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Our Timeline

Early Foundations

1650

The Sisters of St. Joseph, a Catholic congregation of women, is founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France.

1698

Brothers and explorers, Pierre and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne set sail from Brest, France, and arrived at the lower Mississippi River. They encounter a prominent oxbow lake that will be named la Fausse Rivière or False River. Likewise, the surrounding area will become known as la Pointe Coupée or "the place of the cut-off".

Pierre Le Moyne, left, and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, right, by Granger.

1720

The trading post le Poste de Pointe Coupée or "the Pointe Coupée Post" is established by French settlers and Creoles.

1738

The St. Francis of Pointe Coupée church is dedicated. It is a predecessor to today's St. Mary Church.

An image of the first St. Francis of Pointe Coupée church which was later destroyed by a strong storm (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity). The second St. Francis Church stood until being dismantled in 1892 when its foundation began to sink into the Mississippi River (just northwest of the New Roads-Bayou Sara ferry crossing).

The handwriting on the bottom of the image reads:
Grand Services of the [illegible], New Roads, Louisiana
St. Francis of Assisi of Pointe Coupée Parish
built in 1719

Source: Pointe Coupee Parish Library

1776

A chemin neuf or "new road" is constructed linking the False River and Mississippi River.

1803

The Louisiana Purchase is finalized which sees the United States buy territory from France for fifteen million dollars.

*1796*
A cropped version of the "Map of the Course of The Mississippi from the Missouri" by The David Rumsey Collection. New Roads is seen on the middle left.

1822

Catherine Dispau, a free woman of color, divides her plantation on False River into a multi-block subdivision which is connected to the "new road".

1875

The Louisiana state legislature incorporates the growing town, officially naming it New Roads.

Similarly, in the years following Louisiana's 1812 statehood, the spelling of the word "Coupee" more and more begins to not use the traditional French accent aigu over the first letter “e”. This is in large part due to Americanization and Anglicization of names over time.

1904

Invited by Father Francis La Roche, the Sisters of St. Joseph arrive in New Roads, Louisiana.

Joseph Richy — New Roads mayor, local businessman, and philanthropist — donates a plot of land to the Sisters who aim to build a school. Two years later, the St. Joseph's School (the predecessor to today's Catholic of Pointe Coupee School) will hold its inaugural semester with 47 pupils.

Portrait of Joseph Richy (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity).
Source: Pointe Coupee Parish Library

The Mosely Clinic

1940

July 11: Dr. John Miller Mosely, Jr. breaks ground for his new medical center, the Mosely Clinic, located at 160 East Main Street, New Roads, LA. It is diagonally across from the Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse's front steps.

December 12: The Mosely Clinic opens its doors with 8 patient beds.

*February 17, 1942*
In operation for a little more than a year at this point, the Mosely Clinic can be seen in the background of this image taken during the 1942 Mardi Gras parade (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity) — most cities cancelled their celebrations due to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. subsequently entering World War II about 2 months prior. The sleek, Art Deco styled lettering on top of the entrance spells out "Dr J M Mosely Clinic".
Source: Louisiana Life Magazine

1944

To better serve a prospering New Roads community, the clinic begins to expand its footprint by purchasing an adjacent 100+ year old home. During the process of being torn down, the home's lumber is repurposed and its solid foundation used for the Mosely Clinic's new sanatorium – a specialized area for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments, and convalescence.

*Circa 1952-1968*
The clinic's two-story sanatorium can be seen on the right side of this photo (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity). It has a large bank of windows that were used for "open-air treatment" which is the therapeutic use of fresh air and sunshine — a popular type of remedy during the 20th century. Such treatments were used for people with infectious respiratory diseases like influenza or tuberculosis.
Source: Morganza High School Friends, Bouquet A Connie

1950

During the previous decade, the clinic has grown from 8 to 21 patient beds.

Due to an "acute shortage" of graduate nurses, Dr. Mosely proposes that the Sisters of St. Joseph assume maintenance and operation of the clinic since they have the staff and skill to do so. The Sisters agree to a 1-year trial basis during which no rent will be collected by Dr. Mosely. On September 1, they officially embraced duties of the clinic and changed the name to the Sisters of St. Joseph Hospital.

