“What a place for a hospital!” That’s what some might have exclaimed upon first seeing the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases.
Welcome to the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases. It opened in 1906. It stands at the southern edge of Pointe-Saint-Charles near Verdun. Back then, this location seemed an odd choice.
The Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases served Montreal’s English-speaking community. Its French counterpart was St Paul’s Hospital.
In the early 20th century, the medical community believed in isolating patients. This was the best way to control contagious diseases. Dedicated wards were created. They provided sun, fresh air, clean water and good food. Ironically, the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases stood in a polluted area. It was near railway lines, yards and the St Lawrence River.
Even within Point St-Charles, not everyone welcomed it. The closest neighbor was a school. One proposed site in 1900 was in Fletcher’s Field. Now it is Jeanne-Mance Park. But nobody wanted a “contagious diseases” hospital nearby.
Initially, the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases focused on children. It treated measles, scarlet fever and diphtheria. The hospital also cared for children with polio and chickenpox. Tuberculosis or TB, wasn’t treated until later.
Dr. John McCrae worked here. He was the author of “In Flanders Field”. He also worked at the Montreal Foundling and Baby Hospital.
In 1948, the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases opened a TB unit. It specialized in tuberculosis meningitis. This unit operated for 20 years.
Nancy Stewart recalled her 5-week-old daughter’s whooping cough treatment in 1966. She could only visit once a week. A nurse held her baby behind a rope. Nancy couldn’t even touch her.
In 1968, the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases stopped treating contagious diseases. The name changed, too. It became the Alexandra Pavilion of the Montreal Children’s and Montreal General. Its mission shifted. It focused on long-term care for children with mental and physical disabilities.
The Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases permanently closed in 1988. It was part of Quebec’s healthcare changes. Mental healthcare shifted away from institutions to group homes.
Today, the former Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases serves as social housing. Only the nurses’ residences and administration building remain from the original hospital.
Though its purpose has evolved, the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases holds a significant place in Montreal’s medical history. It reminds us of past battles against infectious diseases. It highlights the evolution of healthcare.