FOLEY– The Holmes Medical Museum invites the community to a special celebration on Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 4 p.m., honoring the hundreds of children born at Baldwin County’s first hospital and the medical legacy of Dr. William C. “Buddy” Holmes and his wife, Philomene Holmes.
From 1936 to 1958, the Holmes Hospital, located on the second floor of the building at the corner of what is now Alabama 59 and U.S. 98, was the birthplace of nearly 200 babies. An additional 100 children were delivered by the Holmes family and their staff in homes throughout South Baldwin County.
The building that once housed the hospital has since been restored and is now the Holmes Medical Museum, showcasing the medical history of the area and preserving the original setting of Foley’s earliest healthcare facility. The museum also includes the restored office of Dr. Sibley Holmes, one of Foley’s first mayors and father of Dr. William C. Holmes.
As part of the celebration, the museum is reaching out to identify and connect with the so-called “Holmes Babies”—individuals born at the hospital or delivered by Dr. Holmes and his team—as well as their descendants. These families are invited to attend the event and be part of a growing community tribute. The museum is also creating a historical database of these births and welcomes any information that can help.
If you or someone you know was born at Holmes Hospital or delivered by its staff, please contact the museum at 251-970-1818. The Holmes Medical Museum is located at 111 West Laurel Avenue in downtown Foley and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Come join us in celebrating this important chapter in Foley’s history and the many lives that began within the walls of its first hospital.