44-692: The Dr. Ephraim McDowell House , also known as McDowell House , was a home of medical doctor Ephraim McDowell . The home was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966 for its role as the site of the world's first ovariotomy , performed without anesthesia by Dr. McDowell in 1809. Ephraim McDowell (November 11, 1771 – June 25, 1830) was an American physician. He was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia and moved with his family to Danville, Kentucky in 1784. He studied under Dr. Humphrey in Staunton, Virginia , then attended lectures in medicine at
88-470: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with warm summers and moderately cold winters. Precipitation is abundant and well-spread, with an average of 47.85 inches (1,220 mm). As of the census of 2010, there were 16,218 people, 6,405 households, and 3,903 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,020.0/sq mi (393.8/km ). There were 7,180 housing units at an average density of 451.6/sq mi (174.4/km ). The racial makeup of
132-695: A lending library, the Boyle County Public Library. On March 2, 2010, Danville voted to go "wet" (to permit sale of packaged alcohol and sale of alcohol by the drink without restriction by size of premises). Five venues for theatrical productions live in Danville. The Advocate-Messenger , a twice-weekly (Tuesday and Friday) newspaper, serves Danville and surrounding counties. Local radio stations include three AM stations: WDFB-AM (1170), WHBN (1420), WHIR (1230), and three FM stations: WDFB-FM (88.1), WLAI (107.1), and WRNZ (105.1). WDKY-TV
176-481: A medical student under Dr. Alexander Humphreys in Staunton, Virginia . He attended lectures in medicine at the University of Edinburgh , Scotland , from 1793 to 1794 and studied privately with John Bell . He never received a diploma, but in 1825, the University of Maryland conferred on him an honorary M.D. degree. In 1795, McDowell returned from Scotland, settled in Danville, Kentucky, and began his practice as
220-626: A member of the Philadelphia Medical Society in 1817. He removed a urinary stone and repaired a hernia for James K. Polk . On December 13, 1809, Dr. McDowell diagnosed an ovarian tumor in Jane Todd Crawford of Green County, Kentucky , In his house on Christmas morning, 1809, Dr. McDowell removed a 22.5-pound (10.2 kg) tumor without anesthetic or antisepsis. Mrs. Crawford made an uncomplicated recovery, returning to her home 25 days later and living another 32 years. This
264-469: A railroad suspension bridge over the Kentucky River . (Roebling lived in Danville during the construction.) Despite the railroad not being completed to Danville, the county still owed the company $ 150,000. It completed payment on time in 1884. In 1860, a fire devastated the city, destroying 64 buildings and causing more than $ 300,000 in damages. Boyle County's courthouse was destroyed; its replacement
308-677: A substance extracted, nor heard of an attempt, or success attending any operation such as this required, I gave to the unhappy woman information of her dangerous situation. The tumor appeared full in view, but was so large we could not take it away entire. We took out fifteen pounds of a dirty, gelatinous looking substance. After which we cut through the fallopian tube, and extracted the sac, which weighed seven pounds and one half. In five days I visited her, and much to my astonishment found her making up her bed." In 1802, McDowell married Sarah Shelby, daughter of war hero and two-time Kentucky governor Isaac Shelby . They had two sons and four daughters. He
352-481: A surgeon. McDowell perfected the modern surgical technique of lithotomy , for removal of stones obstructing the urinary bladder. One of his most famous patients was James K. Polk , for whom he removed a urinary stone and repaired a hernia . On December 13, 1809, McDowell was called to see Jane Todd Crawford in Green County, Kentucky , 60 miles (97 km) from Danville. Her physicians thought that Mrs. Crawford
396-423: A victim of appendicitis . His wife died 18 years later. They were buried at "Traveller's Rest", the homestead of Isaac Shelby, south of Danville, Kentucky but were reinterred in 1879, near a monument dedicated to him in Danville. Danville, Kentucky Danville is a home rule-class city and county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky , United States. The population was 17,236 at the 2020 Census. Danville
440-535: Is called the "City of Firsts": Danville was part of the Great Settlement Area around Fort Harrod (present-day Harrodsburg ), which was first settled in 1774. The site was originally known as Crow's Station for settler John Crow, but the town was surveyed and platted by Walker Daniel, Kentucky's first district attorney, who bought 76 acres (31 ha) near the Wilderness Road from Crow in 1783. The city
