Over ninety years ago, in 1912 a doctor named Francis Greenwell had a vision for healthcare in St. Mary's County.  He wanted to establish a place where people could receive quality medical attention in a setting of comfort and caring.  Thus, St. Mary's Hospital was born in a modest two-story house on Fenwick Street in Leonardtown. 

Nine decades later, Dr. Greenwell’s vision has survived, seeing the county through a steady progression of growth and change.  Although the bricks and mortar have changed over the years, the tradition of caring has been a strong foundation for the healthcare setting we know today.  In the spring of 2002, the community united in celebration of our 90th anniversary.   This page is dedicated to the historical journey of milestones that have shaped Dr. Greenwell’s vision into a rich heritage of caring and healing. Click on the graphic to view the timeline of these milestones.

In 1912, seven men came together in St. Mary's County to officially incorporate the institution of St. Mary's Hospital.  That first hospital building was located in a private home on Fenwick Street, not far from the Town Square. It had six patient beds on the second floor. Patients were transported by steamer to Baltimore if they required surgery.  As time passed, visiting surgeons came to the hospital weekly to provide surgical services.  This same building still stands today, now housing a law firm.

In 1915, a new hospital was built on Point Lookout Road, not far from the intersection of Leonardtown-Hollywood Road.  This structure served the community for years with one expansion in 1931.  A new 32-bed hospital opened in 1944 due to the increased population with the development of the Naval base at Patuxent River.  Five different building programs were undertaken during the following 50 years to keep pace with new technology and changes in population, including the addition of an East Wing in 1956 and a Peabody Wing a decade later.  A Critical Care Unit was added in 1973, while Emergency, Pharmacy and Radiology were expanded and renovated in 1975.

By 1980, the hospital was up to a bed capacity of 86, but planning had already begun for a larger, more modern facility.  In October 1982, construction of the present hospital started on a 31-acre site, several blocks north of the facility on Point Lookout Road. The present facility was opened on April 7, 1984.  The hospital was expanded in July 1995 to improve outpatient services.  Other parts of the facility, including the second floor patient and nursing station areas, were also renovated. 

Today St. Mary's Hospital features some of the most advanced technology available, including a state-of-the-art angiography suite, sophisticated nuclear medicine equipment and top notch surgical suites.  To accommodate the increasing demand for quality medical services, the hospital completed a major expansion project in 2002. Over the last 90+ years, much has changed in the world of healthcare and medical technology. But St. Mary's Hospital still reflects the vision of Dr. Francis Greenwell, and our strong tradition of caring would make him proud to this day.