The Watts On-line
Issue No. 19
March 21, 1997

**********************************************************
Contents:
1.  Members Lines
2.  Queries
3. The Watts Chapel
4. A  message  from one of our members:
5. Census of 1790 - Pennsylvania
6.  Watts' from Anson Co., NC
7.  Watts Marriages, Gallia county, Ohio 1851-1900
8.  Old Book Titles: John Watts De Peyster
9. George Washington Watts
10. The Story of Watts Hospital
********************************************
MEMBERS LINES

NOTE:  We had a whole group of new member this past few week.  If you do not see you line here, don't worry it will be in a future issue. 

One suggestion:  When members submit information for their family lines, it would help tremendously if they included city and state data.    (This suggestion is from Kelly Gombert and I agree with her.  It makes it much easier to link people if there are dates and states included.   Lori)

1.  kgombert@hotmail.com (Kelly Gombert)

My family line:  This past weekend I went to a funeral and was able to glean some more information on my Watts line.
So far most of my family line is found in Akron, OH.

My father is John Philip Watts b.20 Aug 1937.  His father was John Thomas Watts.  John Thomas married Lucie Romanstat sometime in 1936.  They divorced 5 years later.  John Thomas remarried Frances ? and had two more children,
Thomas (of Tampa, FL) and Vicki (Akron).  John Thomas died in 1977.

John Thomas Watts was one of three children of John Edward Watts and Catherine Malloy.  The other two children were Paul Edward Watts (died 16 Feb. 1997) and Katherine, sometimes called "K". Catherine Malloy Watts had a sister named
Rose-ene, whom everyone called Aunt Nene.

Paul Edward Watts had two children, Elizabeth and Paul Joseph Watts.

That's all I know now.  I have to look up cemetary records to find some dates.

Kelly G.

2. GSimp78584@aol.com

 I would like to subscribe to the Watts newsletter.I would also like any back issues if possible.I believe my line is from Garrett Z. Watts b.abt 1756 in Caroline Co Va. These Watts were in Jones Co. Ga. at one time (early 1800's) and most went west to Texas, Miss. Ark., and Ok. in mid. 1800,s. My gggrandfather Balaam P. Watts was in Marion Co. Ga. in 1860 married to Elizabeth Pearson. Balaam died in the civil war and Elizabeth Pearson Watts received some benefits as a war widow. Balaam's son Christopher Columbus Watts stayed in Marion Co. Ga. when his mother went to Texas with her two other children, Pridgeon and Anna.Christopher Columbus Watts mar. Mary Francis Tatum and they are my Great Grandparents.

3.  Harold Helm - sundance@neosoft.com

Subject:
         WATTS, Lucy Jane & Cynthia 1840s Montgomery Co ILLINOIS same husband
 
WATTS, Lucy Jane & Cynthia 1840s Montgomery Co ILLINOIS same husband Lucy Jane WATTS and Cynthia WATTS were both wives of my Levi WALKER whose first wife was  Arena NEATHERY. Levi was my forth cousin four times removed via Abner CASEY from IRELAND & Harriet GREEN from WALES Levi was born 1835 Vanburensburg, Montgomery Co, ILLINOIS on a Samuel HILL farm. His wives were born appreoximately as follows, same area:
Arena NEATHERY    b~1835 Montgomery Co, ILLINOIS - need ancestors etc
Lucy Jane WATTS   b~1840 Montgomery Co, ILLINOIS - need ancestors, kids
Cynthia   WATTS   b~1845 Montgomery Co, ILLINOIS - need ancestors, grave

   Levi WALKER died 1909 Mulberry Grove ILLINOIS  HH needs data on any collaterals other spouses ancestors: WATTS CASEY GREEN WALKER HILL etc WATTS, Lucy Jane & Cynthia 1840s Montgomery Co ILLINOIS same husband

4.   RBURTON@NERVM.NERDC.UFL.EDU (Bob Burton)

Have I given you my info about Isaac WATTS (1804-aft 1880) and Jane Champion (1805-aft 1880), who lived east of Macon, GA in Bibb Co, for most of their adult life. He and Jane were married December 3, 1824 in adjacent Jones Co. If I haven't given you my WATTS ancestry, send it to you. Let me know. Thanks.

