This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
The United States Veterans Administration Hospital, located at 13000 Sayre Street in Sylmar was the first Veterans Bureau hospital to be constructed on the Pacific Coast. It consisted of twenty buildings costing approximately $1,500,000 and had one of the finest tubercular institutions in the world. Upon completion, it could accommodated 232 beds, and in case of an emergency, could handle 1,000 cases. The American Legion medical committee headed by Dr. Browning, assisted the Veteran's Bureau in drawing the plans and superintending the work. The hospital stood until the earthquake on Feb. 9, 1971, when it collapsed. The site is now a tree-shaded park with a view of Pacoima Canyon and a plaque memorializing the quake's 65 dead. Photograph caption dated November 26, 1958 reads, "Actress Mona Freeman, seated, center, talks with patients at San Fernando Veterans Administration Hospital during visit arranged by American Red Cross representative Barbara Whiting, standing, left, through hospital recreation leader Virgie Cole, standing right. Patients from left, are Harry Lyon, James Myles, Theodore McConnel and William Dorris."
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Freeman, Mona American Red Cross Veterans Administration Hospital (San Fernando, Calif.) Veterans Administration Hospital (San Fernando, Calif.)--Employees Hospitals--California--Sylmar (Los Angeles) Veterans' hospitals--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Veterans--United States Patients--California--Los Angeles Recreation leaders--California--Los Angeles Seating (Furniture)--California--Los Angeles Interiors--California--Sylmar (Los Angeles) Sylmar (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
