By Sarah Gray/Managing Editor
“Dad’s tree is still here,” Susan Knipchild O’Neal said, standing with her sister, Ann, where the original Fitzgibbon Hospital once stood.
They treaded over wet leaves to the walkway where the cornerstone of the original Fitzgibbon Hospital was placed. A modest crowd had gathered Friday afternoon, Dec. 27, at the corner of South Brunswick and Summit streets where the city of Marshall dedicated half a city block as the “Fitzgibbon Memorial Park.”
Beneath the canopy of trees were the cornerstone, two stone benches, and an intricate plaque installed to commemorate the park and its purpose. The drizzle held off long enough for a planned ribbon-cutting ceremony to take place. Mayor Vince Lutterbie welcomed the group, describing what the city had been working on.
“It’s going to be a nice little neighborhood park, and that’s what we want it to be,” Lutterbie said. “A lot of memories out here, and we’re going to try and get the trees marked that have names on them, or at least have another momento plaque.”
The ceremony was hosted by the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, with the ribbon-cutting honors given to Fitzgibbon Hospital President and CEO Angela Littrell and reitired CEO Ron Ott. Littrell thanked everyone involved in making the park and ceremony possible.
“It’s just such a respectful and honorable way to remember everything – on the healing and care – that happened right here where we’re standing …” Littrell said. “It’s just a really kind gesture. And to have our cornerstone from the original hospital here to remind folks of John Fitzgibbon and what he gave this community is really touching. So, thank you. It will always be remembered this way.”
The 101-year-old hospital was a vision of Marshall resident John Fitzgibbon, who left a gift of $150,000 for the community to build a hospital. He died in 1916. Construction of the original structure was completed in 1923.
“Through the years, the hospital flourished,” Ott told the crowd. “Their admissions kept climbing, to the point that they needed more facilities, more space, more beds, more equipment. And so … the board decided to build an add-on, up to 90 beds. In the beginning, the hospital had 32 beds.”
Ott recalled his first day at Fitzgibbon Memorial Hospital, saying he remembers that moment in April of 1987, pulling up and parking on the street and walking up the sidewalk to the front doors.
“That was my first day at work,” he said.
Ott noted he spent 28 years with the organization, which included the transition to the current facility on U.S. Highway 65, which was built in 1991.
“I think the first year (that) opened, we had over 300 births,” he told the crowd. “It’s been a big part of our lives.”
After the hospital moved in the early 90s, the original structure went through several owners and a couple of uses, including art gallery space organized by Pahlo Arts and the Kazoos! children’s art center. On a couple of occasions the potential sale of the structure by private owners was discussed, as was the potential for it to become senior housing. The structure was eventually condemned Aug. 5, 2019. In June of 2020, the city had been working with The Nash Group, which was looking into cleaning up the site for prospective affordable housing. That plan did not come to fruition, and the structure was finally demolished in the fall of 2023.
And while no longer visible, the structure on Brunswick Avenue has remained a big part of residents’ lives – continuing with the epithet of “the old hospital,” regardless of recent uses.
Roughly one-quarter of those attending Friday had been born at the original hospital site. For some residents, their contention with an unsettled site for the better part of a decade has finally found a solution. For many others, like Ann and Susan and countless residents who received care at Fitzgibbon, the park is a welcome reminder of John Fitzgibbon’s ongoing gift.
“This was for ‘Doctors’ Day’,” Susan explained about the trees.
The sisters looked at a list of names and a drawing which showed the location of each tree on the lot. From 1968-1986, it seemed a tree was planted in dedication to one of the doctors.
“And, so, my dad, which is (DF) Knipchild, has a linden tree over there,” Susan stated, pointing to the south end of the lot. “And he’s the only one still living. It’s kind of neat.”
The dedication plaque reads: Where healing once flourished, peace endures. This green space is located on the grounds of the original Fitzgibbon Memorial Hospital building and is dedicated to the caregivers, nurses, doctors, and staff who devoted themselves to healing and compassion. Within those walls countless lives were touched and our community was strengthened. This site now serves as a place for reflection, peace, and renewal. May all who visit remember resilience of the human spirit and the power of care. Dedicated by the City of Marshall. 2025.
“We hope everybody enjoys this park and the spirit in which it’s intended,” Lutterbie stated at the end of the ceremony, “a nice, quiet, reflective place and a lot of memories. And the memories will be here forever.”