5.   Chuck Gibson - cgibson@computershoppe.com

My name is Chuck Gibson - I am researching any WATTS  from Maryland or Missouri.

My connection in Mary ann Watts, daughter of William Watts.

William Watts, 48, born MD
Lucinda, 13, OH 
Louisa, 18, OH  <<<<<<<<married to Mathew Gibson

In 1850:
William Gibson, 24, IN
Mary Ann, 24, OH    <<<<<<<<<<<<Watts
William F., 1, MO
Asa, 3/12, MO

In the 1850 census of Grundy Co. Mo.

William Watts, 48, born MD  <<<<<<<<<
Lucinda Watts, 13, OH  <<<<<<< 

William Gibson, 24, IN
Mary Ann Gibson (nee Watts), 24, OH
William F Gibson., 1, MO   <<<<<<<<<<
Asa Gibson, 3/12, MO

Mathew Gibson, 22, BA
Louisa Gibson (nee Watts), 18, OH   <<<<<<<<<<

With the exception of a death date of 2/20/1887 for William Watts and The children of Mary and William Gibson that is all I know of Mary's line.
e-mail
cgibson@computershoppe.com

Also in Mo. Elmore/Gibson/Franklin/Watts
********************************************
The Watts Chapel

George Frederic Watts was an artist, a contemporary of the pre-Raphaelites but not one of the brotherhood. He owned a house in the village of Compton in Surrey where he lived and worked with his second wife, Mary. They were great supporters of local handicrafts and when the village acquired a new burial ground Mrs Watts designed the mortuary chapel.  Mary Watts apparently had no formal training as an architect but, with the help of the people of Compton, succeeded in making an exquisite building in an Italianate style with terracotta tiling and a stunning mural in the small, vaulted, interior. The clay came from the grounds of their house and the designs were derived from Celtic symbolism, including the Book of Kells.  Work started in 1895 and was completed in 1898 and ever since, the building has served as both a chapel and a tourist attraction. The grounds are now used as a cemetary for the village and GF, his wife, and members of the family are buried there. The style of many of the gravestones echoes the mausoleum itself (or perhaps the other way around). Towering above everything but the chapel itself are the Irish yew trees that Mrs Watts planted 100 years ago.

Photographs available at    http://www.demon.co.uk/atsf/ilight/watts.html
********************************************
A  message  from one of our members:

From: sswillson@keynet.net (Stephen L. Willson)

By the way, you might mention to your readers another reason to submitt any WATTS material they have.  It may bring unexpected benefits.  I sent some involving a WATTS and MOORE line neither of which were mine.  The result was getting a lead on  my MOORE line on which I have been stuck for over ten years.

Note:  I agree!  You never know where help can come from.  The best way to get  information is to share it!  Put it in this newsletter, other newsletters, message boards and anywhere else someone might see the line you are working on.            Lori
********************************************
Census of 1790 - Pennsylvania

Watts, Arthur Bucks
Watts, Conrod Bedford
Watts, Francis Northumberland
Watts, George Philadelphia
Watts, Hugh Mifflin
Watts, Hugh Northumberland
Watts, James Lancaster
Watts, James Northumberland
Watts, James Northumberland
Watts, Joel Chester
Watts, John Northumberland
Watts, John Northumberland
Watts, John Philadelphia
Watts, Joesph Northumberland
Watts, Martha Philadelphia
Watts, Petter Allegheny
Watts, Silas Philadelphia
Watts, Thomas Chester
Watts, William Bucks

Source:  The Watts Family, American Genealogical Research Institute, Hertiage Press, Inc., Washington D. C.  1975.  Pa. 47.
********************************************
Watts' from Anson Co., NC

