McCune-Brooks Hospital (former), 627 West Centennial, now Carthage Water & Electric Plant
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
January 2008 Carthage Evening Press Supplement composite image featuring first Carthage Hospital, McCune-Brooks Hospital (1929) and new McCune-Brooks Hospital (2008; now part of Mercy Hospital System).

Red Cross Volunteer uniform worn by Jane Jensen at McCune-Brooks Hospital and wooden hospital wheelchair donated to Powers Museum in honor of Dr. Everett Powers when the museum opened. Powers was Chief of Staff when the hospital opened in 1929.

2017 Exhibit case featuring items used at the former Carthage Hospital and McCune-Brooks Hospital.

Close-up of one of the diagnostic items in 2017 display. The glass container with wire lid was used to house African frogs used in pregnancy testing.

January 2008 Carthage Evening Press Supplement composite image featuring first Carthage Hospital, McCune-Brooks Hospital (1929) and new McCune-Brooks Hospital (2008; now part of Mercy Hospital System).

Red Cross Volunteer uniform worn by Jane Jensen at McCune-Brooks Hospital and wooden hospital wheelchair donated to Powers Museum in honor of Dr. Everett Powers when the museum opened. Powers was Chief of Staff when the hospital opened in 1929.

2017 Exhibit case featuring items used at the former Carthage Hospital and McCune-Brooks Hospital.

Close-up of one of the diagnostic items in 2017 display. The glass container and wire lid was used to house African frogs used in pregnancy testing.

Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The hospital's name honors two physicians. The first was Dr. Robert F. Brooks who established a trust upon his death for the construction of a hospital. The second was Dr. Thomas E. McCune who was an associate of Dr. R. F. Brooks. An anonymous gift of $10,000 was given in 1903 to the Carthage Hospital Association (CHA) by McCune's mother, Lizzie McCune, as a memorial to her son. Mrs. McCune had been instrumental in the CHA when it worked toward the construction of Carthage's first hospital. It was located closer to the corner of Centennial and Forest Streets and opened in 1907. When the 1929 facility opened, the former hospital was used by nurses for lodging and other related medical activities. John C.Guinn donated half of the construction costs, $75,000, for the bigger hospital facility.
Sources
McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital: 100 Years and Counting. Carthage Evening Press, January 2008 supplement.
Powers Museum Vertical Files: McCune-Brooks Hospital.