MOBILE, Ala. -- The Mobile County Health Department was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Alabama Historical Commission through its Capital Enhancements Grant Program, according to Mark Bryant, Grants Coordinator at MCHD.
The money will be used to help offset the cost for repairs to an original section of the Keeler building that was originally a U.S. Marine Hospital beginning in 1842. During that time, the structure provided a space to care for sick and disabled seaman. In 1955, the U.S. Marine Hospital was converted into a tuberculosis hospital, and was named in honor of Frank S. Keeler.
In 1974, the TB clinic closed. The Saint Anthony Street facility, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, soon changed hands. In December of 1974, the Mobile County Board of Health entered into a lease/purchase arrangement for the building. In 1983, all Mobile County Health Department services were moved to the building located in downtown Mobile.
The structure is older than the Statue of Liberty and remains a landmark to Mobile’s medical history. The first phase of repair work was recently completed, after a construction crew reinforced the northeast corner of the building closest to North Bayou Street with new beams.
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