I just received this recently and have not seen it on the Watts Newsletter.
Looks good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Peggy Cansler  vanclerk@primenet.com[SMTP:vanclerk@primenet.com]
To:  Hi Verna Reed <verna@carlsbadnm.com>,
        I was sure glad to receive all the posts from you.  Thanks for
them allI
do so appreciate you keeping me in touch. Regarding the possiblilty of our having Choctaw blood. Mrs M. C. McCrory of the Sevier County Historical Society, Historian, I believe now retired, says that Wyatt and Paloman Wood were well respected Choctaw men.   Jean Marthe of Harrison, AR who is from John King and Polly Wood lineage.  John King then married Polly s sister Jemima and both sisters to Wyatt and Paloman, as you know.  But in Jean s family the tradition has always been that Polly and Jemima had Choctaw Indian blood.  John King was a trader.  Jean also told me (she said for what its worth) Mary Hardy who married Palamon lived with the Thomas Pitchlyn family and were a well known family in the Choctaw Nation.  To me it seems possible to have had some Choctaw blood or Cherkoee, maybe both??  I do not know as you, if our Joseph married Jemima Watts or not.
         I keep seeing this Joseph Wood in the N.C. area  had land ther, who was  a son of Frame Wood and therefore I do not think ours.  Then I see this Joseph  Wood in the records of the Choctaw Trading Post, St. Stephens, Mississippi, Terrirtory, 1803-1815.  I can t find him there later.  Maybe this is our Joseph and married to an Indian lady and a trader to the Indians too.  One of the records dated 12-10-1810 - Joseph Woods receipt for $49.52 for the following  11-27- 1810 postage of letter from Major Morrison, 12-1-1810 a number of items including whiskey, coffee, lodging, suppers, 80 kegs of powder, 11-26-1810, paid Mr. Capshaw for feeding horse on way to Eddyville, feeding horse on way back from Eddyville, paid Negro to watch powder the night of the storm, bottle of wine, paid ferries across the Ohio to and from Fort Mason, and other listings..
        Another time- 12-31-1811 - Invoice for lead forwarded from St. Louis on 2-39-1811 to the address of Joseph Woods, Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland and by him to be forwarded to the U.S. Factory at Ft. Stephens on the Tombigbee.  78 bars containing 5000 lb of lead, smelting and cartage, freight from Smithland to St. Louis - for a total of $303.75, signed for at Indian Office by J. Mason, George S. Gaines, agent, noted lead has been received by the Choctaw Trading House, except one bar, at sundry times from 15th day of January to the 19th day of March 1811.  There was a William and Robert Woods in these records too.  Maybe this could be our Joseph before he went to Texas, he was in Texas by 1820 so John Nall stated.
        Going back to the Watts.  It could well be that Malachi Watts was related to John Watts who was a half-indian.  An Albert B. Taylor, in the records relating to the enrollment of the Eastern Cherkoee states that he is the husband of Mary Taylor who was born in Gordon Co., GA 1856.  She claims her Indian blood through her father.  She make no claim through her mother.  Her father s name was James Watts.  I think her father James Watts, born in North Carolina.  James Watts got his Cherokee blood through his father, Joseph Watts.  I think Joseph Watts was born in VA somewhere.  I do not know in what county or when.  James Watts was born about 1818.  I think Joseph Watts got his Indian blood through his father John Watts.  I think John Watts was born in VA.  I think Joseph Watts lived with the Cherokee Indians as a member of the tribe in Raburn County, GA.  James Watts did not live with the Cheorkees as a member of the tribe.  He was a wealthy Cherkoee and owned slaves in 1835 and 1851.  I do not know where my wife s people lived.  None of my wife s ancestors through whom she claims were ever enrolled.  None of the ancestors through my wife claims were ever held in bondage.  Henry Watts, John W. Watts, Malachi Watts were brothers of Joseph Watts. --
