Wiley G. Clarkson, Architect
Corsicana: Jan. 1910 to Dec. 1911
Fort Worth: Jan. 1912 to May 5, 1952
Return to Projects Menu
Longview, Texas
In 1942, Clarkson, in association with three of the leading architects in Fort Worth, and working for the U. S. Housing Authority and O. S. Engineers designed the Harmon Hospital in Longview. At the same time, they also designed Liberator Village, Fort Worth; Army Air Force Station, Childress; McClosky Hospital, Temple, and did housing work at McGregor. The aggregating amount of money for this work was in excess of $25,000,000.00.
The Harmon Hospital
Established by the United States Army in 1942, Harmon General Hospital was named for Colonel Daniel W. Harmon (1880-1940), a medical officer in the regular Army. 220 buildings were rapidly constructed on the 156-acre site, and the hospital was activated on Nov. 24, 1942, with Colonel G. V. Emerson as the first commanding officer. Harmon General had facilities for surgery, physical therapy, laboratory analysis, dental care, and medical treatment. Associated with the hospital were a post exchange, chapel, library, post office, bank, theater, gymnasium, laundry, mess halls, barracks, and living quarters for the nurses and physicians -- all combined to make the facility a self-reliant community. Major M. K. Moulding succeeded Colonel Emerson as commanding officer. 200 inmates of the prisoner of war camp at Fannin were assigned in May 1945 to work at the hospital. The facility closed when the last of the 25,000 wartime patients left in Dec. 1945. The hospital attracted wide community support. The Garden Study Club of Longview landscaped much of the grounds. Their projects included an allee or crepe myrtle planted along the original main entrance. LeTourneau College now (1976) occupies the site.
The only remaining original building of the Harmon Hospital on the LeTourneau College campus is the church building.
This photo of the from the 1970's shows the LeTourneau College that was set up on the Harmon Army Hospital site. The hospital was replaced by the new college building but many of the other buildings remained at this point. The layout is similar to the McCloskey Army Hospital in Temple.
