McCune-Brooks Hospital (former), 627 West Centennial, now Carthage Water & Electric Plant

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Now home to the business offices of Carthage Water & Electric Plant (CW&EP), the original three story brick and Carthage limestone-trimmed hospital structure was opened in 1929. Dr. Everett Powers was the first Chief of Staff at this facility. The building has had many additions during its years of service as a hospital. In 2008 a new hospital was built south of Carthage off Interstate 49 and the old hospital was converted to business use by CW&EP. This entry was created in honor of Carthage's 175th Anniversary Celebration in 2017 and was based on an exhibit at the Powers Museum. The museum's name honors Dr. Powers and his wife Marian Wright Powers (see Clio entry for Powers Museum and former Powers Home at 314 Euclid Boulevard).

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.

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.

Cite This Entry

Michele Hansford for Powers Museum on behalf of Powers Museum and Michele Hansford. "McCune-Brooks Hospital (former), 627 West Centennial, now Carthage Water & Electric Plant." Clio: Your Guide to History. December 3, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2025. https://theclio.com/entry/42171

Sources

McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital: 100 Years and Counting. Carthage Evening Press, January 2008 supplement.

Powers Museum Vertical Files: McCune-Brooks Hospital.