Molly Stark Sanatorium was opened on August 23, 1929, and would provide help and care for Stark County residents who suffered from tuberculosis. The facility was named in honor of General John Stark’s wife. Stark County itself was named after John Stark.

John Stark was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire on August 28, 1728. The site where he was born is now part of Derry, New Hampshire. When he was eight years old, his father and mother decided to move to Derryfield (now Manchester, New Hampshire). It was here that Stark lived the rest of his life. During his mid-20s, Stark served as an officer in the British Army during the French and Indian war. He later rose to major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Stark had become widely known as the “Hero of Bennington” for his accomplishments during the Battle of Bennington in 1777. He had served in many other battles over the years, including Battle on Snowshoes, Battle of Carillon, Siege of Boston, Battle of Bunker Hill, Invasion of Canada, Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton.

Stark married Elizabeth “Molly” Page on August 20, 1758. Together they had 11 children, including his eldest son, Caleb Stark, who would grow up to serve alongside his father at the Battle of Bunker Hill, Trenton and Princeton.

“There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!”

During the Battle of Bennington, it’s said that Stark had rallied his troops with the cry, “There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!”

Another notable quote by John Stark was “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” This quote became the state motto of New Hampshire in 1945.

During a smallpox epidemic, Molly Stark acted as a nurse to her husband’s troops, and had even opened their home as a hospital during the war. She petitioned in 1778 to inoculate herself and family for smallpox, but was denied by state authorities who continued to ban inoculation, worrying that it would spread the disease.

After serving throughout the rest of the American Revolutionary War, John Stark retired to his farm in Derryfield, renamed Manchester in 1810. He died here on May 8, 1822 at the age of 93.

Molly Stark was just one of 25 tuberculosis hospitals built in Ohio. The structure was designed in the Spanish Revival style of architecture by architect Albert Thayer of New Castle, Pennsylvania. This style was popular in the United States between 1915-1930. With fresh air in mind, he included many windows, vaulted porticos, recessed balconies and rooftop verandas in his design. There were originally five buildings, and the grounds around them had been designed specifically to provide a therapeutic and restful environment for patients undergoing treatment and the sanatorium.

In 1938, about 1,200 feet of tunnels were installed at the sanatorium by the Works Progress Administration. These tunnels helped by providing quicker and easier means of traveling between the multiple buildings. This helped greatly on cold or rainy days. In 1952, the east and west wings of the hospital would see additions. These additions were made to expand the facility’s overall patient capacity. The additions were designed by Charles Firestone – the same architect who designed the Canton Memorial Auditorium. In fact, the additions were also done in the same architectural style as that very memorial.

By the mid-1950s, medical sciences had advanced, and the ability to identify and treat tuberculosis had greatly improved through newer methods. With these advances, Molly Stark became less necessary as a place for treatment, and the facility had begun to take in far less patients. In 1956, the name had been changed from Molly Stark Sanatorium to Molly Stark Hospital, as they started to provide treatment and care for other medical cases aside from tuberculosis. Over nearly the next 40 years Molly Stark provided care to those in need of physical rehabilitative therapy, the elderly in need of care and even people with substance abuse problems. In 1970, the last of Molly Stark’s remaining tuberculosis patients were transferred to the J.T. Nist nursing home. For the next 25 years, Molly Stark remained in operation, but by the early 90s things looked grim. The hospital’s infrastructure had aged, and by this time needed a lot of work to be deemed in good working order. This coupled with the diminishing need for doctors led to the closure of Molly Stark in 1995. The hospital has sat empty and abandoned since.

In April of 2009 however, the building was purchased from the Stark County Commissioners for one dollar. Stark Parks then opened Molly Stark Park, complete with walking paths, picnic tables, grills, and of course a great view of the former hospital.

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