Buchanan County’s first hospital was founded in 1917 in the one-time mansion of Civil War Captain D.S. Lee,to provide care for up to 12 patients at a time. Dr. J.H. McGrady and Dr. F.F. Agnew formed the first medical staff. They hired Minnie Chapman to act as head nurse and superintendent for $60 a month. Together, they provided a private room, board and “general nursing” to a patient for approximately $8 a day.

From this modest beginning, after almost a century of service, Buchanan County Health Center has emerged. BCHC is a full-service, primary care community hospital with more than 3,000 patient visits each month.