Firmin Desloge Hospital
Encyclopedia
Firmin Desloge Hospital first opened in 1933 as a partnership between the Jesuits of Saint Louis University and the Sisters of Saint Mary, and named for the benefactor, Firmin V. Desloge
. Desloge Hospital's founding principles were to serve the poor and those most in need in the community.
On November 3, 1933, Firmin Desloge Hospital was officially dedicated. The hospital building was described as modified French Gothic architecture, rising 250 feet and is topped by a Gothic roof of copper-covered lead.
This original structure - renamed Desloge Towers - continues to serve the hospital as physician offices and administrative space. The original copper-covered roof remains a St. Louis landmark and is a distinctive part of the City of St. Louis's skyline. There were 206 beds in Desloge Hospital. Two-thirds of them were double-occupancy rooms and the rest were private rooms. This broke the tradition of large open wards, which were common at the time.
The hospital was originally operated under the auspices of the Sisters of St. Mary. In 1959, administration of Firmin Desloge Hospital shifted completely to Saint Louis University
. At this time, Firmin Desloge Hospital, the Bordley Memorial Pavilion and the David P. Wohl Sr. Memorial Institute were collectively renamed Saint Louis University Hospitals
.
Continuous growth and the need for modern facilities and equipment resulted in the construction of a new hospital facility as an addition to the original structure. This new part of the hospital was built directly behind the old Firmin Desloge Hospital at a cost of $39.1 million dollars. The first patients moved in on January 30, 1988.
In 1998, the hospital was purchased from Saint Louis University by Tenet HealthSystem, which also operates Des Peres Hospital (formerly Deaconess West Hospital).
The Desloge Family, furthering their dedication to philanthropy and health, also donated funds to St. Lukes Hospital in west St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Desloge, Jr., great-grandson of Firmin Vincent Desloge, donated $5 million in 2008 for the Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Desloge, Jr. Outpatient Center
Firmin V. Desloge
Firmin V. Desloge was an American lead mining pioneer in the disseminated lead fields of the Southeast Missouri Lead District.-Life:...
. Desloge Hospital's founding principles were to serve the poor and those most in need in the community.
History
In February 1930, the university received a $1 million bequest from the estate of Firmin Vincent Desloge ($13 million in 2010 dollars). Another donation was received from the Desloge family of $100,000 ($1.3 million in 2010 dollars) from Mr. Desloge’s wife, Lydia Desloge, and was designated to build a chapel next to the hospital. The hospital's cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1931.On November 3, 1933, Firmin Desloge Hospital was officially dedicated. The hospital building was described as modified French Gothic architecture, rising 250 feet and is topped by a Gothic roof of copper-covered lead.
This original structure - renamed Desloge Towers - continues to serve the hospital as physician offices and administrative space. The original copper-covered roof remains a St. Louis landmark and is a distinctive part of the City of St. Louis's skyline. There were 206 beds in Desloge Hospital. Two-thirds of them were double-occupancy rooms and the rest were private rooms. This broke the tradition of large open wards, which were common at the time.
The hospital was originally operated under the auspices of the Sisters of St. Mary. In 1959, administration of Firmin Desloge Hospital shifted completely to Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. At this time, Firmin Desloge Hospital, the Bordley Memorial Pavilion and the David P. Wohl Sr. Memorial Institute were collectively renamed Saint Louis University Hospitals
Saint Louis University Hospital
Saint Louis University Hospital is a hospital in St. Louis. Saint Louis University Hospital, also widely known as SLU Hospital, has been owned by the Tenet Healthcare Corporation since the university sold it in 1998. SLU Hospital remains the main teaching hospital for Saint Louis University School...
.
Continuous growth and the need for modern facilities and equipment resulted in the construction of a new hospital facility as an addition to the original structure. This new part of the hospital was built directly behind the old Firmin Desloge Hospital at a cost of $39.1 million dollars. The first patients moved in on January 30, 1988.
In 1998, the hospital was purchased from Saint Louis University by Tenet HealthSystem, which also operates Des Peres Hospital (formerly Deaconess West Hospital).
The Desloge Family, furthering their dedication to philanthropy and health, also donated funds to St. Lukes Hospital in west St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Desloge, Jr., great-grandson of Firmin Vincent Desloge, donated $5 million in 2008 for the Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Desloge, Jr. Outpatient Center