Former West Virginia hospital with over 100 year history has it’s letters removed

It’s the end of an era. The historic Ohio Valley General Hospital (OVGH) letters have been removed.

All is not lost though, the OVGH History Group is on a mission to preserve some of the history of the medical center including its iconic letters.

The Ohio Valley Medical Center, also known as Ohio Valley General Hospital, has spent over 100 years providing quality medical care to the community.

Now, as the last remnants of the building are torn down, OVGH History Group member Mary McKinley shares how the hospital shaped her life.

“I went to school there, I met my husband there, my mother and father were both patients there, and it was a great institution who supported me to do a lot of wonderful things professionally. So, it’s a very bittersweet moment in many ways.”

Mary McKinley – member of the OVGH History Group

McKinley says this hospital has impacted the lives of countless patients, staff, and doctors over the years.

Fellow member of the OVGH History Group Betty Jo Sproull (SPRAWL) says she is honored to take part in the preservation of the hospital’s history.

“The items that we wanted to save were the cornerstones as well as the letters. When the hospital closed in 2019, we came in and went through the building several times and got materials out. We have over 90 boxes of items that we have preserved and are going through and identifying.”

Betty Jo Sproull – member of the OVGH History Group

Sproull says not only will physical mementos be kept, but a documentary spanning the medical center’s foundation ’till its final days is currently in the works.

The history group reminds us that although the building may not remain, the memories of those who took part in it will live on.

“When you look at it, it’s not just the buildings. The buildings are important, the letters are important but it’s really the people and the impact that it had, and it made a difference in this valley for sure.”

Mary McKinley – member of the OVGH History Group

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