Mercy Hospital (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Mercy Hospital was a hospital located at 1344 22nd Street South in the city of St. Petersburg, Florida. The hospital was the only primary care facility for the African-American community of St. Petersburg from 1923 to 1966. It was designed by the local architect Henry Taylor, which has also designed other important structures such as the City Comfort Station, the Vinoy Park Hotel and the Jungle Country Club Hotel. It was constructed by Edgar Weeks in July 1923. Mercy Hospital not only served as a medical facility but also as a site for protesting against the segregation of the other hospitals in the city during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1994, it was declared a Historic Place. The city purchased the facility in 1997 due to a lack of redevelopment and deterioration. Then the city leased the facility to Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc., which also runs the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Medical Center.

Before Mercy Hospital, African-Americans counted with a small health care facility named the Good Samaritan. The building was built in 1910 on 6th Avenue South and 7th Street with the purpose to provide health care to whites only. However, it was moved in 1913 to 4th Avenue South and 12th Street to serve blacks only this time. It counted with 5 rooms, a few beds and minimal care.

It was replaced in 1923 by Mercy Hospital as a result of the growing African-American community in St. Petersburg. Mercy Hospital was created in the hands of architect Henry Taylor who designed it and contractor Edgar Weeks who built it. The walls of the new hospital were made of stucco over hollow terra-cotta tile. It had projecting eaves with decorative wooden brackets. It only counted with sixteen to twenty beds.

Most of the time, the Mercy Hospital was short in staff and did not have the necessary equipment to offer service to the black community. Nonetheless, Mercy Hospital was a family and everyone one gave their best while doing their job. Service was their motto and so they offered compassionate and quality health care to the community’s African-Americans. Housekeepers kept the place very clean to avoid the spread of diseases. The pharmacist ordered medications the hospital needed and made sure they were properly prepared. The kitchen staff made sure the meals were always warm and ready for the patients. Finally, and most importantly, volunteers worked very hard without been paid; assisting by greeting visitors, chatting or just sitting with patients, answering phones and much more.

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