Shuttered maternity home 'last of its kind'

ITS nondescript white exterior gives no hint of the treasure trove of history and heritage within.

While health care has sprinted into the 21st century with cutting-edge technology, the Salmon Maternity Home at 110 Prinsep Street remains trapped in the pre-independence days of the 1950s.

Basins with foot pedals that nurses used to wash newborns in and old beds and bassinets still stand in their original positions. Its 30 wards and at least one delivery room have been left intact for more than half a century.

"It's like a freeze frame of a moment in time. It is so rare to find a medical facility like that in Singapore that has been untouched by development," said conservation architect Lim Huck Chin.

"It could also be the last of its kind in the developed world."

Its rarity and the risk of redevelopment have prompted heritage experts to issue an urgent appeal to its reclusive aged owner for access to document its facilities, old journals, medical contributions and architecture.

Dr Yeo Kang Shua, honorary secretary of the Singapore Heritage Society, believes an impact assessment study should be conducted to determine the building's architectural heritage value, apart from its social significance alone.

"It is important to understand its condition, especially its interiors, since few people have ventured into the building in recent years," he said.

The Straits Times understands that its second-generation owner, renowned gynaecologist Yvonne Salmon, 87, could have willed the building to Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church.

But the church, which she attended, said it is unaware of this.

Its pastor, Reverend Darryl Chan, said: "She is a neighbour to us and... she used to join us for services and would receive communion here. She stopped attending a few years ago when her health deteriorated but a few of us still visit her sometimes."

Experts fear that a new owner would tear down the shuttered hospital, which stands on prime land, or strip it of its medical relics. "The building gives us a glimpse into how much we have progressed in this area of health care," said heritage blogger and naval architect Jerome Lim.

"It is a landmark which represents one of the first attempts at private maternal health care."

The Urban Redevelopment Authority told The Straits Times it had approached Dr Salmon about the possibility of conserving the building in 2004, but she was "not supportive" on the matter.

Established in 1950, the maternity home was run by Dr Salmon's father, the late Dr S.R. Salmon, until it ceased operations in the 1980s. While the art deco building is hardly well-known compared to the red-brick Presbyterian church - a national monument - across the street, it is significant for its role in obstetrics.

It helped promote awareness of the need for ante-natal and post-natal care, and was where many Singaporeans were born, said Mr Jerome Lim.

Dr Salmon, a staunch Christian of French-English descent who lives in the Prinsep Street building, could not be reached for comment. The Straits Times tried to visit her twice and was barred from seeing her both times by a helper, who said Dr Salmon was not allowed to have visitors.

Her guardian, who did not want to be named, said they "want to keep the place as quiet and free from publicity as possible". Visitors are turned away so as to keep out intruders such as property agents, he added.

melodyz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 23, 2015.
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