The Louise Maloney Hospital was started out of sheer necessity. As the surgeon for Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway, Dr. John Maloney realized the need for a space to perform surgeries and operations after an accident on the railway construction site up the Keys caused multiple casualties. He then rented the house next to his pharmacy in Key West and turned it into just such a facility. He named it after his wife, Louise.

In its first 4 years of existence, it served over 600 patients. The most famous patient to visit the small hospital was author Upton Sinclair. Upton was on passage on the Mallory steamship Alamo and became ill. Unable to make the trip all the way to New York, he was removed from the ship in Key West and hospitalized at the Louise Maloney hospital. 

After a few days of treatment, he had recovered enough to proceed to New York.

And that's what happened Today in Key West History. 

Today is Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media.

You can find us at http://43keys.com.

Today in Key West History is part of the Florida Keys Podcast Network!