County of marker: Phelps County
Location of marker: Kingshighway (bus. I-40), University of Missouri Rock Mechanics
built as: Missouri Trachoma Hospital, Rolla
Building Built: 1939
"The Former Missouri Trachoma Hospital
"Trachoma, a disease afflicting the eyes, was the leading cause of blindness in the United States during the turn of the twentieth century. The disease was particularly prevalent in a belt stretching from eastern Kentucky to eastern Oklahoma. Known as “The Trachoma Belt,” 75% of all cases of the infection in the 1920's occurred within this area.
"To combat trachoma, President Woodrow Wilson allocated federal funds to the United States Public Health Service. The Health Service used the funds to construct the first trachoma hospital, in Richmond, Kentucky, in September of 1913.
Ten years later, a trachoma clinic opened within an existing hospital in Rolla, MO. The Federal Health Department decided to withdraw their management of the clinic in Rolla on March 12, 1936. General operations of the clinic were transferred to the Missouri State Health Department.
"The Missouri State Health Department deemed the facilities of the trachoma clinic in Rolla insufficient. During the 1930's, Missouri was paying over $280,000 a year in blind pensions to victims of trachoma. Determined to build a facility exclusively for the treatment of trachoma, the Missouri State Legislature allotted $75,000 of state funds for the construction of a new hospital.
"The federal government supplemented the state funds with $61,363 of federal funds through the Public Works Administration. The Rolla Chamber of Commerce selected a site at the northwest corner of the intersection of highways 66 and 63.
"The site, situated on a high knoll, was purchased from the Missouri School of Mines for $2,000. A construction contract was awarded to J.E. Williams of University City, MO for $104,573. A ceremonial ground breaking took place on January 3, 1939. Due to the funding of a state hospital by the state of Missouri in an attempt to diminish the cost incurred to victims of trachoma, the former hospital has state wide significance.
"On July 29, 1939, a cornerstone ceremony was held at the nearly completed hospital building. The ceremony was presided over by Malvern B. Clopton, President of the Missouri State Board of Health. In attendance were Governor Lloyd Stark and the director of the Kentucky Trachoma Hospital, Dr. Arthur McCormick.
"The cornerstone was laid by Karl Vetsburg, the Grand Master of the Missouri Masonic Lodge. During his address, Stark stated “this building is a symbol of the humanitarianism which is traditional of the people of Missouri.” At the time, the Missouri Trachoma Hospital was the second such hospital in the nation." ~ Kirksville Daily Express