History
St. Joseph’s Hospital has been serving our community for over 100 years!
The Overlook
In the early 1900’s, Charles and Mary Barlow built their new home near the Buckhannon city limits. It was called “The Overlook” since it looked over the entire town and countryside. It was a four-story wooden building faced with yellow brick on nine acres of land.
A Mission Begins: The Founding of St. Joseph's Hospital
Founded in 1838, the Pallottine Missionary Society was created to assist Roman Priest Vincent Pallotti with his life’s mission of serving the sick and poor. The first Pallottine Sisters made their way to the United States in 1912.
In 1920, the sisters were invited to open a hospital in Buckhannon, West Virginia by Reverend Nicholas Hengers, the first pastor of the Buckhannon mission. They purchased the beautiful Barlow Estate (The Overlook) and converted it into an eight-bed hospital and convent with the help of good friends and benefactors. The first patient was admitted on March 24, 1921, and the hospital was officially dedicated on March 28, 1921.
Cows and pigs were brought in as the land surrounding the hospital was utilized for farming. Eventually, eight acres of pasture were purchased, leading to the construction of a red brick barn and the addition of chicken coops, a smokehouse, and housing for farm workers. The farm was ultimately shut down when pasteurized milk became a legal requirement.
St. Joseph’s Hospital had several groundbreakings and additions over the following years, increasing the bed capacity. In 1966, the new hospital was officially dedicated, and the Overlook was torn down.
Milestones
1924
The first x-ray machine was purchased.
1938
Construction of a new convent began.
1964
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital took place, marking the beginning of construction.
1966
The new hospital building was dedicated.
1974
The third floor was completed and the Nursing Care Facility opened.
1986
An extensive expansion and modernization project was completed, enabling the addition of new services over time (CCU, respiratory services, CT scanner, MRI, Nuclear Medicine).
1990
The Critcal Care Unit (CCU) opened, the Hospital Board of Trustees was established, and the Pastoral Care program was started.
1992
The Convent turned into the Resource Center, and the Sisters moved into a new convent.
1994
The Mission Statement was created.
2015
In the fall of 2015, the Pallottine Missionary Sisters transferred sponsorship of the Hospital to United Hospital Center and WVU Medicine. By joining forces with WVU Medicine, St. Joseph’s Hospital has ensured its long-term viability for the community.