Current Hospital Broke Ground In 1971

By 1939 Transylvania County was well on its way to recovering from the Great Depression.  Harry Straus was constructing Ecusta which would bring jobs and growth to the area.  Although there were a number of highly respected doctors serving the county improvements to medical facilities, specifically the hospital, were in need.  The current hospital was located in a house that had been built as a family home and later served as a boarding house. 

Ralph H. Ramsey, Jr., 

Chairman of the Transylvania Community Hospital Board of Trustees

 turns the first shovel full of dirt at the groundbreaking on May 16, 1941.

Plans were made to construct the first hospital building in Transylvania County.  A fund raising campaign began in November 1939.  The goal was to raise $25,000 locally, which the Duke Endowment Fund would match.  Saturday, November 30, was declared “Buy a Brick Day”, with Harry Straus purchasing the first brick.  A giant thermometer on the courthouse lawn showed the fund raising progress.  By the end of December over half of the goal had been reached.

Transylvania Community Hospital 

on Country Club Rd. (formerly Broad St.) is today the Brian Center.

 The new hospital was to be named the Transylvania Community Hospital to show that it served the entire county.  The $110,000 25-bed facility opened on June 24, 1942.  By the early 1950s the community was already outgrowing the facility and in late 1953 the Harry H. Straus Wing was opened.  The hospital now had 47 beds and was expected to serve the community for many years.

The continued growth of the economy and jobs lead to an increased county population and by the 1960s the hospital was again too small to meet demand.  Remodeling and expanding the existing hospital was considered but state requirements made this impractical.  A fund raising campaign in 1970 raised over $1,000,000 locally toward a new hospital to be built on 25 acres in north Brevard.

Transylvania Community Hospital in north Brevard, 1974.

Construction began in 1971 and the current Transylvania Community Hospital opened in July 1973.  It had 94 beds when it first opened.  Through the years there have been numerous improvements and additions to the building and the hospital campus.

In 2008 the name was changed to Transylvania Regional Hospital and on January 1, 2011 it became affiliated with the Mission Health System.  Today the Transylvania Regional Hospital has grown to over 600 employees and 150 volunteers serving residents of and visitors to Transylvania County.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.