Our History

The General Assembly approves an act incorporating the Hartford Dispensary.

The Dispensary opens its doors to the general public in the Brownell building at the corner of Ann Street and Asylum Avenue. It becomes the first outpatient medical clinic in the state of Connecticut.

The Dispensary moves to Hartford Hospital, although the hospital never considered the Dispensary a department or part of its facilities.

Dr. Joseph E. Root and Dr. M. Johnson discuss the need to continue to offer quality medical services to patients who can’t afford private medical care.

Drs. Root and Johnson hang a sign in the front of their Pearl Street office reading “Hartford Dispensary.” During the first year of operation in one of the office’s back rooms, they treat 467 patients. They would go on to treat 516 patients in the second year and a record-breaking 1,454 patients during the first nine months of the third year.

The Hartford Sunday Gazette suggests that the churches set aside the last Sunday of each year to raise money for the Dispensary. On the first “Dispensary Sunday,” nearly $350 is raised, reflecting the strong community support that the Dispensary received.

The Dispensary continues to grow in size and scope until it becomes one of Hartford’s most important community resources.

Dr. F. Heublein supplies the Dispensary with its first X-ray machine.

The Dispensary is recognized by The Community Chest for its outstanding work with patients. In step with a city-wide movement in 1927, the Dispensary’s Social Services Department integrates and coordinates its activities with private and public health agencies.

The Dispensary’s facilities are again renovated and expanded, allowing the organization to house more diagnostic services and employ additional staff. During the war emergency, the Dispensary serves an important function as a center for draft board exams. The organization also receives a commendation from President Truman for the valuable role it plays during the war.

Despite only employing a medical staff of 35 physicians and 12 dentists, the Dispensary remains open for anyone living in Hartford County who can’t afford the services of a private dentist or doctor. In 1949, a special donation of $5,000 from the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving enables the organization to renovate its dental clinic.

The Dispensary moves to 45 Retreat Ave., where it remains for the next 20 years. By this time, it is operating 30 clinics and features a staff of 25 doctors and 13 dentists, along with other supportive personnel. A fee of 50 cents is still the average charge for most clinic visits.

Responding to a critical unmet community need, the Dispensary’s Board of Directors decide to sponsor a health care program specifically and exclusively geared for the treatment of heroin addiction. At this time, Hartford is experiencing an acute heroin epidemic and treatment resources for addicts are virtually non-existent.

The Dispensary begins offering a methadone maintenance treatment program.