A monument best known as “The Big Penny” in Woodruff is now under the ownership of the Dr. Kate Museum.
Located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Hemlock Street, the Big Penny was established to commemorate the success of a 1953 campaign. The campaign was held to raise funds to construct the first hospital in the Lakeland area.
Following the dream of Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb, area school children at Arbor Vitae-Woodruff and their geometry teacher began the effort to raise 1 million pennies. They reached their goal in six months in 1953.
A Million Penny Parade was held in Woodruff on Memorial Day in 1953 and Lakeland Memorial hospital opened in March 1954.
The property where the penny monument resides was acquired by Howard Young Medical Center in the mid 1990’s. It has since been maintained by the hospital, where visitors often stop to have their photo taken.
Howard Young Medical Center President Sandy Anderson said the penny monument belongs to the community and the Dr. Kate Museum is the right place to house it.
Dr. Kate Museum President Michael Doud said the Dr. Kate Museum was thrilled and honored to receive ownership of the monument.
