Tallassee Times

Steve Butler holding a bouncing baby boy, Dec. 12, 1971

Tallasseee in Pictures:
Community Hospital

By Michael Butler

Community Hospital in Tallassee holds a special place in my heart. It is where I was born.

My mother labored in labor. She struggled for more than 12 hours on a December night at the hospital when it was located in East Tallassee before I arrived on this earth about 45 years ago.

I've heard all the stories. My dad tells of a nurse that exclaimed, "She's not trying!" My late grandfather used to talk about how he and my father paced up and down the halls waving at one other each time they crossed paths.

The old brick building that housed that hospital is now a green space. The original hospital was also on the east side, according to Virgina Golden in her book, "A History of Tallassee."

"When the old one had to be torn down to make way for construction of the new bridge, spanning the Tallapoosa River at the site, a new and modernly equipped hospital was built in East Tallassee by the mills to take care of the community needs."

In W. E. Wadsworth's book - also called "A History of Tallassee," the medical profession has been "represented in Tallassee since the middle 1800s."

Wadsworth wrote of Dr. Rushin and his son who practiced in Tallassee. Dr. Warren worked here in the early 1900s and lived in Carrville. "Warren was the owner of the first automobile in Tallassee - a Reo."

Golden added that the mill played a vital role in health care for Tallasseeans.

"One of the most outstanding things done to better the health opportunities of families dependent upon the mills was the establishment of a cooperative medical service and hospitalization for all person connected with the mills."

Employees paid 30 cents per week to insure health care, a bit less compared to today's health care rates.

"Four full-time doctors were employed by the mills," Golden noted. "Community Hospital was enlarged and its facilities increased under the cooperative plan. and when the old one had to be torn down to make way for construction of the new bridge, spanning the Tallapoosa River at the site, a new and modernly equipped hospital was built in East Tallassee by the mills to take care of the community needs."

Golden raved of the hospital in her book as, "one of the best small hospitals in the state."

The long history of the hospital dates back to 1925, and Tallassee is so fortunate to have it still today. Community Hospital is now located on the west side of the river on Friendship Road, where it was constructed in 1975.

The not-for-profit 69-bed health care facility serves Elmore, Tallapoosa and Macon counties. It truly is a "community" hospital with a board of directors made up local leaders, business and health care professionals.

Community Hospital continues to expand its services. In addition to 24-hour physician-staffed emergency care, the hospital offers a full range of outpatient services, New Day Senior Care - a short-term in-patient geriatric program and the newest service - Community Skilled Care and Rehab.

On the hospital campus include various medical office buildings; Tallassee Family Care, Community Medical Arts Center (CMAC), and the Community Medical Plaza. Community Home Care and Community Hospice Care are owned and operated by Community Hospital.

*Photos courtesy of Community Hospital unless noted otherwise.

1920s era Tallassee Mills Infirmary. Courtesy of Bill Goss, Tallassee Falls Museum.

Tallassee Mills Telephone Exchange and doctors offices, circa 1934.
Courtesy of Bill Goss, Tallassee Falls Museum.

Community Hospital, built in East Tallassee in the 1920s

Green space used for flea markets and other functions, owned by East Tallassee United Methodist Church, on property where the hospital once sat.

1970s era nurses. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Framed photos of Community Hospital on file at the Tallassee Falls Museum

Community Hospital today on Friendship Road

Community Medical Plaza

Surgery

MRI

The ER entrance

New cast

Established in 1992, the Community Hospital Foundation assists the hospital with capital improvements.

Doctors' Day, late 1990s. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

ER recognition, 1990s. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Late 1990s physical therapists. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Jeanette Littlejohn and Patsy Lee in front of the new EKG machine, late 1970s. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

1970s picture of Mary Ruth Webster who served as the hospital's house supervisor. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Jennie Rhinehart in her early years with Medical Records. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Dr. Melvin Russell sporting the scrubs. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

1970s shot of Helen Smart and Johnnie Duvall in the Pharmacy Department. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Nurses Priscilla Hammonds, Beatrice Patterson, Marjorie Layfield, Francis Brantley and Barbara Taylor. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

Community Hospital nurses in the late 70s. Photos courtesy of Camille Mason.

Dr. David Angle at his retirment party. Photos courtesy of Camille Mason.

Nurses reunion in 1998. Courtesy of Camille Mason.

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