KIMBALL, W.Va. (WVVA) – Starting in 2022, August 16 will be celebrated as Dismukes Day in the city of Kimball. Dr. Henry Dodford Dismukes opened Henrietta Dismukes Hospital in Kimball in 1929.
It was considered the largest privately run African-American hospital at the time.
“August 16 is the day he opened his hospital, so every year we like to come together and celebrate this history,” said Tylah Cline, Dismukes project coordinator.
Dr. Dismukes also took over another hospital called Harrison Memorial Hospital in Kimball. It had previously been under the direction of Dr. Roscoe Conklin Harrison before his death.
Two memorial stones were recently erected to commemorate the history of both hospital sites. The erection of the memorial stones was made possible with the kind support of the Mennonite Central Committee and the National Coal Heritage Area Authority.
“Both of their lives have been overlooked, and Dr. Dismukes’ life story and accomplishments in particular have been overlooked and almost forgotten for nearly 100 years,” Cline said. “To bring this to light and to officially recognize his accomplishments and the accomplishments of his hospital is important.”
The story behind the two hospitals was uncovered by Kristin Overstreet, a member of the Mennonite Central Committee. Overstreet says her job is to repair homes for families in need.
One of the buildings she wanted to restore was the Henrietta Dismukes Sisters’ Home.
“I started asking questions like, what was this building before? I got some answers, it used to be an apartment complex. We think there may have been a hospital for blacks here, and that piqued my interest,” Overstreet said.
Overstreet is a former history teacher, and her passion led to her research, which included discovering a 600-page lawsuit filed by Dr. Dismukes against the Bluefield Sanitarium.
The sanatorium had refused to pay Dr. Dismukes for treating black patients. Dr. Dismukes received $4,070, although he had actually demanded $150,000.
“I learned so much about his character just by reading that trial. It’s so difficult to research black history when it’s not recorded. Fortunately, unfortunately, his story was recorded through a trial,” Overstreet said.
It is believed that Dr. Dismukes was the first African American in the United States to sue a white company for breach of contract.
Both hospital buildings no longer stand and the only connection that connects the two today is the Henrietta Dismukes Nurses’ Home.
A Dismukes Gala is planned for October 12, with proceeds going to the restoration of the Sisters’ Home. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Jack Caffery Arts & Cultural Center.
Music will be provided by John Ellison and dinner will be provided by Latin Appalachia. Tickets are $50 and payment is due by September 15. Tickets can be purchased at mcc.org/dismukes-gala.
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