The Southeastern Kentucky Baptist Hospital, formerly known as the Corbin Municipal Hospital, was located in Corbin, Kentucky. The facility closed in 1984 and was demolished in 2008.
History
The Corbin Municipal Hospital was constructed in 1951.(1)(15) Medical offices were later constructed across the street, and the hospital was expanded in the mid-1970s that more than doubled its size. The hospital relocated to a larger campus in 1984 on U.S. Route 25W.(2)
In September 1999, Larry Jeffries purchased the former hospital from Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries (SEKRI).(12) Jeffries was later arrested after approaching various city officials for a place to stay; he posted bond on May 6, 2004, and has not been seen since. He was later discovered to be a fugitive.(12) In June 2002, Corbin businessman Bob Taylor purchased the site for $1,000.(6)(7)
Between May and June 2002, Harlan County businessman Otis Hensley began negotiating with Jeffries through a third-party to buy the property.(12) In March 2003, Otis Hensley entered into a “gentlemens contract,” an announcement of intent to purchase the former Southeastern Kentucky Baptist Hospital from Taylor, but no deed was signed.(6) Under Hensley’s plan, he would renovate the hospital for professional office and medical use.(6)(12) Hensley’s unsuccessful bid to run for governor in 2003, however, sapped his funding for the hospital.(7)
In February 2004, Taylor and two others — Danny and Pearly Partin — were cited by state inspectors after they were caught removing copper pipe from the building, which stirred up asbestos fibers.(9) Soon after, the hospital was condemned by the city.(10) The hospital was once again raided for copper by Danny Pearl in late-April 2004.(11)
In June 2005, the former Corbin hospital and five acres of land were sold for a mere $20,000 to the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC) Community Action Partnership Inc. (8) with the intent to redevelop the site for housing. On July 6, Baptist Healthcare, the former tenant of the hospital, donated an additional ten acres surrounding the building to the city of Corbin. On August 30, the Corbin City Commission voted for City Attorney Bob Hammons to draw up a lawsuit against the former owners of the property and the hospital for violating city ordinances — but information regarding the owners was vague at best.(7) The city and state had earlier issued notices and citations against the owners for removing pipe and copper from the former hospital, and were in discussions to levy fines.
On September 26, 2007, Governor Ernie Fletcher signed a $500,000 ceremonial check that was presented to the KCEOC for demolition of the hospital.(3)(4) Two additional grants will cover the cost of demolition — $440,000 from the federal Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and $60,000 from the Governor’s Office of Local Development. This was the accumulation of efforts over the years to demolish the vacant 12-acre property in a residential neighborhood.
Demolition was expected to begin in October with asbestos abatement and the removal of underground fuel storage tanks, with a total project cost of $646,250. Micro-Analytics of Louisville was awarded a contract for asbestos removal, but no work was completed because the demolition bid had not been awarded.(13) There were areas in the building that required selective demolition work before asbestos could be removed.
On February 23, 2008, Gateway Environmental Services of Highland, Illinois was selected to demolish the hospital with a bid of $227,500, the lowest of the bids to be presented to the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council.(13) Abatement of asbestos is scheduled to begin on May 12, with structural demolition beginning on May 26.(14)
A 48-unit condominium complex with a playground, clubhouse and restaurant is slated in the place of the old hospital.(3)(4)
Gallery
Sources
- Cornerstone
- “Quality Close to Home.” Baptist Healthcare System. 1 Oct. 2007 Page.
- “Hospital gets its due.” Times-Tribune (London) 27 Sept. 2007. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Luby, Marie. “Old Corbin Hospital Being Torn Down.” WKYT 26 Sept. 2007. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- “Old Corbin hospital sold for $20,000.” Times-Tribune (London) 14 June 2005. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Powers, J. Griffitts. “A gentlemans job…Businessman makes informal deal for old hospital.” Times-Tribune (London) 26 March 2003. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Petke, Fred. “Former city hospital focus of officials’ ire.” Times-Tribune (London) 14 Sept. 2004. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Petke, Fred. “Corbin accepts 10 acres around old hospital.” Times-Tribune (London) 7 July 2005. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Andrews, J. “Corbin official losing hope over old hospital.” Times-Tribune (London) 8 June 2004. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- “Corbin condemns old hospital.” Times-Tribune (London) 10 Feb. 2004. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Andrews, J. “Salvage continues at old hospital.” Times-Tribune (London) 4 May 2004. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- “Former hospital building may spark suit against city.” Times-Tribune (London) 4 Feb. 2004. 1 Oct. 2007 Article.
- Hicks, Brad. “Bid accepted for demolition of old Corbin hospital.” Times-Tribune (London) 23 Feb. 2008. 27 Feb. 2008 Article.
- Swindler, Samantha. “Demo date announced.” Times-Tribune (London) 30 April 2008. 8 May 2008 Article.
- “Hospital haunts?” Times-Tribune (London) 29 May 2008. 7 June 2008 Article.