ARTESIA Demolition began this week on the ‘old Artesia General Hospital’. As pictured at left, the Artesia Memorial Hospital was built in 1939 by the WPA workforce. The hospital began with 28 beds, which included 10 private rooms, three 2bed rooms, three 4bed rooms, an operating room, obstetrics room, nursery, offices, kitchen, lab, emergency room and surgical room.
In 1963 an extension on the north was added and expanded the capacity to 50 beds and an xray room and the remodeling of the front entrance. A new chapel was also built in 1963.
The hospital closed it’s doors in the fall of 1981 as the ‘new Artesia General Hospital’ began receiving patients. It was sold to a private buyer.
Following demolition the site will house Roselawn Manor Apartments, affordable housing for an increasing need within the city.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Historical information was provided by the Artesia Historical Museum.)