Subscribed and sworn Calhoun, GA 9th day of July 1908.  Now a Loy Watts of Rossville, GA stated in the Watts Newsletters that the Malachi mentioned here was  Old Malachi Watts  of Anson County, N.C. and he was there prior to 1768.
        Most Watts researchers have  Old Malachi Watts  as a brother to Garrett Z. Watts, born 8 Jan 1756 in Caroline/Virginia. He married as a 2nd wife Anna Self in 16 July 1788 (87) Anson Co., N.C., and died 1838 in Perry Co., Alabama.  I beleve most feel they would be related for both having been in Anson Co., N.C. and plus Garrett Z., named a son Malachi.  This Malachi married 1st Delia Gray and 2nd Susan Matilda Toler and Malachi died 1871 in the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma and is buried at Mt. Airy, Ludwig, AR.
        Garrett and Malachi they list as sons of John Watts and his Indian wife who is believed to be Kai Yan Tahee, daughter of Atta Kulla Kulla.  Atta Kulla Kulla was known as Little Carpenter.  Other children they have listed with this John Watts and Kai Yan Tahee are Margaret Watts, no information;  John Watts, who became known as Young Tassel, a Cherokee War Chief, he is said to have died 1808 at Willstown, Tenn and buried 2 miles north of present Ft. Payne;  Thomas Watts, no
information; and then follow Garrett Z and Malachi.
        The name Atta Kulla Kulla has also been written Attakullaculla and was first known as Onakanacleah, a Peace Chief of Cherokees.  Nancy Ward, of which much has been written, well known Cherokee lady and known as The Ghigau and as Beloved Woman.  She was a niece of Attakullaculla.  Another Cherokee of whom there is much known, Sequoyah, whose mother, Wurteh, was a sister of Chief s Doublehead, Onitositah (Old Tassel) and Pumpkin Head who it is believed would have been brothers to Kai Yan Tahee and Wurth a sister to Kai Yan Tahee.  Confusing, huh!  There is a book by Grace Steel Woodland, The Cherokees, that is interesting to read.  Maybe you have it in your library or can get it.  There can be found quite a lot on John Watts, Young Tassel.
        An article written by Atta Kulla Kulla s   so many   greats granddaughter, Joyce Seabolt in 1981 is as follows --  Atta Kulla Kulla, a man of remarkably small stature -- but -- of superior abilities, was probably the most outstanding Cherokee known to contemporary Europeans.  He was noted in his maturity for wisdom, oratory, graciousness and skill in diplomacy.          He was born ca 1700 and made a trip to England in 1730 at the age of thirty.  he was accompanied by six other important Cherokees and Sir Alexander Cumming.  On this trip he had an audience with King George II.  He met with the Lords Commissioners of the Crown-- negotiated and signed Articles of Agreement with the Crown.
        The essence of this agreement was expressed by Chief Atta Kulla Kulla,  We look upon the Great King George as the Sun, and as our Father, and upon ourselves as his children.  For though we are red, and you are white, yet our hands and hearts are joined together.  What we have seen, our children from generation to generation will always remember.  In War we will always be with you.
        He developed a friendly attitude toward the English and was a valuable asset to the British during their struggles with France, Spain and their American colonies.  The treaty made in England in 1730 brought generally friendly and peaceful relations which lasted some thirty years.
