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Monument to honor the legacy of Dr. James Henry Lewis to be unveiled in Harrisburg on Sunday October 24, 2021

WSIU Public Broadcasting | By Kevin Boucher
Published October 19, 2021 at 4:58 PM CDT
This historical marker will honor the legacy of Dr. James Henry Lewis, an African-American Doctor who opened a hospital in Harrisburg in 1927.
Mark Motsinger, President Saline County Historical Society
This historical marker will honor the legacy of Dr. James Henry Lewis, an African-American Doctor who opened a hospital in Harrisburg in 1927.

A groundbreaking doctor who built a hospital in Harrisburg will be honored this weekend with a monument dedicated to his giving legacy.

The Saline County Historical Society invites the public this Sunday to the dedication of a historical marker, honoring a pioneering African American Physician, Dr. James Henry Lewis., who built a hospital in Harrisburg in the early 1920s and dedicated his life to the city. Here is Historical Society President Mark Motsinger.

"He married a local girl, from the Lanton family, became a resident down here, bought a farm employed a lot of people. And was a really well-known and highly respected man in the area."

Motsinger says Sunday's marker ceremony will start at 3:00 at the site of the original hospital, 407 East Walnut Street in Harrisburg.
Kevin Boucher
Kevin Boucher is a retired broadcaster. Most recently he was a news reporter for WSIU radio. He grew up watching nature programs including Mutual of Omaha’s wild kingdom and the many Jacques Cousteau specials which sparked his passion with nature. Kevin also is an avid hiker and loves seeing and writing stories about the many fascinating plants and animals we share our planet with. Kevin is married and has lived in Murphysboro since 1976, after living in many places, including Japan, as the son of a Navy officer.


See stories by Kevin Boucher
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