1951

Seven months into their stewardship, it becomes clear that the Sisters cannot financially maintain the hospital's various services. Without outside help, they will be forced to leave the hospital permanently at the conclusion of their 1-year trial.

As a result of this news, there is public outcry and various committees are formed – they discuss purchasing the hospital outright, utilizing the not-yet-available Hill-Burton Grant, and solicit recommendations.

Dr. Mosely extends the Sisters' 1-year trial another year.

1952

June 23: Thanks to a citizens' petition, the Pointe Coupee Police Jury creates the 5-member Lower Pointe Coupee Parish Hospital District.

July 17: With the Sisters' 1-year trial officially ending in 46 days, Mother Mary Anthelma (Provincial Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans, LA) reaffirms the Sisters to continue fully running the hospital for a short time while the hospital district forms a plan of action.

July 24: The hospital district begins applying for a $250,000 bond. An election where voters will officially decide whether or not to proceed with the bond and its repayment through a sales tax (and ultimately the fate of the hospital) is scheduled to take place on September 30.

July 30: Mother Jeanne Eudoxie (Superior General of the Congregation of St. Joseph in Bourg, France) sends a cablegram stating that since no definitive decision has been made regarding the hospital, the Sisters must vacate the hospital by September 1.

August 7: Mother Anthelma confirms to the hospital district Mother Eudoxie's decision stating that the Sisters will be "temporarily" withdrawn from the hospital until a "future course [is] more definitely charted".

September 1: Mother Eudoxie's deadline comes and goes, but the hospital remains open – babies are delivered and the sick are cared for.

September 30: The special election takes place.

October 2: The results of the election are announced and the $250K bond is approved by a majority of 690 to 30. It will be paid off by a 10-year 5-mill tax.

A news clipping from the Pointe Coupee Banner's September 25th, 1952 edition which includes an image of the building originally constructed for the Mosely Clinic (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity).

The Sisters of St. Joseph Hospital

1953

The hospital district purchases the hospital from Dr. Mosely for $100,000 (average appraisal was $136,500). The leftover funds are earmarked for hospital improvements, expanding the existing facility, and erecting housing for the Sisters.

The Sisters lease the facility from the hospital district.

October 1: At their first staff meeting Dr. Mosely is named Chief of Staff. Other elected officials are Dr. Durel as President, Dr. Roberts as Vice President, and Dr. Helm as Secretary.

*Circa 1960*
The Sisters of St. Joseph have been instrumental in helping to form New Roads and the surrounding area in the 20th century. They have been associated with Pointe Coupee General Hospital, St. Joseph Academy, Catholic of Pointe Coupee, and St. Mary of False River.

1954

A $106,000 annex is built between the hospital and False River. It includes living quarters for the Sisters, a kitchen, laundry room, storage rooms, screened porches, and a chapel.

The hospital has new treatment rooms, a doctor's lounge, and additional X-ray machines added. The operating rooms also receive new, electrically conductive flooring to better protect their highly sensitive electronic equipment.

A news clipping from the Pointe Coupee Banner's September 2nd, 1954 edition which includes an image of the hospital's new Annex (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity). The top of the Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse's clock tower can be seen behind the Annex on the left.

Despite the adjacent hospital building being demolished in 1977, the Annex exists today and has since been repurposed by the local government.

1956

The Sisters of St. Joseph Hospital passes inspection by the American Hospital Association.

The hospital is approved for a $10,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. Later in the year, new X-ray equipment and operating tables & flood lamps are purchased and installed.

*Circa 1960*
Sister Mary David and aides work together, preparing clean linens (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity).
Source: Pointe Coupee Parish Library

1961

As part of its mass casualty response to the train derailment on January 31, in nearby Labarre, the Sisters of St. Joseph Hospital treat a deluge of patients.

1963

A consultant is hired to analyze the parish's hospital needs. In their report, they find "a definite need for an enlargement of the hospital". This is emphasized by the 44.2% increase in inpatient load at the Sisters of St. Joseph Hospital between 1953 and 1962.