        Atta Kulla Kulla would not tolerate criticism from any source against the English, especially from the young men who were prone to belittle them at times.  Around 1736, the French sent Emmisaries to all the Cherokee towns to try to win the Cherokees away from the English.  He would have nothing to do with the French and cautioned his people to close their ears to the French Emmissaries.  A substantial number of Cherokee Peace Chiefs supported his views.  
        The Cherokees in 1740 furnished Georgia with one thousand warriors to repulse the Spaniards at St. Augustine.  In 1754, the Cherokees provided warriors to fight with the colonies in the French Indian War.  Lt. Col. George Washington said the War could not be won by the English without the help of the Cherokees.  Washington cautioned the Governor of Virginia to treat the Cherokee warriors with respect, since  They will be of particular service --more than twice their number of white men.  Their assistance is very necessary--it is a critical time.
        The Cherokees did from time to time experience difficulties with the colonies and in 1759- 1760 the English Colonies made war with the Cherokees.  In September 1761, Atta Kulla Kulla signed a peace treaty with the colonies and met with Governor Bull at which time he made the following statement:
 As to what has happened, I believe it has been ordered by the Great Father above.  We are of a different color from the white man--but one God is the Father of all--I hope that the path, as the Great King told, will never be crooked, but straight and open for all to pass.
        The following news story appeared in the Carolina Gazette on September 2 3, 1761: On this date, Atta Kulla Kulla--signed the Treaty of Peace and received an authenticated copy under the Geat Seal.  He earnestly requested that Captain John Stuart might be made Chief White Man (Indian agent) in their nation.   All the Indians love him.   he siad,  and there will never be any uneasiness if he is there.   His request was granted.  This faithful Indian afterward dined with the Governor and tomorrow sets out for his own country.
        Atta Kulla Kulla was a man of  honor and kept his word.  In his meeting with King George II in 1730, he made this statement,  In war we will always be with you .  True to his word, the Cherokees did fight with the British during the Revolutionary War and as History so clearly indicates, were defeated.  He died at the close of the Revolutionary War.
        His daughter, Kai Yan Tahee, married John Watts about 1750.  John Watts is the Great Great Great Grandfather of Susan Maldonia Watts Shackelford.  Susan Maldonia Watts Shackelford is the maternal Grandmother of Joyce Vernon
Seabolt.
        Atta Kulla Kulla (Little Carpenter) is the Great Great Great Great Great maternal grandfather of Joyce Vernon Seabolt and his brothers and sisters.
        Sources of references stated are -- The Cherokees by Grace Steele Woodward, Cherokee Sunset by Samual Carter III, Cherokees of the Old South by Henry T Malone, Old Frontiers by Alfred J. Edington, Court files 1834, Perry County, Alabama, D.A.R. Records, Watts Land Claim File, Indian Archives, Oklahoma City, Ok.
        Wouldn t it be nice if we had this Cherokee lineage, and maybe we do!  It seems to me it would be very possible to have both the Cherokee and Choctaw
blood!
        I am sorry if I have given you information you already have but thought you might find this all interesting, unless you know of it already.   I do not think the Watts newsletters are being published any longer.  I was able to contact the publisher Freda C. Blessing in Conyers GA a couple of years ago.  She may or may not be there now.  She seems to move about a lot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Submitted by -  lafferty@whale.st.usm.edu (Diane Aultman Lafferty)

