Quick Fact Friday

 

May 8 through May 14 marks National Hospital Week, and while the Charleston area has a long history of medical care, the first hospital in Mount Pleasant only opened in 1985.

 

The plan to build the East Cooper Community Hospital was first proposed by the California-based AMI in 1982, but the path to completing it was far from smooth. As Mount Pleasant’s population was rapidly growing, citizens of the town were concerned at the lack of local access to high-quality medical care. The board of the Palmetto-Lowcountry Health Systems Agency initially rejected the plan, sparking widespread public outrage.

 

The project was finally approved in late 1983, and Mayor John J. Dodds presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on September 8, 1984. Over a thousand people attended the dedication ceremony on November 24, 1985, which featured tours of the facility and speeches from Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Representative Thomas F. Harnett, AMI President Betty W. Walker, and other notable people involved in the project.

 

Over the last nearly forty years the hospital, now the East Cooper Medical Center, has expanded to house an emergency department, women’s health center, neonatal unit, and offices for medical practices and laboratories.

 

 

For more information: East Cooper Medical Center, Evening Post (1982), and News and Courier (1984)

 

Image Credit: News and Courier (1985)

The Town of Mount Pleasant Historical Commission releases Quick Fact Fridays about the history of Mount Pleasant and about the Commission, its programs and activities. Historical facts are drawn largely from the Our History section of the Town's website and the Commission's own Mount Pleasant Historical website and app. Follow their links by clicking on the images below to discover what makes Mount Pleasant such a distinctive historical place! To receive Quick Fact Friday messages click here to subscribe. Email us at kmiller@tompsc.com if you're interested in learning more about a particular Mount Pleasant history topic!