Monday, December 14, 2015

The Newark Presbyterian/United Hospital

The story of the old hospital in Newark's Central Ward goes back to 1910. At the time of its creation, the Newark Presbetyrian Hospital was operating out of an old mansion. By the end of the next decade, the hospital owned several more houses down S. 9th Street. As the city continued to grow, however, the hospital needed more space. in 1929, a large new six story building was constructed. Sitting on a nearly 8 acre parcel of land. The hospital towered over the central ward.


In 1958, the United Hospital Network formed. It consisted of the Presbyterian Hospital, the nearby "Babies Hospital", the Newark Ear & Eye Hospital, and the Newark Home for Crippled Children. Over the years, the Presbyterian Hospital would provide care for the citizens of the central ward. However, the hospital faced severe turmoil during the Newark riots of 1967. An article in the New York Times reported that the hospital itself came under sniper fire, and several of the surrounding homes were torched. While responding to an alarm in the vicinity of the hospital, Captain Michael Moran was shot off of the ladder he was on. This was truly the worst time in the history of the city. While Newark rebuilt, so did the hospital. The "North Tower" Was constructed increasing capacity to 449 beds.


The downfall of the hospital began just a few decades later in. 1989. The President of the United Hospital network was accused of stealing millions of dollars from the hospital, and subsequently resigned. Two trustees struggled against each other to fill  the position, which grew into a series of legal battles leaving the hospital scrambling for funding. By 1991, the former President was convicted of several felonies. The same year, the replacement president was fired for not moving quicky enough to correct the damage done by the previous administration. Four years later, the United Hospital Network entered a partnership with the Barnabas Health Network, and the Networls name changed to "United Healthcare System". Unfortunealty this only lasted a brief time, and the hospital was shuttered to years later. Nothing that the administration tried could fix what had been done. Not only did the neighborhood lose across to local medical services, the closing also affected hundreds of employees, who all lost their jobs. This was a contributing factor to the the further decline of the neighborhood.


After the closure of the hospital, the property was purchased by "New United" for $725,000.
Headed by Clyde Pemberton, the group had plans to renovate it, but keep it open as a medical campus. In 1999 Essex County purchased the "North Tower" for $6.5 million (Nearly $5.75 million more than Pemberton bought the entire property for), with the intention of moving operations from the Overbrook Psychiatric Hospital there. Despite supporting the plan while in office as a freeholder, Joe Divencenzo changed the county's plan to move Overbrook operations to United site in 2002. The county then planned to move some of their offices into the building, but Mr. Pemberton included a clause in the purchase that the building could only be used for medical purposes. He felt strongly that the area needed a hospital, not more offices. Essex County then intentionally neglected their portion of the building in order to ensure they would be able to take the rest of the property through a condemnation clause.



Then, in 2010, the deed was seized by the county without any warning given to the owners of the property. Plans were announced that the building was going to be razed entirely. After hearing Mr. Pemberton's attorney explain the situation, the court ordered Essex County to do $200,000 worth of repair work to their portion of the deteriorated hospital. Joe D. refused, saying "Why should I put money in a building that is going to be demolished". Two years later, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that the county misused their authority to blindside the owner and seize the property. Despite this, the county retained ownership of  the hospital. At this point, the Essex County was using inmates from a nearby CEC detention facility to clean up the neglected grounds. One day in 2014, a security gaurd at the United site was assaulted by a man stealing scrap metal. This was the final straw, and official plans were announced that the hospital was to be raised to make way for a new VoTech building. Remediation work began at the end of Spring, 2015. On May 6th, one of the managers was knocked down an elevator shaft after cutting the wrong cord on the machine when preparing the structure for demolition. By November of that year, the entire property was completely empty.


The United Hospital story is laced with corruption and political bullying, so its not a suprise Mr. Divencenzo wanted the buildings gone. These buildings are just more examples of Essex County's blatant and systematic disregard for the historic properties they have been entrusted with. Soon, Essex County will stop obbliterating their history. But that will only be because there is none left to save.

39 comments:

  1. You have really accumulated a lot of nice work here.
    I really appreciate the Isolation Hospital pics I only wish I could walk through it before they tear out all the interior walls.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I read somewhere that a child died in the hospital and it was closed !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You read wrong. Besides, it was a hospital. People died there on a daily basis.

      Delete
  3. I was born there in1955. Raises in E.O. Left Jersey in 70. I was curious if it was still standing. So my question has been answered thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was born there in 1974. It is disheartening to know that a piece of my history was involved in so many illicit and shady dealings. I too was raised in East Orange, NJ.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was born there in 1974. It is disheartening to know that a piece of my history was involved in so many illicit and shady dealings. I too was raised in East Orange, NJ.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was born in this hospital ad well. Always wondered what happened to it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How does one go about getting the old medical records for children that were treated at that hospital

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm tried to get mine, Rutgers got a lot of the records but they informed me they did not get the patient records

      Delete
  9. I know the hospital when living in Newark and went there. Would anybody know where the medical records would be obtained?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Wanda Cooper, did you ever find out where to get the medical records?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had five eye surgeries performed there in 94/95. I never knew that the place was so shady.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey nice post. I was wondering what happened. My mom worked there for quite a number of years (I was in her belly for some of it). She was an ICU/CCU nurse. I still remember going with her as a child to her unit to pick up pay stubs in the early 90s. Also remember her and others from her union picketing against the closure.

