Wheeler Hospital
National Register of Historic Places

Wheeler Hospital

Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California
Listed
September 12, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90001442

About this property

The Wheeler Hospital was a historic hospital constructed in 1929, in Gilroy, California. The hospital was designed by California architect William Henry Weeks and funded by merchant Lin Walker Wheeler. The Wheeler Hospital was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1990. In 1990, the Wheeler Hospital merged with an elder care facility to establish the Wheeler Manor Senior Apartments. Lin Walker Wheeler (1868–1944) provided $40,000 (equivalent to $750,000 in 2025) for the construction of a two-story hospital in the Mediterranean Revival style. The hospital opened its doors on July 27, 1929, initially accommodating 29 beds. The construction of the hospital was supervised by builder William Radtke. During the economic challenges of the Great Depression, city-sponsored development initiatives continued to thrive throughout the latter part of the 1930s, through financial support from influential Gilroy families such as the Wheelers. In 1962, a new 50-bed wing was incorporated into the Wheeler Hospital, situated adjacent to the original 1929 structure and connected by a walkway. Every room and department within this new building featured a wall plaque denoting a memorial contribution from various sources, including individuals, families, businesses, employee groups, and clubs. During the 1979 Coyote Lake earthquake, the Wheeler Hospital treated six cases of injuries related to the earthquake. In 1990, Wheeler Hospital merged with a nearby elder care facility to establish the Wheeler Manor Senior Apartments. In 1993, Wheeler Manor introduced a new senior housing complex called Building B. In 2018, a renovation project was undertaken to safeguard historical elements of the original hospital, which included the preservation of the original foundation and walls, the clay tile roof, double hung windows, arched entrance, and tile inlay. The Wheeler Hospital was designed by California architect William H. Weeks (1864-1936) in 1928. It was done in the Mediterranean Revival (Spanish Eclectic) architectural style, which was a hallmark of Weeks' work in Gilroy between 1921 and 1934. The Wheeler Hospital was a 10,144 square feet (942.4 m2) medical facility that occupied a 3.74 acres (1.51 ha) city block, sharing the space with a newer hospital completed in 1962. The Wheeler Hospital was designed in the shape of an "H." In each part of the structure, are low-pitched hipped tile roofs, covered with straight barrel mission-style terracotta tiles, arranged in a regular pattern. It was constructed from reinforced concrete and features, stucco siding, and decorative ceramic tile, and wrought iron elements on the front facade.

Location

650 Fifth St.
Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California
37.00575, -121.57704

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Gilroy Free Library
Industrial
0.3 mi
Christian Church of Gilroy
Civil War
0.3 mi
Holloway, Edgar, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Old City Hall
Civil War
0.5 mi
Live Oak Creamery
Civil War
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Wheeler Hospital listed on the National Register?

Wheeler Hospital was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Wheeler Hospital?

Wheeler Hospital is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Wheeler Hospital?

The period of significance for Wheeler Hospital is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1929.

Can I research the history near Wheeler Hospital?

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