The construction of these two buildings reflects the larger movement to expand public services throughout the United States in the early twentieth century as many people came to believe that the state should promote, fund, and efficiently protect the health and safety of the people. Jointly funded by the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and the U S Works Progress Administration (WPA), the building at 325 was the first permanent home of the Leon County Health Unit and housed the county welfare offices. The building opened in July 1940 to much celebration and a reception hosted by the health unit’s office staff, girls in the National Youth Administration, and other women in Tallahassee. Established in January 1931, the county health unit was the oldest in continuous operation in the state and had outgrown its previous homes. The staff also needed a building to accommodate modern technology, most importantly, “four modern electric sterilizers for medical tools” compared to the “10-cent aluminum pan and hot plate used” before.[1]
In the new building, the health unit provided a variety of services for the 31,646 individuals in Leon County, 16,240 of whom lived within Tallahassee city limits.[2] Recognizing that “public health . . . [was] the first line of defense of a nation,” the unit stressed the importance of good hygiene and sanitation, especially in schools.[3] Visitors to the building noted how the interior white walls conveyed this mission. Preventive health is also a clear objective in the unit’s work to vaccinate children and adults. In 1939, the health unit immunized 344 people for smallpox, 616 for diphtheria, 1123 for typhoid, and gave over 800 Schick tests, a test for immunity to diphtheria.[4] The unit’s director, Dr. LJ Graves, and two white and three black nurses also provided treatment for pregnant women, “crippled” children, and common ailments like hookworm. Staff treated 2,600 people for venereal disease that year and examined 4,097 children, including 2,413 at outreach visits to schools in Leon County.[5]
In 1941, the building at 319 opened as an annex to the Leon County Courthouse and housed the WPA’s administrative offices and other county offices. Jointly funded by Leon County and the WPA, it provided larger spaces for a growing public-sector staff who served local residents.
The streamlined, smooth, and modern exterior design reflected the efficient, technological, and scientifically modern business occurring inside the buildings. Together, the buildings demonstrated the government’s ability to provide jobs and were a “great monument of [the] progress” of Floridians over disease, ill health, poor sanitation, and poverty.[6]
[1] “County Health Unit is Geared to New Service,” Sunday News Democrat, Aug. 18, 1940, 10.
[2] Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940, vol 1 Population: Number of Inhabitants (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1942). For Tallahassee population see page 212, for Leon County see page 213.
[3] State Health Officer Dr. A B McCreay stated this at the opening ceremonies for the Health Unit. “New Health Unit Structure Opened With Ceremonies,” The Daily Democrat, July 19, 1940—Afternoon, 1.
[4] All figures are from “Health Work Advanced Here by Unit Plan,” The Daily Democrat, Mar. 3, 1940—Morning, Section 2, 1 & 18.
[5] Ibid.
[6] “New Health Unit Structure Opened With Ceremonies.” The Daily Democrat, July 19, 1940—Afternoon. 1.
In the new building, the health unit provided a variety of services for the 31,646 individuals in Leon County, 16,240 of whom lived within Tallahassee city limits.[2] Recognizing that “public health . . . [was] the first line of defense of a nation,” the unit stressed the importance of good hygiene and sanitation, especially in schools.[3] Visitors to the building noted how the interior white walls conveyed this mission. Preventive health is also a clear objective in the unit’s work to vaccinate children and adults. In 1939, the health unit immunized 344 people for smallpox, 616 for diphtheria, 1123 for typhoid, and gave over 800 Schick tests, a test for immunity to diphtheria.[4] The unit’s director, Dr. LJ Graves, and two white and three black nurses also provided treatment for pregnant women, “crippled” children, and common ailments like hookworm. Staff treated 2,600 people for venereal disease that year and examined 4,097 children, including 2,413 at outreach visits to schools in Leon County.[5]
In 1941, the building at 319 opened as an annex to the Leon County Courthouse and housed the WPA’s administrative offices and other county offices. Jointly funded by Leon County and the WPA, it provided larger spaces for a growing public-sector staff who served local residents.
The streamlined, smooth, and modern exterior design reflected the efficient, technological, and scientifically modern business occurring inside the buildings. Together, the buildings demonstrated the government’s ability to provide jobs and were a “great monument of [the] progress” of Floridians over disease, ill health, poor sanitation, and poverty.[6]
[1] “County Health Unit is Geared to New Service,” Sunday News Democrat, Aug. 18, 1940, 10.
[2] Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940, vol 1 Population: Number of Inhabitants (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1942). For Tallahassee population see page 212, for Leon County see page 213.
[3] State Health Officer Dr. A B McCreay stated this at the opening ceremonies for the Health Unit. “New Health Unit Structure Opened With Ceremonies,” The Daily Democrat, July 19, 1940—Afternoon, 1.
[4] All figures are from “Health Work Advanced Here by Unit Plan,” The Daily Democrat, Mar. 3, 1940—Morning, Section 2, 1 & 18.
[5] Ibid.
[6] “New Health Unit Structure Opened With Ceremonies.” The Daily Democrat, July 19, 1940—Afternoon. 1.