    I'm pretty sure me and my then bf drove by the remains one day enroute to UMDNJ. I had no idea the hospital was demoed before today.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Working there helped greatly to pay my way through college. Sad to learn of its lose.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Born there in 1956. Dr.Zweibel was Mom's Ob doc. I think his office was in EO.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Was born there in 1958, How could I get birth records..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some records are archived at Rutgers. You can query a librarian there. Here is a lead I find through the Google. https://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/history_of_medicine/manuscripts/united_hospitals_medical_center_newark_nj

      Delete
  17. I did much of my residency there in the late '70's, and have many memories, fragrant and otherwise. My heart aches to think that the United Hospitals are no longer with us.

    Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust....

    ReplyDelete
  18. Can they use this facility in the pandemic?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately no, as it has been demolished entirely.

      Delete
  19. United Hospital should only be remembered for all of the wonderful nurses, doctors, and other healthcare and essential staff that worked there.

    For those who do not know...United, the Children's Hospital was the FIRST Pediatric ICU in the STATE OF NJ, we had the first mobile transport unit for Neonatal ICU and we performed the FIRST open heart surgery on the youngest baby...All of this history is lost.

    At on time, the Children's Hospital had MORE physician specialties than ANY other hospital on the EAST COAST!

    Infact United's EYE institute was well known and was comparable to Wills Eye Institute. For those who do not know, there were many famous people who came to United for services. Katherine Hepburn came to the United Eye Infirmary for her care and saw Dr. Caputo. Dr. Sun was well known for his research and for his team of physicians and nurses that worked in his NICU. Dr. Olesky was well know for his accomplishments with AIDS research. Infact there was a TV show made about his research. Dr. Amato and Dr. Marbey were well known for cardiothoracic surgeries for neonates and children, Dr Saad Saad for Pediatric Surgery... I can go on and on....

    It is so sad the corruption o the president and mismanagement and graft lead to its demise. This hospital was really rich in history but was elimiated because of this and other political reasons that included regionalization of patient services and the valuable "certificate of need" that United possessed and other hospitals wanted so badly and was the reason United had to be eliminated.

    I am posting this for all the people that worked there, to let them know that they are not forgotten and to let everyone know that United, The Children's Hospital had many accomplished physicians, nurses and other many other caring people that worked there.

    Please do not ever forget them...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was born there...1979, two months premature. Needed many procedures to live, one being heart surgery. I doubt I would be alive if not born here.

      Delete
    2. What a wonderful tribute! Thank for posting this! I was born there, in 1961, as were my 3 siblings. My mom worked there for a short time also.

      Delete
  20. Born there in 53. Spent 2 weeks in Babies Hospital when I was 6. Dr Pinto was a Saint!

    ReplyDelete
  21. my Mom trained there in the Nursing school in the early 40's and worked there for many years as an OR supervisor, and doing private duty. I was born there in 1946. Many memories of picking her up with my Dad after work

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow this is part of my history thanks for sharing..est,1974

    ReplyDelete
  23. I remember i got a pin top stuck in my mouth from the old bic pin tops they were made very pointed back in the days 1987 i almost dye thank god i had a good doctor its was very close to my main artery i bleed so much i had a big as hole in the back of my mouth they said they never saw nothing like this never b4 thanks united hospital

    ReplyDelete
  24. I was born there in 1954 and live less than 7 miles away for the last 43 years. My mother immigrated from Ireland to her aunt's house on 5th street in Newark near St Rose of Lima. Interesting fact(?) Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the fighter, was born there around that time.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I had many orthropedic operations there when I was young. Dr Henry Kessler performed one of the first leg lengthening operations on me when I was 12 in 1965. I still have the hospital newsletter with the article about meand the operation.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I was born there in 1957. Also 4 of my 5 siblings born there from 1952- till I was born. I would like to find out birth records. Especially my brother, Michael's. I have questions weather he was an older brother or if we were twins. Michael died at birth. Our parents passed away in the 1980's. So I can't ask them.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Susan Stearns Rickson class 1968September 14, 2023 at 9:38 AM

    I graduated from the nursing school in 1968. I no longer live in NJ but I am very great full for my education there. Many memories of taking care of patients on 4D and 3BC.
    During the riots the nursing school administration had us all return to our homes.
    Sad to hear the history of what happened to the hospital.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dr. Nepo was the best pediatrician oncologist she took great care of my son and the nurses that worked on the pediatric floor were all awesome they loved all of those babies and when one was lost they all took it hard I was filled with so much Love when they all showed up at my sons funeral Thank you Dr. Nepo and all that took care of my son Anthony Barnes with much Love and Respect Shelby Barnes

    ReplyDelete
  29. My dad was a doctor there from 1946 until he died in 1960 at age 43. He loved "The Press" as he called it. He would go there every day along with office hours every weekday and night except Wed. He also made house calls any hour day or night in any weather. To me that is the definition of a medical doctor and Presbyterian was a wonderful local hospital, filled with such doctors along with dedicated and caring nurses. God Bless them all and the hospital. An absolute crime what happened to it!

    ReplyDelete