In the late 1800s, the country faced a worldwide recession—some would even say it was a Depression. San Diego had gone from a bustling metropolitan city to a much more scaled-down version. People were still coming to our fair city, but not in the previous droves. Most tourists came for “cures,” as the balmy climate and ocean breezes seemed like a panacea for whatever might ail them. This gave rise to San Diego’s early years as a health resort.

Many sanitariums opened, offering such treatments as seawater baths, hot air treatments, vapor medication, sitz baths, massage, salt glows, facial massage, manual Swedish movements, magnetic treatments and something rather mysterious called the Kneipp treatment. It was basically hydropathology— various water baths. Some notable sanitariums were Los Baños, The Sanitarium Treatment Rooms, Hidroterapia and the Agnew Sanitarium, where Alonzo Horton passed away at the age of 96. The Agnew also offered maternity care and surgery, so it lasted a bit longer than most. It must be noted also that most of these sanitariums were not run by medical doctors.

Even Gaslamp notables Dr. Thomas Stockton and Dr. Peter Remondino opened a private sanitarium. Unfortunately, the good doctors had a falling out and the business closed before being repurposed as the Arlington Hotel.

However, even though San Diego was a health destination, we had no real hospital, only private care facilities, such as the one run by Ana Schepper in the Davis-Horton House. These were funded by the County.

Since many businesses had closed during the recession, rentals were abundant and reasonable. In 1890, two little nuns were able to secure two floors in the Grant Central Hotel, above a men’s clothing store, on 6th and Market. They were Sister Mary Michael Cummings and Sister Mary Alphonsus Fitzpatrick. Both were Sisters of Mercy, Irish immigrants and had $50 between them— a gift from Father Ubach of Old Town. They opened their five-bed “dispensary” on July 9, 1890, and within hours had their first patient, John O’Connell, who was suffering from malaria. He survived and 13 days later, was able to walk out. He paid his bill in full and returned several times throughout his life when he suffered relapses. The Sisters of Mercy never turned a patient away, and professed to care for “Catholics, non-Catholics, Greek Catholics, Jew, pagan, heathen and infidel.” The first Caesarian section on the West Coast was also performed here.

After only one year and extensive fundraising, the Sisters were able to build a new, three-story facility in Hillcrest named St. Joseph’s Sanitarium. This expansion allowed them to offer care to the chronically ill, orphans and those needing hospice care. The hospital occupied 10 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, complete with fruit and shade trees, arbors, a canyon, and outdoor seating for rest and contemplation. It featured an operating room, a pharmacy, a kitchen, a laboratory, and a reading room. Additionally, there were physician apartments, a convent for their rapidly increasing cadre of nuns, and a chapel. Sister Mary Michael, now elevated to Mother Mary Michael, always said the Downtown facility was only meant to be temporary. San Diego’s doctors were also proud to practice at the new Mercy Hospital, including Dr. Charlotte Baker, San Diego’s first female physician. Dr. Baker later advised her good friend, Ellen Browning Scripps, when the notable philanthropist wanted to open a hospital in La Jolla. The resulting Scripps Hospital just celebrated its centennial anniversary in September. In 1995, Mercy and Ellen Scripps’ hospital joined together to become the Scripps Mercy system.

Recognizing the need for more nurses, in 1903, Mother Mary Michael started the St. Joseph’s Training School for Nurses. In 1906, 10 Sisters of Mercy graduated. On Nov. 14, 1924, when the new Mercy Hospital opened on Fifth Ave. and Washington St. in Hillcrest, it also included a new nurse’s school building and nurse’s housing. The lovely Italian Renaissance-style school building was designated as a historic site in 1999. The entry features a decorative concrete facade, a recessed area adorned with ceramic tiles, and hand-painted trim and terra cotta tile flooring. The exterior is peach-colored stucco and is further adorned with cast stone embellishments, wrought iron railings, and wood-framed windows. It is capped by a Mission clay tile roof. The interior features three fireplaces, original tiles created by Ernest Batchelder, French and single-panel doors with transoms, crown molding, built-in cabinetry, and arched corridors, doors and window casings.

This stunning structure is now being used as cancer support services for patients of Scripps Cancer Center. Previously known as the Mercy College of Nursing, it has been renamed the Woltman Family College Building in honor of Woltman’s philanthropic gift for the restoration and rehabilitation of the structure.

To accommodate the ever-growing population in San Diego by 1966, Scripps Mercy needed to expand. An 11-story hospital, the current structure, was built on the same site as the 1924 hospital, next to the nursing college. The older structure was razed, except for the elevator shaft, which is still in use today. The new hospital underwent a remodel in 2004 and 2010.

Today, the oldest hospital in San Diego County, and the first hospital west of the Mississippi to be accredited by the American College of Surgeons, has more plans for growth. On Dec. 14, 2023, the San Diego Planning Commission approved Project 658548, the Scripps Mercy Expansion Project. This ambitious project will provide two new hospital towers, a hospital support building, a medical offices building, an ambulance drop-off area, a loading dock area, a central energy plant expansion, and several utility yards. The proposal is now being reviewed by the state for final approval. Scripps Mercy Hospital, including its Level 1 trauma center, will remain open and fully functioning during the construction.

From 1890 into the 21st century, Scripps Mercy Hospital has dedicated itself to providing high-quality and socially responsible healthcare to the San Diego community. It continues to preserve its legacy for future generations.