484-758: Is located in eastern Boyle County. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.2 km ), of which 15.8 square miles (41.0 km ) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km ), or 0.58%, is water. Blue Grass Community Action Partnership provides DanTran bus service inside Danville. BGCAP also connects Danville with Lexington , Stanford , Junction City , and Lancaster . Stuart Powell Field (DVK), 3 miles (5 km) from downtown, serves as Danville's general aviation airport. Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, 35 miles (56 km) away, provides
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#1732881336668528-816: Is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area , which includes all of the Boyle and Lincoln counties. In 2001, Danville received a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation . In 2011, Money magazine placed Danville as the fourth-best place to retire in the United States. Centre College in Danville was selected to host U.S. vice-presidential debates in 2000 and 2012. Within Kentucky, Danville
572-611: The Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Sam voted in the 1870 election . Their daughter, Frances Harriet Williams , organized for the NAACP , the YMCA , and served as a presidential advisor. Danville has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International : Danville Sister Cities won the 2019 Innovation Award for Arts and Culture from Sister Cities International. The following are highly noted people from Danville. For
616-463: The Union Army after some initial hesitation. Arriving with wounds inflicted upon them in route, this group was the first to enlist at this site, where 10,000 United States Colored Troops trained. In 1775, Archibald McNeill planted Kentucky's first recorded hemp crop at Clark's Run Creek near Danville. By 1889 Boyle County was one of the ten Kentucky counties which together produced more than 90% of
660-411: The University of Edinburgh , Scotland, from 1793 to 1794 and studied privately with John Bell . In 1795. he returned from Scotland, settled in Danville, Kentucky and began his practice as a surgeon. Dr. McDowell played a prominent role in his community. He was a founder of Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville and a founder and original corporator of Centre College in Danville. Dr. McDowell became
704-496: The uterus and cut open the tumor. He described the tumor as the ovarium and fimbrious part of the fallopian tube very much enlarged. The whole procedure took 25 minutes. Crawford made an uncomplicated recovery. She returned to her home in Green County 25 days after the operation and lived another 32 years. This was the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in the world. As a Presbyterian , McDowell's response to this event
748-401: The 60 miles on horseback. On Christmas morning, 1809, McDowell began his operation. The surgery was performed without benefit of anesthetic or antisepsis, neither of which was then known to the medical profession. The tumor McDowell removed weighed 22.5 pounds (10.2 kg). He determined that it would be difficult to remove completely, so he tied a ligature around the fallopian tube near
792-641: The Deaf provides education to Kentucky's deaf and hard-of-hearing children from elementary through high school. A portion of Danville is in the Boyle County Schools district. Two private schools operate in Danville: Centre College , a nationally recognized liberal arts college, is located in Danville. Six other colleges and universities have (or had) campuses in Danville: Danville has
836-468: The US yield. It was the state's largest cash crop until 1915, when it lost its market to imported jute . From the turn of the 20th century through the 1960s, Danville was home to a thriving African-American business sector located on and around 2nd Street on the western edge of what is now Constitution Square Historic Site . The city demolished this business sector under urban renewal in the 1970s to provide for
880-442: The city limits. It operates Mary G. Hogsett Primary School, Edna L. Toliver Intermediate School, John W. Bate Middle School, and Danville High School for the city of Danville. Boyle County Schools operates Woodlawn Elementary School, Junction City Elementary School, Perryville Elementary School, Boyle County Middle School, and Boyle County High School for portions of Danville and the remainder of Boyle County. Kentucky School for
924-520: The city was 83.2% White , 10.9% African American , 0.2% Native American , 1.0% Asian , 1.8% from other races , and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.9% of the population. Of the 6,405 households, 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who
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#1732881336668968-438: The closest commercial service. More extensive commercial service is available from Louisville International Airport (SDF), 82 miles (132 km) away, and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), 127 miles (204 km) away. Norfolk Southern Railway operates a freight rail yard in Danville. Its Louisville-Chattanooga line intersects with its Cincinnati-Chattanooga line just north of Danville. Danville has
