Florence Williams Hospital

Front inscription

This is the site of the Florence Williams Hospital, opened by its namesake in 1926. Florence Williams (1887-1967) was an African American nurse who worked previously at a hospital on Prince St. She lived at this site in a 2-story wood frame house with her husband and son. Inspired by what she said was a divine vision, she began treating Black patients out of her family’s home after the Prince St. hospital closed.

Reverse inscription

Williams expanded the house several times to accommodate the hospital, which was funded by private donations and the County. It included clinical and operating rooms, a kitchen, laundry, and 18 Black and 7 white patient beds. White as well as Black doctors provided treatment, regardless of patients’ ability to pay. It was the only hospital in the county until Georgetown Memorial opened in 1950. It closed a few years later.