Stabler Infirmary & Hospital
©1999-2001, Written and Submitted by: Mildred
Stinson Brown
Stabler Infirmary, 1930s
The above is an actual photo postcard of the Stabler Infirmary, Greenville,
Alabama, as it appeared in the early 1930s. It was recently purchased through
one of the eBay Online Auctions.
The Stabler Infirmary was well known to the citizens of Greenville and Butler County. Its original structure was located on Commerce Street across from the First National Bank. Dr. L. V. Stabler was in charge of the hospital and it would bear his name. A fire destroyed the hospital in December 1921, but Dr. L. V. wasn't ready to give up his medical practice.
In 1923, with the completion of a small building consisting of seven rooms, an x-ray department, a laboratory, a kitchen and twelve patient rooms, the Stable Infirmary reopened its doors. Little by little it grew. An additional wing was added in 1937. A second wing was built in 1947, followed by another section in 1964. In 1972 the final wing was built. The newly completed wing afforded the hospital all of the most update needs for medical technology at the time.
Dr. L. V. Stabler was joined in partnership with his son Dr. Ernest Vernon Stabler in 1932. Another son, Dr. Aubrey A. Stabler joined the family practice in 1940. The depression years often saw more patients than the hospital was equipted to house. A day's stay in the hospital (1932) cost $3 while surgical anesthesia cost $10.
Doctors who served the hospital during the depression years included Dr. H. H. Henderson and Dr. James E. Kendrick. During the late 1940s to early 1950s there were Dr. Miles H. Mason, Jr. and Dr. W. M. Crosby were staff members.
Others who helped make the hospital a success were the nurses and other staff members: William B. McGehee, Miss Bessie Johnson, Almyra Reams, Hazel Weir, Sue Harrison, Ara Bell Gaines, Sue Key, Willodean Autrey, Alma Towery, Rayfea Wilson.
Dr. Paul A. Stabler and Dr. E. V. Stabler, Jr. joined their father and grandfather in the family practice in 1966 and 1967. Dr. Aubrey A. Stabler returned to the hospital in 1978.
The
building was razed in 1988 to make way for a parking lot for patients of
the Stable Clinic. The building had served the city of Greenville and Butler
County for sixty-five years.
[NOTE: In January, 1948, I was born in the Stabler Infirmary. The doctor of delivery was Dr. Ernest Vernon Stabler. My parent's hospital bill was $125 for the delivery and $1 for my birth certificate. When I last saw the old building in 1965, it still bore the name of Stabler Infirmary.]
L. V. Stabler Memorial Hospital
(architech drawing 1987)
L. V. Stabler, M.D.
1875 - 1964
Lorenzo received his formal educational background in the schools of Forest Home, graduating from there. He continued his education at the University of Alabama as a student medicine before going to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He received his degree of medicine in 1898. That same year he entered medical practice and spent three years in Wilcox County. From there he practiced in Thornsby, AL and later moved to Greenville in 1910. In 1916, he entered into practice with his brother, Dr. Andrew Lee Stabler. Together they opened the Stabler Infirmary in Greenville. Dr. Andrew retired from practice prior to the fire that destroyed the building in December 1921. Dr. Lorenzo was determined to go on.
E. V. Stabler, M. D.
1905 - 1994
Ernest Vernon Stabler was the son of Dr. Lorenzo Vastine and Ethel Vernon (Ayer) Stabler. He graduated from Greenville High School and attended the University of Alabama. He continued his medical education and graduated from Harvard Medical School.
After completing his medical education, Dr. Ernest Vernon returned to Greenville where he joined his father and his brother, Dr. Aubrey A. Stabler in the operations of the Stabler Infirmary. He was elected as Greenville's Man of The Year in 1962, and was elected as the President of the Alabama Medical Association in 1975.
Dr. Ernest Vernon Stabler married Miss Annie Acker. From this family came Dr. Paul Acker Stabler and Dr. Ernest Vernon Stabler, Jr.
Dr. Ernest Vernon Stabler died April 24, 1994 after almost
60 years of medical service to Greenville and Butler County. Mrs. Annie
Stabler died January 6, 1999.
© 2002 Rhonda Smith