In 1862 Marcus L. Ward assumed the responsibility for organizing a hospital to treat the trains full of Civil War wounded.  He borrowed money from the NJ state government and leased a four-story building.  In two days the building was readied for occupancy, complete with hospital equipment.  The summer of 1865 saw the closing of the hospital, which was converted into a state soldiers home.

        The Ward Hospital was located in several factory and warehouse buildings east of Centre Street, and between the railroad tracks of what is now the freight station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the river.  The wounded and sick men were brought on from the front or from other hospitals, in trains and moved directly out of the cars into the hospital.  The hospital had bed accommodations for 1,400 patients.  From the time of its opening until after the close of the war convalescent soldiers were constantly to be seen on Newark streets.