Crile General Hospital / Cuyahoga Community College

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Named after George W. Crile, the founder of the Cleveland Clinic and a prominent Spanish American War and World War1 Surgeon. Crile General Hospital opened on York and Pleasant Valley roads in Parma on April 21, 1944. At the time it was a rural area, perfect for a sprawling Hospital Base. Eighty Seven building were constructed on 53 acres for the Barrack style Military Hospital, with Operating rooms, Inpatient wards, Administration buildings, Mess halls, Chapel, and even a secure area for German and Italian Prisoners of War sent up from Camp Perry in Northern Ohio. (One prisoner did try to escape and was shot and killed). The Hospital had 1,725 beds, seven miles of corridors, and 1,000 Caregivers during WWII. Throughout war, 15,000 wounded soldiers and POWs were cared for in Parma.