Historic Discovery During Hospital Demolition Reveals Link to Medical Legacy

Workers deconstructing a Morristown, New Jersey hospital found an artifact that links the city’s medical system to its history. Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute’s Mount Kemble complex’s crumbling façade was destroyed, revealing a century-old commemorative stone beneath the entrance floor.

The Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth placed the slab when All Souls Hospital opened in 1893, but renovations covered it. Once found, the stone was gently lifted to Morristown Medical Center’s front yard. This new location emphasizes the hospital’s lengthy history in the area.

Institutional change on Mount Kemble Avenue. All Souls became Community Medical Center in 1973, which Morristown Memorial Hospital bought in 1977. Renamed Morristown Medical Center in 2011, Atlantic Health discontinued inpatient services in 2019 after moving to a Madison rehabilitation clinic. It reopened during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to fight the virus before closing forever.

The discovery reminded Morristown Medical Center president Trish O’Keefe that the hospital’s “rich history is literally rooted in the Town of Morristown.” The stone represents her past and present care, not just a remembrance.

This astonishing archeological find reveals how modern rebuilding can hide historical echoes. We also remember that healthcare facilities are defined by their history, not merely their structures or services.

Sources
Statements from Morristown Medical Center leadership