They need a larger parking lot and expanded facility for nonnegotiables such as an emergency room, waiting/recovery/labor rooms, dining areas, medical records storage, and more. However, their current location simply does not have enough real estate.

This places into motion discussions of using the Hill-Burton Grant and sales tax in order to raise enough funds for a new facility at a new location.

1965

March 13: The residents of Pointe Coupee Parish pass a 1% sales tax by a 4-1 margin which will allow a new hospital to be built 2 miles down the road, replacing the Sisters of St. Joseph's Hospital.

June 8: The Pointe Coupee Police Jury purchases the 15-acre "Lebeau tract" and neighboring 300-foot of frontage on False River for $24,000 and $12,000 respectively. These parcels of land are what present-day Pointe Coupee General Hospital sits upon.

A news clipping from the Pointe Coupee Banner's February 25th, 1965 edition showing a rendering of the yet-to-be-named new hospital (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity).

1966

The Sisters of St. Joseph Hospital is approved for Medicare.

1968

Construction of Pointe Coupee General Hospital begins with funds provided by the Hill-Burton Grant in the amount of $764,800 and the 1965 sales tax in the amount of $935,200. The total cost of the facility – including land, buildings, and furnishings – is $2,125,000.

Pointe Coupee General Hospital

1969

PCGH's original logo.

Pointe Coupee General Hospital’s 60-bed building was completed and opened on Saturday, November 1st, admitting its first patient on November 3rd and delivering its first baby on November 4th. The Sisters’ convent is also completed.

Ownership is transferred to Pointe Coupee Parish. The Sisters lease the hospital from the parish for an initial three-year period.

An image printed in the Pointe Coupee Banner's October 30th, 1969 edition (image has been lightly edited and colorized for clarity). Photo by Brent Roy.

1970

In coordination with the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury, the Louisiana Department of Highways begins planning construction of an approximately 2-mile highway located just west of PCGH.

1971

The new highway, Hospital Road, is completed for $210,000. Running alongside PCGH, this new "artery" links False River Drive and Morganza Highway.

1972

The Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury authorized the purchase of a narrow piece of land for $7,500 that will be used to connect the newly-completed Hospital Road to PCGH's campus. In a nod to Dr. Mosely and his commitment to our community, this new road is named Mosely Drive.

Likewise, two additional roads on our campus – Roberts Drive and Durel Drive – are named in honor of indispensable New Roads physicians Dr. James C. Roberts and Dr. Eugene G. Durel.

*Circa 1977*
While sparse compared to today, our campus back in the day was just as focused on providing excellent healthcare services to the community utilizing our 60-bed facility.

1974

The Pointe Coupee Ambulance Service, Inc. begins serving the community 24/7. Part of their fleet of vehicles includes two new state-of-the-art ambulances painted bright orange and white.

1977

The building orginally constructed for Dr. Mosely's clinic in downtown New Roads is razed. Throughout the structure's lifetime, it housed Dr. Mosely's humble clinic, the Sisters' burgeoning hospital, and various state & parish agencies. After approximately 37 years of use, it was torn down in order to accommodate an expanding New Roads government. Shortly thereafter, a new building opened – the Pointe Coupee Parish's Courthouse Annex.

On PCGH's campus, a new 9,540 ft² (886 m²) Doctor's Office Building alongside Roberts Drive is completed for about $297,000. It will house six offices.

*2019*
Today, this group of buildings is known as the *South Medical Complex* .

1978

The Sisters decide to not renew their lease and administration is turned over to lay personnel. Evidence of the Sisters’ early involvement in the development of PCGH is visible by their living quarters and chapel, both still located on campus today.

*2017*
Often called "the Chapel," the Sisters of St. Joseph Conference Room is one of the last physical reminders of the Sisters' presence.

1982

A new building for the Pointe Coupee Parish Health Unit on Durel Drive is completed.

1983

PCGH's Expansion Project begins which will add new areas for the Emergency Room, Radiology Department, 2nd floor nurse's station, Central Supply Department, and much more.