1012-559: The day. After a state constitution was adopted and separation was confirmed in 1792, the town ceased to be of statewide importance. Its leading citizens moved elsewhere. Transylvania University was founded in Danville in 1783. It moved to Lexington in 1789. Centre College was founded in 1819. Danville Theological Seminary was founded in 1853; in 1901 it became part of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary . The Caldwell Institute for Young Ladies
1056-537: The expansion of Constitution Square Park. On October 5, 2000, Dick Cheney and Senator Joe Lieberman , candidates for Vice President of the United States , debated at Centre College during the 2000 presidential election . On October 11, 2012, Centre College again hosted the Vice-Presidential debate, this time between Vice President Joe Biden and Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan . Danville
1100-441: The median income for a family was $ 40,528. Males had a median income of $ 35,327 versus $ 24,542 for females. The per capita income was $ 18,906. About 9.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over. FBI crime statistics for 2009 list the crime rate (per 100,000 population) for Danville as follows: Danville Schools includes most of
1144-473: The original office of Dr. McDowell is now used as a shoe-shining booth for Negroes. The room in the rear of the corresponding front room on the second floor,"(the operating room) "which is on a lower level by several feet, is used as a dump for the ashes from the grates of the rooms on the second floor." The Kentucky Medical Association bought the house in 1935 and deeded it to the state of Kentucky, who had it restored by Works Progress Administration (WPA). It
1188-404: The state of Arizona in 1930. He was cousin to woman's suffrage leader Madeline McDowell Breckinridge . McDowell was a Presbyterian but became an Episcopalian and founded Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville, Kentucky, having donated the land for its first building. In June 1830, McDowell was stricken with an acute attack of violent pain, nausea, and fever. He died on June 25, most likely
1232-452: The street, opposite St. James African American Methodist Church. In 1842, Boyle County was formed from southern Mercer County and northern Lincoln County . Danville became its county seat. In 1850, Danville and Boyle County backed construction of the Lexington and Danville Railroad . Money ran out when the railroad reached Nicholasville . John A. Roebling had already built towers for
1276-403: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83. 20.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 61.8% from 18 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.4 years. Females made up 54.4% and males made up 45.6% of the population aged 18 or older. As of 2000, the median income for a household was US $ 32,938, and
1320-491: Was a slaveholder . McDowell played a prominent role in his community. He was also a founder, original corporator, and member of the primary board of trustees of Centre College in Danville. McDowell became a member of the Philadelphia Medical Society in 1817. McDowell was the great-great-grandfather of General John Campbell Greenway , whose statue was placed in the National Statuary Hall Collection by
1364-546: Was an American physician and pioneer surgeon. The first person to successfully remove an ovarian tumor , he has been called "the father of ovariotomy" as well as founding father of abdominal surgery . McDowell was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia , the ninth child of Samuel and Mary McDowell. His father was a veteran of the French and Indian War and a colonel during the American Revolution . In 1784 Samuel McDowell
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1408-479: Was appointed land commissioner and moved his family to Danville, Kentucky . There, he presided over ten conventions that resulted in the drafting of the Kentucky Constitution . Samuel was the 2nd great-grandfather of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln , making her Ephraim McDowell's great-grandniece. McDowell received his early education at the classical seminary of Worley and James, then spent three years as
1452-442: Was beyond term pregnant. McDowell diagnosed an ovarian tumor. Crawford begged him to keep her from a slow and painful death. He then described her condition and that an operation for cure had never been performed. He said that the best surgeons in the world thought it impossible. Crawford said she understood and wanted to proceed. McDowell told her he would remove the tumor if she would travel to his home in Danville. She agreed and rode
