Edwards Memorial Hospital

Founded by Walter Edwards and Frances W. Edwards, the Edwards Memorial Hospital opened on April 22, 1948 on a one-acre plot at 1624 NE Grand Blvd. Four days earlier, on a Sunday afternoon, the fire-proof, three-story, brick hospital was dedicated at an outdoor cemetery by Mrs. Edwards. Following the ceremony, 3,500 people toured the 105-bed hospital which boasted two operating rooms, an obstetrical department in one of two wings, and a mix of private and semi-private rooms.