Hospital on the hill

- Callan Hospital, 1938 -

The old Callan Hospital in Rotan was recently put on the block for public auction by city council. It is in poor condition, so much so that the Rotan  High School students use it as a haunted house at Halloween.

There was a time when the building was a source of pride for the community.

Excerpts from 1938 issues of The Sweetwater Reporter and Nolan County News reported progress of construction on the new hospital.

On site excavation for the hospital began January 3, 1938, and was finished by January 20. The building plan included two stories, a ground floor and a basement; thirty rooms, twelve in the basement; the ground floor was to have six private rooms and two wards. The exterior was to be made of native rock. R. T. Martin was in charge of construction and had projected it would take five months to build the hospital.

Famous Families of Fisher County, a book published around 1986, cites that the hospital opened with 9 beds and office space for the Callan Clinic. The outside is covered in rock.

On September 30, 1938, the hospital had been open for a few weeks and an open house set for October 1 & 2.

Famous Families recounts Dr. Chester Uri Callan's part in establishing the hospital.

Around 1935 and 1936, during Dr. Callan's time as Rotan Mayor, he wanted to build a hospital using Works Progress Administration funds, but the city council did not support him. He found other means to achieve his goal.

After the new hospital broke ground, Dr. Callan resigned from his mayoral duties, around April or May of 1938.

After nearly forty years of service, the Callan Hospital was closed in 1976.

Dr. Callan died May 18, 1987 and is buried in the Belvieu Cemetery east of Rotan.

The deed for the property was transferred to the city in 2000.

Citations:

1.  The Portal to Texas History: (Break ground - Sweetwater Reporter, Wednesday, January 5, 1938), (Excavation finished -Sweetwater Reporter, Thursday, January 20, 1938), (New mayor -Sweetwater Reporter, Friday, May 13, 1938),(Hospital opens - Sweetwater Reporter Friday, September 30, 1938)
2. Famous Families of Fisher County, Fisher County Historical Commission, page 49, Dr. C. U. Callan Family
3. Fisher County Appraisal District