1496-577: Was born enslaved in 1808. Nancy's daughter, Susan Davis, organized the Danville Domestic Economy Club for black women which encouraged voter participation and education. Susan and her husband, Sam, were both born enslaved. Fighting in the Civil War for the Union , Sam became emancipated upon his 1864 enlistment in the 114th United States Colored Troops at nearby Camp Nelson . After the passage of
1540-628: Was completed in 1862. After the Union Army won the Battle of Perryville in the Civil War on October 8, 1862, it appropriated many Danville buildings, including the courthouse, for use as hospitals. On October 11, a Union force drove Confederate forces from the county fairgrounds through Danville. In May 1864, the group of 250 – mostly enslaved males but including some freedmen – marched from Danville to nearby Camp Nelson in Jessamine County , where Colonel Andrew Clark allowed them to enlist In
1584-705: Was dedicated on May 20, 1939. In 1948, Kentucky returned the property to the Kentucky Medical Association. The Kentucky Pharmaceutical Society restored the Apothecary Shop in the late 1950s with help from the Eli Lily Foundation . It was furnished by the Pfizer Laboratories. It was dedicated and presented to the Kentucky Medical Association on August 14, 1959. Ephraim McDowell Ephraim McDowell (November 11, 1771 – June 25, 1830)
1628-477: Was founded around 1840 by Willis Russell, an emancipated slave of Robert Craddock, a Revolutionary War veteran. Craddock deeded a log house in Danville to Russell. He moved to the town after Craddock's death and started a school for children. The house on Walnut Street no longer stands, though what was once believed to be his house is now the Willis Russell Memorial Cabin. Russell's house stood across
1672-746: Was founded in 1860. It became Caldwell Female College in 1876, Caldwell College in 1904, Kentucky College for Women in 1913, and merged into Centre College in 1926. In November 1806, Meriwether Lewis , co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition , visited Danville while traveling the Wilderness Road to Washington, D.C. , to report on the expedition, which had returned from the Pacific Coast. In December 1806, William Clark visited his nephews in school in Danville before following Lewis to Washington. The first school in Danville for African-American children
1716-553: Was licensed to Danville but its facilities are located in Lexington. Danville and Boyle County Black history is the subject of a 2022 book published by Arcadia Press, as "African Americans in Boyle County." Martha S. Jones opens her book Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All, with her family story of three generations who resided in Danville. Great-great-great-grandmother Nancy Belle Graves
1760-479: Was named for Daniel. The Virginia legislature officially established Danville on December 4, 1787. Between 1784 and 1792, ten conventions were held in Danville to petition for better governance and ultimately to secure independence from Virginia. In 1786 the Danville Political Club was organized. It met each Saturday night at Grayson's Tavern to discuss the political, economic, and social concerns of
1804-518: Was not only neat, but meticulous. In his report on the operation, he described the removal of blood from the peritoneal cavity and bathing the intestines with warm water. McDowell did not publish a description of his procedure until 1817, after he had performed two more such operations. This was widely criticized in the English surgical literature. There is evidence that he performed at least 12 operations for ovarian pathology. "Having never seen so large
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1848-533: Was recorded in one of his biographies: How is it that I have been so peculiarly fortunate with my patients of this description?, I know not; for, from all the information I can obtain, there has not one individual survived who has been operated, on elsewhere, for diseased ovaria. I can only say that the blessing of God has rested on my efforts. All attempts at abdominal exploration before 1809 had resulted in peritonitis and death. Descriptions of McDowell include phrases like "neat and clean" or "scrupulously clean." He
1892-399: Was the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in the world. The house was built in three stages. A brick ell was constructed 1792–1795. Dr. McDowell purchased it in late 1802. He added the front, clapboard portion in 1803–1804 and the small brick office to the left of the back porch in 1820. The house was remodeled at the same time. After McDowell's death in 1830 the house was sold. It
1936-431: Was the home of a Centre College president for a short time. Later the entire area became slum and tenement property. The house deteriorated badly. Dr. August Schachner, of Louisville, led the efforts to buy the house for restoration. In 1921 he visited the house. "Since our last visit, the house has continued its downward course until it has reached a point where it now seems almost beyond redemption. The room that served as
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