Historic Hospitals of Long Beach

Book excerpt: This book outlines the history of both Long Beach and its hospitals. Few other California cities can boast of their efforts to keep the public healthy as can Long Beach. Its first inhabitants, the Tongva, insisted on personal and household hygiene. The moment Long Beach became a city in 1897, officials established a board of public health and appointed a public health officer. Consequently, when epidemics struck, the city had fewer causalities. Residents of Long Beach, like most Americans in the early twentieth century, gave birth, treated illness and even underwent surgery at home. Hospitals were considered places for the poor and the severely infirm or places to quarantine contagious disease. The seaside's "perfect climate" was utilized by sanitariums to market relaxation and recuperation. As Long Beach grew, and its medical professionals became more sophisticated, sanitariums became hospitals. First, Long Beach Hospital, then Seaside, followed by St. Mary's, Community and Harriman Jones. Long a destination for retired and active military, Long Beach was also home to two Naval hospitals and one veteran's hospital.