Peaceful in its very presence and guarded by massive pine trees and magnolias, the grand old Tudor style brick edifice suddenly appears on a knoll on Central Drive in Southern Pines.
Situated on the roof above the fifth floor stands St. Joseph. As patrons go, the Holy husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is a very busy patron saint. He watches over travelers, pilgrims, artisans, craftsmen, and represent hospice care and a peaceful death.
Although the statue was not physically present when the building was erected 73 years ago, St. Joseph’s spirit was there, blessing its future purpose.
Pine Needles Inn, a five star hotel, including a golf course designed by Donald Ross, opened for business in January 1928 at Knollwood, a 6,000 acre tract of land between Pinehurst and Southern Pines. Investors included LeonardTufts (of the famed Pinehurst family.) and Eldridge Johnson, the inventor of the Victor Talking Machine.
Architect Lyman Sise of Boston was hired to design the hotel in the English Tudor style. It was built to be the finest in the South; the fireproof structure was framed with steel, each room having a bath and a phone. Rooms were furnished with North Carolina furniture.
Twenty-two months later, Black Tuesday changed the economics of the United States. For the next 10 years, the owners and investors struggled to hang on.
Pine Needles and its “sister” club Mid Pines were both hit hard by the Depression years, but they managed. And in the mid-1930s, the economy improved somewhat.
George Dunlap Sr., a successful businessman, had often been a guest at Pinehurst, eventually building a home on Beulah Hill Road. Dunlap, along with S.Y. Ramage of Oil City, Pa., joined with some silent investors to form Patuxent Development Company, buying Pine Needles in 1935. The resort was eventually in the black again.
Then came World War II.
In April 1942, the Air Force Technical Training Command took over the inn, turning it into a barracks. The men called it home and paid $15 a day for lodging, meals and golf privileges.
After the war, Patuxent continued to run Pine Needles for a couple of more years before the company decided to sell.
In 1948, the building began a new life with a new name, St. Joseph of the Pines, serving as an acute care general hospital, having been purchased by Bishop Vincent Waters of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh and staffed by the Sisters of Providence of Holyoke, Mass.
Shifting from the concentration on acute care in the 1960s, St. Joseph’s dedicated itself to the care of the whole person — physical, social, psychological and spiritual.
The nonprofit organization later focused its attention on long-term nursing care and dedicated itself to the mission of serving the sick and the needy, young and old, regardless of race, color or creed.
For the next 30 years, St. Joseph’s provided 24-hour care by a qualified nursing staff including a personal care unit available for patients needing minimal assistance in daily living.
Today, the “castle” is still there, housing the executive and administrative offices of St. Joseph as well as the support offices for its Home Health Care.
A new, modern building on Gossman Drive, less than two miles from the old campus is continuing the mission.
If you happen to be on the second hole at Pine Needles, look over your shoulder toward the castle on the knoll. St. Joseph will be watching over you.
