 In 1951, the Biltmore Hospital facility was closed and construction began on a new hospital on Biltmore Avenue, across the street from St. Joseph's and was dedicated in March 1954.As technology advanced and medical procedures were becoming very complicated and expensive, Memorial Mission began looking towards St. Joseph's in the hopes of combining operations.Following Memorial Mission's purchase of St. Joseph's from the Sisters of Mercy in 1998, Memorial Mission acquired McDowell Hospital in Marion and Blue Ridge Community Hospital in Spruce Pine.