The history of St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, La., is one of a perfect convergence of strong leadership, community support, and governmental efforts to promote the building of hospitals in the rural areas.
Federal and state government had for years been talking about funding the construction of such hospitals, but Covington's citizens were already ahead of them.
The early beginnings of St. Tammany Parish Hospital is told in an article by Mike Scott posted to the hospital's website. It tells how Norma Core remembers that the earliest idea for a need to build a hospital came to her on a rainy night in the 1940's.
(Photo source: St. Tammany Health System website)
It took years to come to completion, but the dogged persistence of the public and the public officials, both local and national, helped it come to pass. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on the site on May 4, 1953.
The groundbreaking ceremony is pictured above. From left to right are Louis Voss, Archie Singletary, James Thompson (in the rear), Eugene Esquinance, Fred Mizell, Joseph Stein (in the rear), Eugene McIntyre (in the rear), Norma Core, Lucille Glisson, Walter Clairain, Oliver Hebert, Ike Champagne, Gus Fritchie, H. A. Davis, August Perez, Jack Tannehill (in the rear), Cecile Hebert, George Broom, Baxter Pond, Jessie Bankston, Father Tim Pugh, Maurice Duplantis, and L. L. Landon.
On Nov. 28, 1954, a dedication ceremony was held.
Scott's article, chapter by chapter, tells the inspiring story of how the hospital came to be, the local fundraising efforts, the bond issues, the community-wide support.
To read the entire story, CLICK HERE.
The St. Tammany Health System Website is an interesting website filled with information on St. Tammany Parish Hospital and can be found at the following links:
For more information about Norma Core, click below.
Norma Core, Covington Trailblazer
For a report on the hospital's operations in 1962:
Norma Core
Dr. M.J. Duplantis
