The Ecusta Medical Center: Ahead of Its Time

 

The construction of the Ecusta Medical Center in February 1951, as published in "The Echo" company magazine.

The Ecusta Paper Plant was once a major employer for the region, with over 2,000 employees working on their 225-acre site. It’s hard to believe that one of the few remnants of this once-expansive site is the medical center building, which is in the process of transforming into the new home for Ecusta Brewing.

Built in 1951, the 8,800 square foot building was more than just brick and mortar—it was a revolutionary approach to health and wellness for industrial workers. Harry Straus, the founder of the company, had a vision for the medical center when he brought on his personal friend, Dr. Mac Roy Gasque, as the medical director for the planned facility. When Straus approached Gasque, he expressed the intention of collaborating to create “the best industrial medical department anywhere.”

Gasque was involved in all parts of the planning and implementation of the initiative. As the years went by, Gasque also stayed with Ecusta through its transition to Olin and eventually became the company president before his retirement. Ahead of its time, the facility focused on preventative medicine, though they also provided medical and surgical care, counseling, and routine examinations for employees. The facility was meant to supplement, not replace, the employees’ regular physicians. The concept was so revolutionary that Gasque even won awards and the facility’s initiatives were written about in prestigious medical journals.

When the plant changed hands and then closed in 2003, the medical center was the only building left. It now takes on a second life as a community hub and part of the thriving tourism industry that now bolsters the local economy. Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Local History Librarian Laura Sperry Gardner. For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at ncroom@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.