Dr. Roland Lee Rosson, builder of the house here at Historic Heritage Square that bears his name, was born on August 28, 1851 in Virginia. He attended medical school at the University of Virginia and graduated on July 3, 1873. The Rosson House contained an in-home medical office and one is exhibited in the museum today. There is also a speaking tube on the north wall of the hallway outside his office which was an early type of intercom system. This was used after ringing the doorbell on the west wall of the hall to summon Dr. Rosson from the upstairs master bedroom. Family members mention that he had prepared medicines in the basement downstairs.

Moments in his medical career. . .

• Commissioned as an Assistant Surgeon while in the Army in 1875. While in the military Dr. Rosson was transferred to Arizona during the same year. He served at Camp McDowell, Camp Thomas, Ft. Yuma and Camp Grant.

• After his dismissal in the Army in 1879 he left Yuma and came to Phoenix to establish himself as a physician and surgeon. At one time he was in partnership with fellow Phoenix physician, Dr. Junius E. Wharton.

• Dr. Rosson and Dr. Wharton perform the first harelip repair on record in May of 1880 on a fifteen month old boy. The repair is considered successful, unfortunately three months later the boy drowned in an irrigation canal.

• In 1886 accepts an appointment as physician at the territorial prison, but resigns and returns to Phoenix within the year.

• Dr. Rosson practiced medicine on and off in Phoenix from 1879 until leaving for Los Angeles in 1897.

• By March of 1895 Dr. Rosson and his family moved into their new home and office (now the Rosson House Museum).

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