A Pillar of The Ville: More Than a Hospital
In the 20th century, Homer G. Phillips Hospital wasn’t just a medical facility—it was the beating heart of The Ville, an African American cultural and professional hub in St. Louis, Missouri. At its height, the hospital provided over 1,000 jobs, world-class medical training, and community pride that shaped generations.
But its journey—from segregation-era necessity to national prominence, to controversial shutdown—is a story of triumph, tragedy, and ultimately renewal.
Segregated St. Louis and the Fight for Better Care
Medical Care in the 1920s
By the 1920s, St. Louis had nearly 70,000 African American residents served by just three overcrowded hospitals:
City Hospital #2
St. Mary’s Infirmary
People’s Hospital on Locust
City Hospital #2, located far from the heart of The Ville, held only 177 beds and operated in deteriorating conditions. Black physicians had petitioned for a modern, adequate facility as early as 1914. Their request sparked a decades-long struggle.
A Bond Issue and a Debate
In 1923, voters passed an $83 million bond, including $1 million for a new Black hospital. Yet progress stalled amid arguments over whether funding required a separate building or just an annex.
Ten years later—after political battles, federal funding from the New Deal, and intense community pressure—plans for a new hospital in The Ville finally moved forward.
Who Was Homer G. Phillips?
Civil Rights Champion and Legal Trailblazer
Homer G. Phillips, an attorney and activist born in Pettis County, Missouri, dedicated his life to equal access in health care, law, and employment.
His leadership included:
Founding the Citizens Liberty Union (1916)
Fighting segregation and discriminatory labor laws
Advocating relentlessly for a separate, modern hospital for African Americans
A Tragic Murder
On June 18, 1931, Phillips was assassinated while waiting for a trolley at Delmar and Aubert. Though two suspects were arrested, both were acquitted due to missing witnesses and lack of evidence. The case remains unsolved.
To honor his tireless efforts, St. Louis aldermen voted to name the new hospital Homer G. Phillips Hospital.
The Grand Opening of a Medical Powerhouse (1937)
On February 22, 1937, the city dedicated the state-of-the-art, $3.6 million Homer G. Phillips Hospital at 2601 Whittier Street.
What Made the Hospital Revolutionary
Nearly 700 patient beds
A nurses’ home for 146 nurses and 24 interns
Entirely African American staff and administration
First full-service Black teaching hospital west of the Mississippi River
In its first year, it treated over 100,000 patients and quickly became the nation’s leading training center for Black physicians, nurses, and technicians.
By 1961, the hospital had trained one-third of all Black doctors in the U.S., more than any hospital worldwide.
Leaders Who Shaped Medical History
Dr. Helen Nash
One of Homer G. Phillips’s most influential graduates, Dr. Helen Nash:
Specialized in pediatric and infant care
Revolutionized premature infant treatment
Dramatically lowered infant mortality rates
Became the first Black female physician on staff at Washington University
Inspired awards and scholarships in her name
Desegregation and the Beginning of the End (1955–1979)
Citywide Hospital Changes
In 1955, Mayor Raymond Tucker desegregated city hospitals. While Homer G. Phillips continued to serve the community with excellence, the move raised questions about whether St. Louis needed two major public hospitals.
Funding Cuts and Service Consolidation
Throughout the 1960s and 70s:
Neurology and psychiatric departments were moved to City Hospital
Washington University and SLU withdrew staffing
Funding shifted dramatically away from Homer G. Phillips
Staff shortages and equipment deficits grew
Recruitment of medical trainees became difficult
Community Resistance
When the city announced plans to close the hospital, The Ville erupted into activism:
Picket lines
Sit-ins
Petitions
Organized demonstrations
The hospital wasn’t just a facility—it was the backbone of a community.
The Sudden Closure of 1979
On August 17, 1979, at 5 a.m., without warning:
Police escorted city officials into the building
Helicopters and the National Guard circled overhead
The last 47 patients were removed
Equipment was hauled out
The closure felt like a political ambush, leaving bitterness and grief throughout The Ville.
Attempts to Reopen and the Years of Vacancy
Newly elected Mayor Vincent Schoemehl attempted to reopen the hospital, but a required bond issue failed at the polls. By the mid-1980s, St. Louis exited the hospital business entirely, shuttering both remaining city-run facilities.
The hospital sat empty for nearly two decades.
A New Purpose: Senior Living and Community Revival
Historic Status and Restoration
Named a city landmark in 1980
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982
In 1998, WAT Dignity Corporation began converting the hospital into affordable senior apartments. The renovated Homer G. Phillips Dignity House opened in 2003, with:
220 independent-living units
A grocery store
Barber and beauty services
Health clinic
Computer lab
Once again, the campus bustles with life and community purpose.
Final Thoughts
The story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital is one of resilience, activism, innovation, and community strength. Its legacy continues through the thousands of medical professionals it trained, the families it served, and the new life its buildings now hold.
Listen & Connect
🎧 Listen to this full episode on the Show Me History Podcast.
🔗 Website: showmehistorystl.com
🐦 Twitter: @ShowMe_History
📘 Facebook: Show Me History StL
Until next time—see you in the Lou.