Yesterday and Today
In 1875, Coney Island Hospital had its beginnings in a First Aid Station located on the oceanfront beach near West Third Street where emergency treatment was given. The cases consisted chiefly of lacerations of the feet caused by broken bottles.
On May 12, 1902, a small wooden building, one and one half stories high, located on Sea Breeze Avenue, was rented to serve as an emergency hospital during the summer months. Although referred to as the Sea Breeze Hospital, it was officially known as Reception Hospital, and was actually an annex of the Kings County Hospital. This unit had accommodations for 20 beds and facilities for emergency treatment. Patients requiring surgery or prolonged treatment and care were taken to Kings County Hospital, about seven miles away, in a horse-drawn ambulance.
With the rapid growth of population in the southern part of Brooklyn, the need for a large and permanent hospital in this area, became apparent.
In 1908, construction of a 100 bed hospital was started on land purchased just north of Coney Island Creek and east of Ocean Parkway. On May 18, 1910, dedication ceremonies were held. Coney Island Hospital consisted of six buildings, namely; Main Hospital Building, Nurses Home, Employees Dormitory, Laboratory Building, Power Plant and Laundry Building.
Under the administration of Dr. Charles Durning, the first Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, a children’s ward of 20 beds was added bringing the hospital bed capacity up to 120. This was increased to 144 shortly thereafter. Several minor changes were made between 1915 and 1920.
On August 1, 1927, ground was broken for the construction of a new Nurses Residence. This was completed on May 28, 1928. The Nurses Residence was a modern three-story structure containing 65 private single rooms, large reception room, dining hall and library.
In the Daily New of April 6, 1927, an item appeared indicating that Avenue Z was opened and paved from Ocean Parkway to 15th Street. This street runs along the northern border of the hospital. Up until this time, this area was a quagmire of mud and pools and was considered a menace to the health and well being of the community.
During this period, Coney Island Creek (across the street from the hospital, along Ocean Parkway) was filled. Up to this time, the salt-march mosquito which bred in this marsh, played havoc in the children’s wards of Coney Island Hospital. The Board of Health finally took steps to clear up the swamp and marshlands adjacent to the hospital.