Hospital History of Panama- Colon Hospital

A vintage postcard image of Colon Hospital thanks to panamarailroad.org.

An old photo of one of the Sisters of Charity that might have staffed the original Colon Hospital under the French. image nunsandsisters.com

From the very beginning in 1881 the French Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique started construction of a hospital in the city of Colon by first choosing a beautiful site by the shores of the Caribbean Sea in the northern part of Manzanillo Island.  This choice location provided fresh cross ventilation and the wonderful eternally present sea air which carried currents of relief for its many patients. At that time it earmarked a budget of $ 1 million for the building and equipping of this respected institution.

Rio Abajo

The Stone Church or "La Iglesia de Piedra" is one of Rio Abajo's most prominent landmarks.

By Lydia M. Reid

Rio Abajo, which literally means “down river,” is an excellent example of one of the Silver communities in the Republic of Panama apart from the Canal Zone that was founded and originally urbanized by the Westindians who came to settle in Panama.

Silver People Memorial Day 2010

The words of Colonel George W. Goethals in 1907 before a gathering of visiting Congressmen- "I now consider that I am commanding the army of Panama and that the enemy we are going to combat is the Culebra Cut and the locks and dams at both ends of the Canal." In the image of Mount Hope Cemetery above we have physical evidence of the hundreds of Westindian workers who died during the construction of the Canal but, buried under the waters of the Canal are hundreds, perhaps thousands more, unnamed heroes.

For today’s United States Memorial Day observance we want to especially remember our Silver People Heritage. Furthermore, our prayers and our eternal voice and votes go towards envisioning a better future for all our future generation of descendants of the Westindian Diaspora of Silver People of the Republic of Panama.

The Professionals

Dr. Hubert Clarence Edwards was a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Canada and he had Been practicing medicine in Colon since 1917.

By Lydia M. Reid

We’ve discussed at great length about the impressive contribution of the thousands of West Indian working men and laborers who were instrumental in the building of both the Panama Railroad and the Panama Canal and its continued operation into our present day.  We would like, however, to highlight the role of the many important professionals who provided many valuable services to both Westindian and Panamanian citizens alike at a time when such professionals were in low supply and high demand.

Belated Honors from the Country He Loved

Recent 400 meter run (men) at the Bolivarian Games

Lloyd La Beach had come to rely upon his own resources since his performance at the London Olympic Games of May, 1948. The Immortal Hero of the Barrio of Calidonia, by now a recognized Olympic superstar and University of California graduate, the sole representative of the country of the Panama would subsequently, in the year of 1951, bring glory to his beloved Roxy Athletic Club. Regrettably, however, for the rest of his countrymen his glory would not shine or reach recognition as he competed without assistance or acknowledgment from highly respected international athletic organizations.