| Site history - Ripley Gardens |
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Dr. Martha Ripley, one of the first female doctors in the United States, was dedicated to making a change. When she founded Maternity Hospital in 1886, her goal was to provide better medical care for women and infants. The hospital was not exclusive; it catered to everyone regardless of age, marital status, ethnicity or financial means. Ripley specifically aimed to provide medical care for unwed mothers. As demand for the hospital grew, so did the need for a larger space. The hospital was relocated several times, but settled at its current North Minneapolis location in 1896. Ripley often caused controversy for her ground-breaking methods. She hemmed her skirts above the floor for better sanitation, she allowed mothers and infants to room together, and Maternity Hospital was the first in the state to provide a social services department. Ripley was also an important social reformer. After moving to Minnesota, Ripley was elected president of the Women’s Suffrage Association. Martha Ripley died in 1912, and the Maternity hospital closed in 1956, due to lack of funding. The development then became the Queen Care Nursing Home until it closed in 2000. The three remaining buildings – a Tudor Cottage, a bungalow, and the former maternity hospital – are on the National Register of Historic Places. Central Community Housing Trust bought the land and will redevelop the historical buildings to their original state. The three new developments will complement and reflect these existing historic structures. |
