History & Nostalgia
Home Page Photo: A postcard of Charles A. Cannon Jr. Memorial Hospital – 1960s. Above: Photo of the Mountain Echo Publication when the new Cannon Memorial was built, courtesy of the Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation; display at the Banner House Museum
Remembering Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in Banner Elk
By Carol Lowe Timblin
Anticipation filled the air in Banner Elk on June 21, 1959, as a large crowd gathered in a flowery meadow overlooking the Elk River for the groundbreaking of a brand new hospital. It was the fourth to be built since Dr. William Cummings Tate (Dr. W.C.) had arrived around 1908 to serve the isolated mountain community—traveling at first on horseback to visit patients. The gathering included hospital staff, board members, government officials, townspeople, celebrities, and the media. Robert and Mariam Cannon Hayes, Kannapolis philanthropists who spearheaded the fundraising campaign for the hospital, were on hand to welcome everyone, including the keynote speaker—Vice President Richard M. Nixon, who was accompanied by his wife Pat. Imagine the excitement of having the high-ranking official visit Banner Elk! Unfortunately, Dr. Tate was unable to attend the event because of declining health and died the following year.
According to Panorama of Caring: The Story of Two Hospitals, by Mary Dudley Gilmer, Cannon Hospital replaced Grace Hartley Hospital, which had served the community since 1932. That facility, a four-story stone structure that later transitioned into Tate Dormitory at Lees-McRae College, had taken the place of a brick structure, built in 1924 to accommodate 20 patients. Grace II, as it was called, replaced Grace I, the first hospital, a wooden building that housed patients but served as the home and offices of Dr. Tate and his wife, Maude. Following their wedding in 1910, the newlyweds had traveled by train from Knoxville to Johnson City, where they boarded the narrow-gauge Tweetsie Railroad for Elk Park. A private carriage awaited them there for the final leg of the trip to Banner Elk, blanketed in snow on the evening of their arrival.
Dr. Tate’s strong leadership was critical in providing good healthcare during his years of service to the Banner Elk area. He was at the helm as one hospital outgrew its capacity and had to be replaced by a larger one. He also played a key role in the establishment of training for nurses, secretaries, and medical record personnel.
The $2 million, 100-bed, state-of-art medical facility (Cannon Hospital) took two years to finish. Local workmen, who often had to leave Banner Elk for work in distant cities, were delighted to have good paying jobs at home. Upon completion of the new hospital, Grace Hospital staff and community volunteers moved patients to the new facility on January 25, 1961. Volunteers, who called themselves “Gray Ladies,” helped with the move. Among the group was Margaret Tufts, daughter of the Rev. Edgar Tufts, who began his mission work in Banner Elk in 1895. Also helping with the move was Margaret Tate, the wife of Dr. Lawson Tate, who joined the medical staff of Grace Hospital in 1947 after a stint in the U.S. Army.
Named for Charles A. Cannon, Jr.
The new hospital was dedicated six months later on July 15, 1961, with speeches by Dr. W.S. Rankin from the Duke Endowment and Dr. W.C. Davison, former dean of the Duke University School of Medicine. Hugh Morton of Grandfather Mountain recorded the happy occasion on film. The hospital was named in memory of Charles A. Cannon Jr., the brother of Mariam Hayes. A large portrait of the handsome Air Force pilot, lost on a mission over Burma during World War II, was hung in a prominent place in the large waiting room. (The portrait hangs in the hospital at Linville today.)
Cannon Hospital was designed by J.N. Pease & Co. based in Charlotte. The four-story building with a basement featured red brick outer walls and large windows that let the light stream into the rooms. An article published in The Tomahawk on July 5, 1961, stated the hospital had “the most modern x-ray equipment manufactured…surgical suites with two complete major operating rooms, a minor operating room, and a cystoscopic room…offices for five doctors and eight treatment rooms…an emergency generator…a communications system…a 100,000-gallon water and sewerage system….a dental clinic, drug dispensary…laboratory and blood bank.”
One of the most popular spots in the building was the bright, cheerful cafeteria, where visitors and staff members mixed and mingled. Susan Tate Carter, who worked in medical records and reception during her college years, recalls the lasting friendships she forged during mealtimes at the hospital. She also has fond memories of the Hospital Follies, which began as a hospital event but evolved into a community-wide event over its 15-year history. The annual event directed by the talented Janet Barton Speer, the drama director at Lees-McRae College for many years, raised funds for the hospital, but it underscored the strong bond between the hospital staff and the community.
The spaciousness of Cannon Hospital allowed for the expansion of staff and programs. Tate Memorial Chapel was dedicated in 1968, with Maude Tate, a hospital volunteer, in attendance. In 1974, the two-story Robert F. Morrison Medical Annex was added to the front of the hospital and the main door moved to the side of the building. The annex allowed doctors to operate independently of the hospital. Intermediate care and critical care were also added during this period, as well as modern equipment for electrocardiograms and respiratory therapy. The treatment of sports injuries became a necessity after area ski resorts opened during the 1960s. Also a welcome addition was the gift shop, the brainchild of Juanita Shomaker, who worked for over 47 years at Grace and Cannon. A helicopter pad was added during the 1990s.
