Soldiers Home Foundation

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Home Hospital & Convalescent Wards

Our Buildings - Hospital & Convalescent Wards

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Though often referred to as the VA’s “original hospital,” Building 6—the Hospital and Convalescent Wards (Bldg. 6)—was the third hospital on the grounds.

Milwaukee Architect Henry Koch designed the three-story central block building with two flanking pavilions built in 1879. West wings were added in 1886 and 1898, the later renovation for a “TB (tuberculosis) Camp” with characteristic porches.

Originally, Building 6 housed only elderly Civil War Veterans, the beginnings of federal nursing home care in America. Amenities included four sun parlors, rocking chairs, writing desks, floral stands, gold fish, canaries, gramophones, and radio sets. One prominent doctor associated with the Home and its hospital is Dr. Erastus B. Wolcott, the state surgeon-general during the Civil War and a member of the Milwaukee Home’s first Board of Managers. Founder of the State Medical Society in 1841, the State Medical Society of Wisconsin erected a marker to honor him in 1972 near Lake Wheeler.

 

1889 Chapel Update

Current donations and our goal:

fundraiser ideas

The Milwaukee Soldiers Home Foundation, Inc. has, to date, raised over $200,000 toward restoring the National Soldiers Home Historic District's 1889 Chapel. We've used donations to complete lead, asbestos and animal abatement at the Chapel as well as architectural plans and the required Historic Structures Report. In addition, we've obtained $1.37 million in National Park Service tax credits toward the $6 million project. We need your help to meet the immediate need of raising $500,000 to begin Phase I of the Chapel Restoration project, restoring the damaged Chapel's roof, the first Phase of the Chapel Restoration Project. To donate cash, goods, or time and talent to the project, visit the Chapel Restoration section of this Web site.