The United States Navy Hospital
By early 1941, the United States knew they were going to war, the draft was in effect and military bases were slowly being manned with sadly ill-equipped troops. The United States Army was the first to approach Clark with the idea that his resort would make an outstanding hospital; the offer reportedly was $1,800.000. Then, in mid December, it was announced and well documented that the Navy had agreed to the asking price of $2,000,000 on November 8 and, conversion to a hospital had already begun. Unfortunately, some in congress felt the price tag too high and instead of payment, the government instituted a condemnation suit to determine worth; the new offer was $850,000. Clark, fought the US Navy in Federal Court and was ultimately victorious; though his second wife claimed years later that in fact only $400,000 was received.
On January 2, 1942, Captain H.L. Jensen, MC, USN took command of the United States Naval Hospital in Corona. Likely, the facilities actual location of Norco was ignored due to the township's unincorporated status. Initially, patients were housed and treated within the former hotel building. The mineral spas were used as hydrotherapy units, hotel rooms became operating and patient rooms, the ballroom a full ward and the former chauffeurs quarters home to Navy personnel. By May 1, 1942, it was reported that most of the patients, totally around 100, were wounded from the attack on Pearl Harbor
In the midst of World War II, massive changes were in progress at the former resort. A three-wing, five story ward building was opened in April and prompted a visit by none other than First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The hospital was "designated a respiratory disease center" and "a complex of 15 one-story interconnecting isolation ward buildings" were built on the eastern edge of the golf course. The wards open porches provided the "fresh air and sunshine" needed to treat rheumatic fever, malaria, polio and tuberculosis
Eventually the hospital complex included officers, nurses, waves and corpsman quarters, two theatres, an additional weaving complex of wards (known as "Splinterville"), gymnasium, chapel and dozens of maintenance and service buildings. Still in use from the old resort were the hotel, power station, garage, laundry and lake pavilion. By 1945, close to 5000 patients were being treated at the site.
According to news articles, the Naval Hospital may well have been the first to successfully use Penicillin to treat tuberculosis complications, made groundbreaking advances in the treatment of polio and rheumatic fever, pioneered prosthetic devices, occupational and physical therapy and premiered the first "Atomic powered, hand held X-ray device". Wheelchair basketball may or may not have begun at the hospital but most certainly it was given a boost on the wheels of the fabulous "Rolling Devils". With an eye toward rehabilitation, Dr. Gerald Gray, known as the "Father of Wheelchair Basketball", put together teams that took on all comers and were described by one fan as "unbeatable" and "Globetrotters on wheels".
Patriotism and genuine support for the nations troops ran high in the surrounding areas. Observation posts were quickly erected and manned as Corona with its famous circular main street and the Prado Damn were considered easy targets. Gray Lady units and Navy Mothers spent countless hours visiting patients, supplying baked goods and providing transportation.
Hollywood and the Naval Aid Auxiliary quickly came forward and forgotten star Kay Francis, was put in charge of organizing visitations to patients at the Corona Hospital. For the duration, every Thursday, Kay Francis and/or a few of "her friends" would pay a visit to Corona; her friends included Cary Grant, James Cagney, Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, Bob Hope, Clark Gable and The Three Stooges to name a few. Harry James and Jack Benny both broadcast radio programs from the hospital theatre.
After the war, the patient load naturally diminished and, in 1949 only weeks after announcing the completion of $15,000,000 in renovations and improvements and ignoring protests and findings that the site should convert to a Veterans facility, the Naval Hospital was closed and stripped. But, not for long, in 1951, with the coming of the Korean War, the hospital was re-opened and infused with $2,000,000 to replace what had been carted off for pennies only months before. Finally, in 1957, again ignoring widespread pleas that the facility was needed and necessary, the United States Naval Hospital in Corona closed for good.ospital