Samuel P. Cochran, chairman of that board, had his eyes on Dallas. He wanted something locally managed, something built specifically for children with orthopedic needs right there in that city.
In 1921, a group of Masons walked up to Dallas' first orthopedic surgeon — a man named Dr. William B. Carrell — and asked him to help establish a clinic.
Particularly for children with polio. Now, Dr. Carrell said yes, and what he opened was called the Hella Temple Free Clinic.
And it did exactly what a good thing does when it gets out into the world — it outgrew itself. The need was just that big. So Hella Temple purchased property on Welborn Street and opened the Hella Temple Children's Temple in 1923.
Masons in Dallas and groups throughout all of Texas sent donations rolling in. Then something interesting happened — a partnership developed between the Hella Temple Shriners and the Scottish Rite Masons. The Scottish Rite Masons purchased the hospital in 1926 and renamed it the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children.
Dr. Carrell served as chief of staff from that point on, right up until his death in 1944. Then his son, Dr.
Brandon Carrell, stepped in and carried the work forward. By the 1950s, the hospital's concentration broadened. More children.
More conditions. Departments grew and this place took the lead in fields you might not expect — learning disorders, particularly dyslexia; spinal disorders; congenital hand disorders; limb lengthening and reconstruction; the education of pediatric orthopedic surgeons; scoliosis treatment; and clubfoot research. The hospital moved to its current location in 1978, and in 1991 it took the name it carries today — Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
Still led by Texas Masons. Still fully supported by donations. Still treating children with a wide range of medical conditions, free of charge.
No bill at the door. That's not a small thing. That's the whole thing.
The marker was placed in 2008, but the story it's marking has been building since 1921 — one open door, one child at a time.
What the marker says
The effort for pediatric orthopedic care in Dallas began when the Shriners (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine) organized a board with the idea of creating a system of charity hospitals across the U.S. Samuel P. Cochran, chairman of the board, was interested in developing a locally managed service for children with orthopedic needs in Dallas. In 1921, a group of Masons approached Dallas’ first orthopedic surgeon, Dr. William B. Carrell, to help establish a clinic, particularly for children with polio. He opened the Hella Temple Free Clinic, which soon outgrew its capacity. Hella Temple purchased property on Welborn Street and opened Hella Temple Children’s Temple in 1923. Masons in Dallas and groups throughout Texas made donations to the hospital. A partnership developed between the Hella Temple Shriners and the Scottish Rite Masons, who purchased the hospital (1926) and renamed it Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children. Dr. Carrell was chief of staff until his death in 1944 and was succeeded by his son, Dr. Brandon Carrell. By the 1950s, the hospital’s concentration broadened, allowing for treatment of more children. Departments developed and the hospital took the lead in fields, including learning disorders (particularly dyslexia); spinal disorders; congenital hand disorders; limb lengthening and reconstruction; pediatric orthopedic surgeon education; scoliosis treatment; and clubfoot research. The hospital has also worked with the community through education and humanitarian work. The hospital moved here in 1978 and in 1991, it took the name Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Still led by Texas Masons and fully supported by donations, the facility continues to treat children with a wide range of medical conditions, free of charge. (2008)