Saint Anthony Hospital (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Saint Anthony Hospital | |
| Location | 1004 N. 10th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Built | 1931, 1947, 1966, 1974 |
| Architect | E. Brielmaier and Sons Co./Brielmaier, Sherer and Sherer/Mark F. Pfaller and Associates/Wenzel, Zoller, Gunn and Associates |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001724 |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 2017 |
Saint Anthony Hospital is a historic building located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
History
When founded, St. Anthony primarily served Milwaukee's African-American population and was co-founded by Wisconsin's first Black physician, Dr. Allen Herron.[1] In 1954, Dr. John W. Maxwell, Sr. became Wisconsin's first-ever Black hospital chief of staff when he took the top job at St. Anthony.[2] After five decades serving as a hospital, it was converted for a brief time to become a family medical center in the late 1980s before closing outright.
The facility has also been used as a detention center — it is located across the street from the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility — although St. Anthony was vacant for the majority of the '90s, '00s, and '10s.[3]
The loss of St. Anthony as a medical hub is a contributing factor to the ongoing "medical desert" problem affecting Milwaukee's predominantly Black population.[4]
The building was added to the State and the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.[5]
In 2019, nonprofit organizations began converting the building to provide low-income housing, a project that collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] In 2025, the reentry nonprofit Project RETURN, Inc., moved in and is currently providing housing to men at risk of homelessness as they exit incarceration.[8][9]
References
- ^ Settle-Robinson, Rene’; R. Martin, Cheryl; Jeffer, Bernestine; Montgomery, Sana (February 18, 2021). "The History of the Cream City Medical Society". The Milwaukee Times. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "The Saint Anthony Hospital in Milwaukee Listed in National Register of Historic Places". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Former St. Anthony's Hospital transformed into apartments and resource center for the homeless". Milwaukee Independent. March 21, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ Bryant, Michelle (May 25, 2024). "Medical Desert-Drought of Options in Black Communities-Say Something Real". Milwaukee Courier. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "1004 N 10TH ST". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ "Old St. Anthony's Hospital will be converted into supportive apartments". OnMilwaukee. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ Daykin, Tom (June 3, 2024). "Downtown apartment building for unhoused has new owner. It saw turmoil under earlier operator". subscribe.jsonline.com. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ Morales, Eddie (March 6, 2025). "Temporary housing for people leaving incarceration opens in downtown Milwaukee". WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR. WUWM. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ Verdin, Gideon (March 19, 2025). "Project RETURN organizers, participants show off new building in Milwaukee". TMJ4 News. WTMJ4. Retrieved May 19, 2025.