Founded as the Scottish Rite Convalescent Home for Crippled Children, the Old Scottish Rite Hospital served indigent children, either crippled, or recovering from surgery at Piedmont Hospital or Wesley Memorial Hospital (now Emory University Hospital). Michael Hoke, M.D., was named the first Medical Director. The Home was originally a rented cottage in Decatur, Georgia with six beds. As the "Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children", six of its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.HistoryIn 1913, Ed Roberts, while serving as a member of a train crew out of Atlanta, Georgia, was involved in a train wreck that both crushed his leg and dislocated his hip. Roberts returned to Atlanta to convalesce. Roberts contacted Forrest Adair, a friend, and fellow Masonic Lodge member.During that same year, Michael Hoke, M.D., cured Mrs. William C. “Bertie” Wardlaw’s young nephew, a college student, of a serious bone infection. To honor Dr. Hoke, Wardlaw started raising money to open a crippled children’s hospital. With the aid of longtime friend and financier Forrest Adair, she approached the Scottish Rite Masons for their help in underwriting the proposed hospital. To honor the Masons’ contributions, Wardlaw added “Scottish Rite” to the facility’s name. In 1915, the hospital opened as Scottish Rite Convalescent Hospital for Crippled Children.ExpansionThe Convalescent Home soon expanded two rented cottages after funds were raised for the care of needy children by Mrs. Wardlaw and other philanthropic Atlantans (most notable Scottish Rite Masons). The facility could house 18 patients (20 if needs pressed).
