Life in the Hospital
Many people at the CCCH experienced trauma because of their debilitating illness. Still, a number of them made the best of their circumstances in the hospital. Oral histories interviews offer a glimpse into both painful and joyful memories. Read some of the stories below.
“[David] was nine when he died. [His mother] said shortly before he died that he woke up during the night and went and got her and said that he wanted to go outside and talk to God." - Carolyn Hurst, speaking about her cousin David who died at age nine after being in the hospital for only three days.
Person with polio in therapy bed, 1953.
©Carol W. Martin/Greensboro History Museum Collection
“I think in those days people were afraid, you know, of this contagious polio. I think they didn’t want to be around. In fact, I don’t think anybody but the immediate family ever came.” - Jean Payne Rabie, a nurse at the polio hospital
Boy at hospital with toy airplane, c. 1948-1953.
©Carol W. Martin/Greensboro History Museum Collection
Child with polio with adult at the CCCH, 1950.
©Carol W. Martin/Greensboro History Museum Collection
“I really thought it was more like a summer camp situation...If I’m not mistaken, they had a room we could go to, where you were able to at least use your limbs like to play games and whatnot, which helped with the morale... So, they did a lot to make sure our stay was a good stay.” - Gladys Chavis, a High Point resident who contracted polio when she was nine years old. She stayed at the CCCH for approximately 5 months in 1951.
Students visiting the polio hospital, 1950.
©Carol W. Martin/Greensboro History Museum Collection
Closure
Jonas Salk discovered the injectable polio vaccine in 1954. This breakthrough was followed by Albert Sabin’s creation of the oral polio vaccine in 1961. As a result of these medical advances, polio cases in Greensboro declined dramatically. The CCCH closed in 1961, and after two years the building and land rights were signed over to the county. Immediately after closing, the site sat vacant and served as a temporary school.