According to a 1974 Mountain Echo newsletter, the hospital had seven doctors, 16 registered nurses, 100 beds, and a total of 165 employees in 1961. In 1962, the hospital discharged 3,157 patients and had 30,048 outpatient visits.
Dedicated, Caring Staff
Residents of Banner Elk and the surrounding region took great pride in Cannon Hospital and all that it represented. It was not the modern building, however, that made the medical facility stand out, but the people associated with it. Dr. Lawson Tate led the staff at Cannon until his untimely death in 1984. Dr. Bill Tate, his son, joined the Cannon staff in 1975 and served patients in the area until his death in 2020. Two other members of the Tate family—Dr. John Tate and Dr. Andy Taylor (son and grandson of Dr. Lawson Tate, respectively)—also pursued careers in medicine. Cannon Hospital was blessed with other amazing doctors, such as Dr. Ward Briedenthal, Dr. Henry Briedenthal, Dr. Robert C. Smith, Dr. Birch Rambo, Dr. John Barnard, Dr. Robert Chapman, Dr. Stanley Mills, Dr. Charles Wiley, Dr. Laura Pratt and Chaplain Philip Evaul. The physicians and staff members worked for less pay than they could have earned elsewhere. Dedicated to the original mission of the hospital, the doctors began each day of work with prayer.
Terry Chappell, an employee whose mother, Beatrice Chappell, worked at Grace and Cannon, summed up the feelings of many locals toward the beloved hospital: “It was a wonderful place to work,” he recalls. “Everyone was considered family.” He remembers dedicated workers such as Bob and Odie Perry, Tommy Perry, Fred and Joanne Blair, Larry and Betty Draughn, Jerry and Nina Gwyn, Gene Ruppard, Fred Ramsey, Edna Clark, Eddus VonCanon, Hack and Shelby Ruppard, Tommy Cornette, Jim Sword, Delia Rominger, Susie Blair, Jo Ramsey, Helen Ramsey, Bessie Bentley, Nell Gwyn, Herb Tate, Mike Shomaker, Floyd and Dorothy Ramsey, Randall Fletcher, and the Cecil and Pauline Crawford family.
The Crawford family served the hospitals in Banner Elk for over 75 years, according to Gilmer’s book. “The hospital has been the major portion of my life,” stated Cecil Crawford, who learned radiology on the job. “I am really proud that five generations of my family have been connected. And of course, we have greatly benefitted from the hospital’s being here.”
Jackie Shomaker Burleson, daughter of Juanita Shomaker, says she grew up at Grace and worked for several years in various departments at Cannon after college. “When I was little, the nurses would dress me up in cute outfits and take me to patient rooms to cheer them up.”
Consolidation & Move
Many changes in the healthcare system nationwide during the 1990s had a profound effect on hospitals everywhere, including Cannon Hospital in Banner Elk and Sloop Hospital in Crossnore. The idea of consolidating the two hospitals and building a new facility was the subject of much debate and eventually accepted as the best solution. Dr. Bill Tate and John Blackburn of Linville were key players in working out the details. Linville Resorts donated the land for the new hospital. It was named the Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in honor of the Cannon family for their ongoing support, while the Sloop Medical Office Plaza honored the family that had given so much to the Crossnore community. Thanks to a successful campaign led by Chairman Alan Dickson, money for the $18-million complex was raised on schedule. Ground was broken for the new hospital on April 20, 1998.
Cannon Hospital in Banner Elk closed its doors in 1999. Many ideas for renovating the building and redeveloping the site were discussed over the ensuing 25 years. As the building deteriorated with each passing year, it was used occasionally for paranormal activities and became a topic of discussion among ghost-busters. “Seeing the hospital vacant brought tears to my mother’s eyes,” says Jackie Shomaker Burleson. “And the idea of ghosts in the hospital made me sad and a little angry.”
In 2023, Steve and Tiffany Gilliam of Simpsonville, SC, purchased the 52-acre site. Demolition of the old hospital building is now underway. According to the Gilliams, they intend to seek out developers who will work closely with the town and its residents to create a plan that’s the right fit for Banner Elk. (CML will continue to follow the progress of the property and provide updates in future issues.)
Banner Elk residents have mixed feelings about the loss of the old hospital. Some are unhappy while others are happy. “The building has outlived its usefulness,” says Susan Tate Carter. “Its life is gone, and it does not represent anything now. It is time to move on and make room for new ideas.”
Award-winning author Carol Lowe Timblin has traveled far and wide, but always returns to Banner Elk, her beautiful hometown. This story holds special meaning for her—Carol worked in reception at Grace and Cannon Hospitals for two summers while attending Lees-McRae College.
—-
Explore More: The complete story of healthcare in the area is documented in Mary Dudley Gilmer’s outstanding book, Panorama of Caring: The Story of Two Hospitals (copyright Avery County Healthcare System). Visit the Sloop Medical Office Plaza at the current Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville (UNC Health Appalachian), where you can purchase Panorama of Caring, at the Avery Pharmacy and gift shop. In the lobby, you can view a history display featuring photos and memorabilia from several generations of Avery County’s medical professionals—the Tates of Banner Elk and the Sloops of Crossnore. See an assortment of tools-of-the-trade from over a century of local medicine. Over in Banner Elk, the Banner House Museum (open June through late September) houses a variety of history displays, including several focused on healthcare in the area.