********************************************
Watts Marriages, Gallia county, Ohio 1851-1900

Watts Marriages from Gallia County, Ohio 1851-1900
Taken from Marriage Records 1851-1900 Gallia County, Michael L. Trowbridge
Compiler

William H. Watt - Ulsica M. Rey 2/19/1865
Mary E. Watts - Albert Mossman 3/10/1853
Mary E. Watts - William L. James 12/4/1855
David A. Watts - Sarah C. Hill 12/13/1855
Martha E. Watts - James W. Hank  10/7/1856
Lydia P. Watts - Alonzo Hulbert 4/7/1858
Sarah E. Watts - Andrew T. Donnally 8/24/1858
William Watts - Mary M. James 10/18/1859
Ross S. Watts - Elizabeth Cherington 12/8/1859
Sarah Jane Watts - James Lewis 4/15/1860
J.A.C. Watts - Margaret Donnally 10/31/1860
Margaret M. Watts - Robert J. Drummond 10/10/1861
James Watts - Elizabeth Mossman 12/25/1862
John W. Watts - Rhoda E. Prose 1/5/1865
Martha E. Watts - W.C. Ramsey 3/29/1865
David Watts - Eliza Cherrington 4/3/1867
Andrew Watts - Missourie Jane Baker 5/19/1867
Harriet E. Watts - Ira Hulbert 12/12/1867
Florilla Watts - Arius Atkinson  5/21/1868
Elizabeth Watts - John T. Huston 9/3/1868
Miriam M. Watts - James P. Hott 8/7/1873
James F. Watts - Matilda Powers 8/7/1873
Abbie W. Watts - Charles W. Kerr 11/6/1873
Maria Watts - Spencer Walker 8/16/1873
Isabell Watts - Christopher C. Williams  4/6/1874
Margaret A. Watts - Samuel Kerr 11/10/1874
Harriet J. Watts - John P. Williams  3/11/1875
Elizabeth V. Watts - Hiram W. Gould 8/17/1876
Martha Watts - Harvey Welling 2/15/1877
Sarah M. Watts - Charles E. Liddy 3/15/1877
Moses J. Watts - Alice sowards 8/21/1877
James M. Watts - Emmarine Brumfield 3/16/1878
James W. Watts - Euphemia Hill  9/22/1878
Charles Watts - elizabeth S. Grayum 1/16/1881
William R. Watts - Fannie S. Leonard 10/18/1882
Margaret C. Watts - Daniel D. Clark 12/25/1882
Rebecca A. Watts - Lewis B. Williams 7/5/1884
Annie D. Watts - John D. Womeldorff 9/10/1884
Mollie Watts - Amos S. Stevens 6/14/1885
Emma R. Watts - George W. Rice9/12/1886
Daniel R. Watts - Mary R. Hill 6/10/1888
Maggie M. Watts - George L. Brown 9/12/1888
Ella B. Watts - John W. Wood 6/9/1889
Lorenzo Dow Watts - Anna May Smith 9/18/1889
Rosa Z. Watts - Jesse E. THompson 11/10/1889
Micheal Watts - Zena Fowler 3/9/1890
James H. Watts - Viola B. Skinner 7/30/1890
Andrew R. Watts - Luna R. Cramer 10/15/1893
Anna Watts - James Mossman 10/16/1895
Lena Watts - Charles Shoemaker  11/14/1896
Sarah J. Watts - Creed M. Watson 3/13/1898
Frank Watts - Alice Cofer  9/3/1898
John A. C. Watts - Cynthia J. Scott 12/15/1898
Servilla D. Watts - Elias Wetherholt 1/1/1899
Miranda Watts (M)- Gertie Caldwell (F) 12/9/1899

Submitted by - ArnoldMB@aol.com
********************************************
Old Book Titles: John Watts De Peyster

John Watts De Peyster.  By Frank Allaben.  Fank Allaben Genealogical Company, New York [1908] 2 vols. pp. 323, 337, with index and 31 illustrations.

Submitted by - pwallred@pplant.ucdavis.edu (Allred, Paul W.)
********************************************
George Washington Watts  
(18 August 1851 - 7 March 1921)

George Washington Watts was a manufacturer and financier.  Born in Cumberland, Maryland, George was the son of Gerard Snowden and Ann Elizabeth  (Wolvington) Watts.  George received his early education in private schools in Baltimore.  he graduated from the University in 1871 with a degree in civil engineering.  After graduation, Watts joined his father's tobacco commission business in Baltimore.  Becoming associated with W. Duke of Durham, North Carolina in 1878, he helped organize and  incorporate W. Duke Sons and Company, a tobacco business in which he became a stockholder and secretary and treasurer.  In 1890 Watts helped to organize the American Tobacco Co. and in 1892 the Erwin Cotton Mills Company.  Watts became on of the largest textile mills in the US   Interested in the total welfare of his employees, Watts built libraries, parks, and playgrounds for them.  He also built and endowed Watts Hospital  in Durham , North Carolina.  Among his other business involvement, Watts was president of the Pearl Cotton Mill at Durham, North Carolina,  the Home Savings Bank, vice-president of the Locke Cotton Mills of concord, North Carolina, a director of the Seaboard Air Line, the Durham and Southern Railway Company, the Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company, the Southern Cotton Oil Company, and the Fidelity Bank and Durham Loan and Trust Company.  Watts was elected the first president of the Commonwealth Club of Durham, which made possible the transportation facilities required to make that city a prosperous and commercial center.   Watts married twice:  in 1875 to Laura V. Beall, who bore him one child, Annie Louise; and in 1917 to Sara Virginia Ecker.

