Norton Community Hospital celebrates 75th anniversary

Team members, community leaders, former patients and more came out to celebrate Norton Community Hospital’s 75th anniversary.

Prepared comments – which can be viewed in full here – included reflections from Shannon Showalter, CEO of Ballad Health’s operations in Wise, Dickenson and Lee counties; Jibber Ward, a longtime Norton Community Hospital board member; Rick Colley, executive vice president and CEO of the Wise County/City of Norton Chamber of Commerce; former patient and City of Norton police chief James Lane; and Dr. Donovan Mabe, a pulmonologist with Ballad Health Medical Associates who practices with Norton Community’s Black Lung Clinic.

In addition to the streamed event video, Chief Lane’s story is told in-depth at this link, and event photos are also available for download here.

Community comments
Norton Police Chief James Lane: “It was an honor to share my story as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Norton Community Hospital. This is not just a hospital to me; it’s where my life was saved – and for that, I’ll forever be grateful. Norton Community Hospital plays an important role in Ballad Health’s comprehensive, life-saving system of care that ensures that, no matter the emergency, we have access to top-quality trauma care. I want to thank the doctors, nurses and all the healthcare professionals who had a hand in my care. You are all heroes to me, and I owe my life to your expertise and dedication.”

Virginia Del. Terry Kilgore: “The story of Norton Community Hospital is reflected in the spirits of its people – the team members, physicians and patients who have worked here and been healed here. Norton Community Hospital has provided compassionate and expert medical care to our region for generations, and its legacy as a cornerstone in our community will last for generations to come.”

Virginia Sen. Todd Pillion: “Norton Community Hospital has not only provided essential medical services, but it has also become a beacon of our region. The dedication of every team member and physician who has served here left an indelible mark on the well-being of our region. This 75th anniversary, then, is not just a recognition of the passage of time; it’s a celebration of that care and the impact it’s left on so many lives.”

Shannon Showalter: “For three-quarters of a century, Norton Community Hospital has been a cornerstone of health and healing in Southwest Virginia, dedicated to delivering high-quality care to our community. Our hospital has been more than just a medical facility – it has been a trusted partner in the health and well-being of the people we’re privileged to serve. Its legacy is one of compassion, innovation and commitment to our region, and together, we remain committed to advancing healthcare, ensuring future generations receive the compassionate healthcare they need, close to home.”

A history of Norton Community Hospital
With Norton having such a close connection to coal mining in Southwest Virginia, it’s no surprise Norton Community Hospital can trace its roots back to what was once known as Miners Hospital. In 1949, Miners Hospital was formed in what had been the area’s grandest mansion.

That hospital was originally granted a nonprofit charter by the Commonwealth of Virginia on May 25, 1949, and was headed by a trio of Norton physicians, Dr. Ernest J. Benko, Dr. George W. Botts and Dr. D. Cury Jr., with the goal of serving patients in Wise County.

With a start-up hospital trying to watch costs, an amazing discovery took place on the facility’s grounds in October 1949.

While widening the hospital’s driveway, workers found a seam of coal directly under the surface of the ground, giving new meaning to the name Miners Hospital. It solved the hospital’s fuel problem.

“God has been good to us,” said Dr. Benko, one of the hospital’s trustees.

At one point, more than 50 tons of coal had been stored for future use. It was estimated that more than 5,000 tons were on the site.

Norton Community Hospital was christened in 1953 in that same mansion, when the Virginia Corporation Commission issued a charter. Russel V. Owens was the president of Norton Community, which planned to expand its facilities, aiming at creating a nursing school and a medical research center.

New building
On July 13, 1976, ground was broken for a new facility. Earlier in the year, $6.5 million in bonds were sold to finance the construction. This significant step in the evolution of Norton Community Hospital was completed on Sept. 7, 1977, with the opening of the present building.

2002 renovation
In spring 2002, Norton Community Hospital embarked on a $16.5-million renovation project that included expansion to the emergency department and cardio-pulmonary services area, new radiology equipment and new main entrances to the hospital and emergency department.

Into the future
In January 2007, Norton Community Hospital joined legacy Mountain States Health Alliance. Eleven years later, Mountain States merged with Wellmont Health System to form Ballad Health, an integrated healthcare system that serves 29 counties of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky.