What Did This Building Used to Be? History of 803 Kingwood
The history of the building located on 803 Kingwood Street, Brainerd, is vast and varied. But it all began as a purchase of a large residence made by Dr. Joseph Nicholson in August of 1908. The residence on the corner of Broadway and Kingwood was described back then as a “pleasant, quiet, residence section, about four blocks from the business center.”
Dr. Nicholson’s goal was to turn this property into a private hospital as soon as possible. This project would have been a big gamble for the good doctor since larger and more established hospitals already existed in the area. He persevered, and Northwestern Hospital opened its doors not long after.
In 1920, the directors of the Northwestern Medical and Surgical Association took over all ownership and management, and a few years later, built a three-story brick building as a new addition to the existing hospital. One of the many modern amenities added was an elevator. The new wing’s capacity was 72 beds, and the hospital maintained free beds for the “worthy poor.”
Northwestern Hospital, Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 07 November 1921, p. 3, c. 1-3
This private hospital accommodated 20-25 patients and provided state-of-the-art equipment and care. Between 1908 and 1920, nearly 3200 patients were admitted to the facility.
Unfortunately, in 1924, this private hospital went into receivership and never came out of it. The result was the shutdown of the building as a medical campus and a later reopening as Kingwood Apartments in 1927. According to local records, it remained an apartment complex until the early 1960s, when it was once again reimagine and reopened-this time as Bethany Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
Fast Forward
1979–1998 (context about the occupant-to-be) – “The Center” (Brainerd’s senior/community center) became a 501(c)(3) in 1979 and operated at other downtown addresses (704 Front St., then the old fire station on Laurel St. from 1983). This is background; The Center was not yet at 803 Kingwood. The Center |+1The Center |+1
1999 – Bethany Good Samaritan (Good Samaritan Society – Bethany, a senior living organization in Brainerd) gifted the building at 803 Kingwood to The Center. Renovations followed. The Center |+1The Center |+1Brainerd Dispatch
2001 – The Center moved into 803 Kingwood after renovations were complete. Brainerd Dispatch
2000s–2026 – The site functions as The Brainerd Center (aka The Center), hosting activities for mature adults, weekly programs (including the well-known Thursday donuts), trips, and events; it also houses LSS Meals (Lutheran Social Service) community dining at the same address.
Some of the remnants from the previous versions of 803 Kingwood Street still remain, and we all enjoy discovering them from time to time. If these walls could talk, we are sure they would have amazing stories to tell!
