Sandy's Written Creations
Writings by Sandra Harrison including poetry, essays, fiction, non-fiction; children's literatire.
White Plains Hospitals
This entry is an updated version of “Hospitals” from White Plains, New York: A City of Contrasts.”
The Former St Agnes Hospital
St. Agnes Hospital, closed in 2003, had its beginnings in 1908. The medical building on the property underwent renovations and the former hospital was repurposed into an assistive living facility (the Bristol).
The plans to turn the rest of the complex into a retirement community has yet to happen.
A grotto (below) remains near the entrance.
NY Presbyterian Hospital
NY Presbyterian Hospital now owns the property where in the 1894 Bloomingdale Hospital opened. Many of the buildings from the original hospital are still in use. The property of the Hospital used to go from Westchester Ave to Heatherbloom Rd.
Bloomingdale (Insane) Asylum (1821-1889) in Manhattan bought White Plains (WP) farmland in 1868 for an annex. When the NY City location closed, the hospital moved to WP. The hospital got its original name from the section of NY City where the first hospital was located. The road leading from the NY City hospital was named Bloomingdale (Dutch in origin) and in the 19th century it became part of Broadway. Incidentally, WP’s Bloomingdale Rd was named after the hospital.
The original hospital grounds were designed by Frederick L. Olmsted Company. The main building dates from 1894 and two of the homes that were on the grounds when the property was purchased are still on the grounds. The hospital’s wrought iron fencing still surrounding the property has NY Hospital (Cornell) signs from when they owned the hospital.
A redeveloped city park at the corner of Bryant and Mamaroneck Aves was once apart of the hospital grounds. There are walking trails and signage at the entrance.
Interestingly, the Bloomingdale’s Department Store located on a section of the hospital’s original property is named for the store’s founders, Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale whose father was Bavarian. The store opened in 1975.
The hospital is located on the grounds that were once apart of Bloomingdale Hospital. Burke is now part of the Montefiore Health System.
Today, WP has many medical offices/centers and now include Urgent Care centers (for emergencies) that serve the people in the community. There are three hospitals (WP, Burke & NY Presbyterian) that keep expanding their services. Ambulance services are available through 911 call in services with fast moving vehicles that can get to those in need within a short period of time.
City have many paid doctors, nurses and other health professionals but there are still volunteers and those who donate their time to keep our medical facilities available for those in need. Hospitals have reach out programs, lectures and events for patients and those in the community.
During the pandemic of 2020, the Westchester County Center was converted into a hospital and a parking lot a testing center.
Sandy's Written Creations 