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Whatever happened to? An almost forgotten part of history 2009-09-26 - 801 Westlake DR, Columbia, KY - Photo by Ed Waggener. On the southeast mini-lawn of Westlake Cumberland Hospital, there's this piece of history which is rarely noticed, main photo. It's an imbedded, embedded slab of marble, with the words, "Westlake Cumberland Hospital 1980 on the mainlines, and below, left, "Presented by Hospital Auxiliary," and right, "Sept. 7, 1980," as shown on the enlargements of the left and right areas of the slab. The slab was stood upright in front of the main entrance to the hospital. While it is an elegant work, it was somewhat controversial, derided by some as "looking like a tombstone," and by other as "having no place in front of a hospital. The very idea," they'd say, "putting a tombstone in front of a hospital." Thankfully, this sign from the past has been preserved in a tasteful way. New, lighted signs have announce the new name of the hospital, "Westlake Regional Hospital." The old "Westlake Cumberland," many thought, made the institution seem subordinate to Somerset or Russell Springs. The sign ranks right up there with signs there's no sign of today: 1) The Loy Maternity Center sign on the North Walk off the Square, and 2) all those "Columbia, Contemplated Population 4,000" signs of the 1950's. Corrections, additions, other Forgotten Signs of Adair County welcome. Use the Comments button with this photo. -EW Permalink | Comments?

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