Source: Source:  The Watts Family, American Genealogical Research Institute, Hertiage Press, Inc., Washington D. C.  1975.  Pa. 77.

The Story of Watts Hospital

Watts Hospital was originally founded in 1895 as a gift to Durham by tobacco magnate and philanthropist George W. Watts. The first Watts Hospital was located at the intersection of Main Street and Buchanan Boulevard in the city. In keeping with its founder's wishes, eighteen of its twenty-two beds were "free," that is, made available to citizens without cost as a charity. Watts
gave $30,000 to build and equip the hospital and another $20,000 as an endowment.  

The original Watts Hospital By 1906, the hospital was too small to meet the needs of the growing city and region. Watts acquired a 60-acre site just northwest of Durham and located on it a new Watts Hospital.  Ground was broken and the doors opened in 1909. The new Watts Hospital was one of the first truly modern hospitals in North Carolina. Watts' gift of the then fabulous sum of one million dollars provided the new hospital with the finest buildings and equipment available at the time.  Consisting at first of a main administration building, patient pavilion, operating building, power house, and laundry, it was soon expanded to include two more patient pavilions and a nursing school and dormitory.  

The hospital buildings are architecturally significant for their Spanish Eclectic style -- an early American expression and a total departure from earlier Victorian styles.  Designed by Boston architect Bertrand Taylor, the buildings were fireproof and furnished in the "Mission" or "Craftsman" style promoted by Louis Sullivan, the Greenes, Gustav Stickley, and others.  Watts Hospital ca. 1930 From 1909 until 1930, the Watts Hospital was a genuinely model hospital and gave Durham a regional reputation as a health care center with the finest patient care, research, and training facilities south of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Watts Hospital's relocation to its new site on Broad Street represents an architectural and medical benchmark in the transition of American hospitals from places where the sick were taken to die to places where patients' health was restored. It operated the first pathological and bacteriological laboratory in North Carolina and until 1922, it was the only North Carolina hospital of 100 or more beds with a class "A" rating from the American College of Surgeons. (In that year, four other North Carolina hospitals attained a class "A" rating, but only Watts Hospital received an unconditional class "A.")  The institution was so highly regarded that in 1922 James B Duke, Governor Cameron Morrison, and others proposed to create the state's first four-year medical college and operate it in conjunction with Watts Hospital.

From its founding until the Great Depression, Watts Hospital continued to operate as a charity hospital and continued to be the object of the philanthropy of George W. Watts, his son-in-law John Sprunt Hill, and his grandson George Watts Hill. In 1976, Watts Hospital closed. Its beautiful buildings and grounds became the campus of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in 1980 -- a truly splendid adaptive re-use of the historical structure. The Watts family has continued to take an interest in the facility as a school, having made considerable financial gifts to its renovation and operation. The Watts Hospital property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The source of most of the information in this historical sketch is P. Preston Reynolds, Watts Hospital of Durham, North Carolina 1895-1976, Keeping the Doors Open. Durham:
The Fund for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education in North Carolina, NCSSM, 1991.
Supplementary Bibliography:
Anderson, Jean Bradley. Durham County: A History of Durham County, North Carolina.  Durham: Duke University Press, 1990.  Bishir, Catherine W. and Lawrence S. Early, ed. Early Twentieth-Century Suburbs in North Carolina. Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, 1985.  Durden, Robert F. The Dukes of Durham. Durham: Duke University Press, 1975.  Roberts, Claudia P., Diane E. Lea, and Robert M. Leary. The Durham
Architectural and Historic Inventory. Durham: City of Durham and the Historic Preservation Society of Durham,
1982.  WHH home page

Written by Tom Miller (born at Watts Hospital in 1956)
© Copyright 1996 by Watts Hospital-Hillandale Neighborhood Association, Inc.
********************************************
Watts' On-Line:  Compiled from E-mail and other sources
Distributed by Lori Watts Linnell    Lorlin@aol.com