In 1925, two local doctors, Harold Tidmarsh and C.Z. Candler, started Candler-Tidmarsh Hospital on Courthouse Hill overlooking downtown Sylva. In 1928 the name changed to “Candler-Nichols Hospital” after Dr. Alvin Nichols bought Tidmarsh’s interest. Harris was a local businessman who owned kaolin and clay mines, built the historic
Jackson County Courthouse, and established Sylva's first library. In May 1949, the hospital expanded with the completion of the $37,000 T.N. Massie wing. A fire destroyed one of the hospital's main wings in April 1958, forcing the entire facility to close for more than a month. A new 50-bed medical center opened at the hospital's current location in November 1959. A three-story addition and two one-story additions were completed in 1971, bringing the total number of beds to 80. A 1984 expansion added 55,000 square feet at the cost of $9 million. The hospital expanded again in 1994 to offer a total of 86 beds. As more than half of patients began coming from outside Jackson County, the hospital board changed the name to "Harris Regional Hospital." In 1997, HRH partnered with the 48-bed Swain Community Hospital in
Bryson City (founded 1948). HRH also operates the outpatient Medical Park of Franklin in Macon County. On August 9, 2023, Ashley Hindman became CEO. ==References==