Guerrant Mission Clinic and Hospital

Dr. E. P. Guerrant, from the Kentucky Historical Society
Dr. Edward O. Guerrant, from the Kentucky Historical Society

The Guerrant Mission Clinic and Hospital, a cornerstone of healthcare in Winchester, Kentucky, for over six decades, stands as a testament to a family’s enduring commitment to service. Housed in a stately Romanesque Revival building at 217 South Main Street, its history is deeply intertwined with the broader philanthropic efforts of the Guerrant family in Appalachia.

The clinic and hospital officially opened its doors in 1927, founded by Dr. Edward Putney Guerrant. However, the roots of its mission extend further back to his father, Dr. Edward Owings Guerrant (1838-1916). A celebrated physician and Presbyterian minister, the elder Guerrant dedicated over half his life to addressing the spiritual and health needs of Eastern Kentucky’s mountain people. He was instrumental in establishing numerous churches, schools, and even other hospitals throughout the region, earning a reputation as a tireless home missionary. It was officially incorporated in November of 1929.

Original Board of Directors

Dr. E. P. Guerrant
Dr. Browne Ishmael, Surgeon, Winchester
John M. Hodgkin, Cashier, Peoples Bank
Rev. Rutherford Douglass, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Henderson
MRs. G. O. Letcher, Henderson
Mrs. John N. Turner, Campbellsville
Norman E. Green, Louisville
Mrs. W. S. Barnes
Prewitt Payne, Lexington
Leander Skinner, Clark County

After the Second World War, Dr. Edward Putney Guerrant’s son, Dr. Edward Owings Guerrant, joined the practice, continuing the family tradition of practicing medicine. For many years, the Guerrant Mission Clinic and Hospital was highly regarded, at one point recognized as one of the four best small hospitals in the Southeastern United States. Its success and positive impact on the community were not merely a result of medical expertise, but also a reflection of the goodwill and community support it garnered. The original building itself was constructed with donations and even labor from individuals in Eastern Kentucky who had personally benefited from the Guerrants’ medical and missionary work.

Beyond its medical services, the Guerrant family’s influence extended to other aspects of community life. For example, a nurses’ home located behind the clinic, originally destroyed by fire in 1934, was rebuilt two years later with donations from wealthy Clark County residents, further showcasing the community’s dedication to the Guerrant mission.

The hospital portion of the Guerrant Mission Clinic ceased operations in 1971, with the clinic continuing until 1989. After sitting abandoned for over a decade, community efforts began in 2000 to preserve the historic structure and repurpose it for public benefit.

Today, the magnificent building has been meticulously transformed into the Bluegrass Heritage Museum. This adaptation allows the legacy of the Guerrant family and their vital contributions to healthcare to live on. Visitors to the museum can explore exhibits that chronicle local history, including a dedicated section that honors the building’s past as a medical facility. The third floor notably preserves some of the original medical instruments and even the operating room, offering a tangible glimpse into early 20th-century medical practices. The Bluegrass Heritage Museum stands as a vibrant tribute to the Guerrant Mission Clinic and Hospital, ensuring that its history of healing and community service remains an integral part of Winchester’s story.

The Past

The Guerrant Mission Clinic and Hospital, from the Kentucky Historical Society
Doctors and Nurses in OR, from the KHS
Doctors, Nurses and Staff, from the KHS
Nurse and Patient, from the KHS
Nurse in OR, from the KHS
Nurse in Washroom, from the KHS
Patient Room, from the KHS

Contributed by Shawn Logan | contact@kyhi.org

⁘ Works Cited ⁘

  • Winchester Democrat, Winchester, Kentucky, 17 August, 1928
  • Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol, Tennessee, 2 December 1929
  • The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, 22 November 1929
  • The Advocate-Messenger, Danville, Kentucky, 16 September 1932
  • The Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 13 January 1947
  • The Winchester Sun, Winchester, Kentucky, 21 November 2018

Important note:
If you would like to use any information on this website (including text, bios, photos and any other information) we encourage you to contact us. We do not own all of the materials on this website/blog. Many of these materials are courtesy of other sources and the original copyright holders retain all applicable rights under the law. Please remember that information contained on this site, authored/owned by KHI, is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.


Photographs, text, illustrations and all other media not authored by KHI belong to their respective authors/owners/copyright holders and are used here for educational purposes only under Title 17 U.S. Code § 107.

Creative Commons License