Two additional doctor's office buildings are added comprising the North Medical Complex. It will house four offices.

*August 1983*
Our Management and Progress Report.

1984

The residents of Pointe Coupee Parish pass a 1% sales tax which will be dedicated and used for capital improvements, maintenance, and operation of PCGH.

1985

PCGH completes the Expansion Project that provides for an expanded emergency room, 8-bed monitored unit, and expanded maintenance area.

A facility for providing substance abuse prevention and chemical wellness services is completed north of the North Medical Complex. Today it houses the Pointe Coupee Human Services Center.

The Pointe Coupee Health Services District № 1 was established on October 1st.

*1985*
As seen from our 1985 Progress Notes, an aerial view shows our completed Expansion Project.

1987

The financial condition of PCGH deteriorates and the residents of Pointe Coupee Parish pass a 10-year ½% sales tax.

1997

With PCGH now in the black, board members agree to reduce the sales tax from ½% to ¼%. The residents of Pointe Coupee Parish once again pass the sales tax.

The Homebound Health building is completed, located west of the North Medical Complex. All Home Health services move to this new location.

The Pointe Coupee Physical Therapy building on Hospital Road is completed and our Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy services move in.

1998

The internal medicine building is completed on the north-side of PCGH's campus. It sits in between the two existing doctor's office buildings that were constructed in 1983.

*2019*
Today, this group of buildings is known as the *North Medical Complex* .

Modern Era

2001

The Pointe Coupee Parish Health Services District № 1 is instrumental in the opening of the Innis Community Health Center, and Dr. Harry Kellerman serves as the first physician in the clinic.

2004

PCGH was designated a critical access hospital by the federal government on November 1st with a license for 22 inpatient beds.

2007

Pointe Coupee General Hospital unveils its new logo and brand identity. Our official colors are "False River Blue" and "Compassion Red".

See our press kit to learn more.

Our logo presents a clean, modern design that reflects both professionalism and community care. The name "Pointe Coupee" is displayed in bold, blue lettering, conveying trust and stability, with "GENERAL HOSPITAL" in a smaller, uppercase font beneath it for clarity and emphasis on our institution’s role.

A distinctive cross embedded in the dot above the letter "i" is a nod to the widely recognized medical cross, while flowing blue wavey lines above the "ee" reference our home on False River as well as our vitality, movement, and the nurturing nature of healthcare. The sweeping red curve beneath the text adds a dynamic element, symbolizing forward momentum, energy, and compassionate service.

2015

The hospital completed a 17,000 ft² (1,580 m²) expansion with two new buildings, the Sisters of St. Joseph Medical Plaza and Hospital Laboratory & Storage Addition in October.

The Specialty Clinic № 1 (adjacent to Mosely Drive) opens. It houses specialty physicians who practice cardiology, orthopedy, urology, and more.

The Sisters of St. Joseph Medical Plaza opened on September 22, 2015, and it is the home for a few of Our Lady of the Lake physicians.

2017

The Emergency Department’s expansion from 8 to 14 beds and a renovated nursing station, triage room, and waiting area was completed in August. Additional areas are renovated to create a new outpatient registration department, Radiology office space, and Radiology waiting area.

*September 9, 2016*
Over the years we have expanded to include numerous facilities on our campus. We have also renovated and enhanced our originally 60-bed facility to meet the demands of the 21st century.

2019

A renovated courtyard is finished, located near the Sisters of St. Joseph Conference Room (AKA “the Chapel”). Stately brick columns, crepe myrtles, and landscape lighting are added to the hospital’s riverfront property.

Inpatient renovations are completed on the second floor which double the size of the patient rooms.

We celebrated our 50th anniversary!

2021

As part of its pandemic response, PCGH administers thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to its staff, the community, and the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Office.

2024

The hospital completed an expansion with a new building, Medical Office Building № 2, in March.

Our rural health clinic, St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic, opens in December.

The Medical Office Building № 2 opened in March 2024, and it is the home for a few of Our Lady of the Lake physicians.