Old Camp Hospital
Pecos, Reeves County, Texas
Marker Inscription
First permanent hospital in the Trans-Pecos area. Erected 1929 by pioneer physician and surgeon, Jim Camp, M.D. -- "Texas Doctor of the year" for 1950. "Dr. Jim" came to Pecos in 1900. In early days, he performed many operations using kitchen tables and other makeshift equipment. During 64 years of service, he strove to improve facilities, one of his goals being to build and to equip a modern hospital. Converted to office use 1954. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1966.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Erected in 1929 by pioneer physician Jim Camp, this was the first permanent hospital in the vast Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas. "Dr. Jim," who arrived in Pecos in 1900 and once operated on kitchen tables for lack of equipment, spent decades pushing to build a modern facility and was named Texas Doctor of the Year in 1950. The building was converted to offices in 1954 and recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1966.
Why it matters
The hospital marks the arrival of permanent modern medicine in one of Texas's most isolated regions, a milestone in bringing frontier communities the care that settled areas took for granted.
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Related people
- · Jim Camp
Themes & tags
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