St. Mary's Hospital

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it — and some stories, friends, earn every word. St. Mary's Hospital in Galveston.

Before we're done, you'll understand why that name carries weight. It starts in 1866, when this institution was organized as the first private hospital established in the state of Texas. First.

In the whole state. It wasn't called St. Mary's yet — it went by Charity Hospital in those early days, and it was founded by three French Catholic Sisters, members of the Order of Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

Three women, a name, and a mission. The ground they built on had history before they ever broke it. This very site had been part of Fort Scurry during the Civil War.

Whatever that ground had seen, the Sisters were about to write something new over it. The hospital opened for patients on April 1, 1867. Now, you'd think a brand-new hospital would get at least a quiet first year.

A chance to find its footing. Three months. That's all it got.

Three months after it opened, a yellow fever epidemic struck the city of Galveston. And yellow fever in those days — well, the city knew what that meant. The hospital that had just opened its doors stayed open.

It kept working. But the epidemic took its toll even inside those walls. One of the victims was the hospital Superior herself — Mother M.

Blandine — gone to the very sickness the hospital was fighting. And when the epidemic finally passed, the Sisters looked around at what it had left behind. Children.

Children whose parents had died of the sickness. So the Sisters established an orphanage and a school right here on this site, for those children. The school was eventually closed, and the orphanage was later moved to another site in Galveston — but in the hardest moment, the Sisters didn't just treat the sick.

They stayed for what came after. That pattern — staying when it's hardest — would define this place. In 1900, a hurricane struck Galveston with heavy damage.

St. Mary's took that damage. And St.

Mary's stayed open anyway, treating storm victims while the city reeled. Then 1947. Eight miles to the northwest, at the port of Texas City, a series of chemical explosions and fires tore through the port.

Thousands were injured. Thousands. St.

Mary's was here, and St. Mary's provided health care for many of them. Founded by three Sisters on old Civil War ground.

Tested by epidemic before the paint was dry. Orphaned children, hurricanes, chemical catastrophe. Every single time, this hospital stayed open.

Some institutions just occupy a building. This one occupied a purpose.

What the marker says

Organized in 1866, this institution was the first private hospital established in the state. Originally known as Charity Hospital, it was founded by three French Catholic Sisters, members in the Order of Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Constructed on this site, which had been part of Fort Scurry during the Civil War, the hospital opened for patients on April 1, 1867. The new hospital proved to be a vital addition to the health care facilities of the area. Three months after it was opened, a yellow fever epidemic struck the city. One victim of the disease was the hospital Superior, Mother M. Blandine. Following the epidemic an orphanage and school were established here by the Sisters for children whose parents died of the sickness. The school was closed and the orphanage was later moved to another site in Galveston. St. Mary's played a significant role in the aftermath of two area disasters. In 1900, despite heavy damage caused by a hurricane, the hospital remained open for the treatment of storm victims. In 1947 health care was provided here for many of the thousands injured in a series of chemical explosions and fires at the port of Texas City (8 mi. NW).