When the plans fell through due to funding problems, Alberhasky, upset that the remaining building was protected by the Historical Register, tried to have the building condemned. I would like to live and watch over and take care of my poor Fatherless children. Individuals worried about their health as well as about their family responsibilities and livelihood. It was not known at the time that Tuberculosis was an airborne disease. The bottom line is that the death tunnel is a must-stop if you happen to be a haunted places enthusiast. Since there was no cure for tuberculosis in those days, anyone who caught this disease was brought to this hospital in a sense to be separated away from society. This tunnel has likely seen more death than most modern hospitals. Director Philip Adrian Booth Writers Christopher Saint Booth 2023 Waverly Hills Historical Society | All Rights Reserved. Ms Harris had a fondness for author Walter Scotts Waverley novels, and she received Hays permission to name the schoolhouse the Waverley School. See. One story has it that in 1928, one of the nurses, Mary Hillenburg, hung herself in room 502. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. The land that the Waverly Hills Sanatorium sits on was purchased by a wealthy military man, Major Thomas H. Hays, in 1883. resource site. Waverly Hills is one of the most fascinating buildings to be found that stores within its wallsmany horrible and pain filled memories of a time where it seemed to continuously consume 100s of lives. At the beginning of the 20th century Louisville Kentucky had the one of highest rate of tuberculosis deaths in the United States. Last, a rich variety of records from the early and mid-twentieth centuryincluding pamphlets, photographs, letters, and architectural recordshelp document the history of Waverly Hills Sanatorium from the perspective of administrators and some of the employees and patients who lived there. A new wing was built that year to accommodate those patients in advanced stages. Our objective is the facts as we are a resource. History Many of these materials are courtesy of other sources and the original copyright holders retain all applicable rights under the law. Trellix. For more haunted adventures, check out these haunted tunnels in Kentucky. Originally a heating duct, this tunnel was also used by the staff to climb the hill in bad weather. An event referred to as the Lbeck disaster, in which a contaminated vaccine ended up killing 72 children in Germany, curtailed the popularity of the BCG vaccine for several years -- even though the vaccine itself was exonerated. With the discovery of a new antibiotic, Streptomyc in 1943, there was finally a way to combat Tuberculosis . Waverly Hills was a self-contained community. Before we go any further, its important to note that abandoned places can be extremely dangerous and many are off-limits to the public. The assumed number of total deaths at Waverly Hills sanitorium has been wildly inflated over the years; some have said the number is approximately 63,000. The Board decided to keep the name Waverly, as it had a peaceful sound to it. Out of room, the hospital had to house these patients on the grounds, under tents. It was thought that doing so would close up the small holes that tuberculosis causes. The same problems persisted, as well as suicides of the patients. As it happens, one of his daughters needed to attend school, so he built a facility that would come to be called "Waverly School" by a teacher named Lizzie Lee Harris. The hospital was deteriorating badly when they took possession. This building would stand at the forefront of America's fight against the deadly disease, Tuberculosis. We do not have access to records of any patients from Waverly Hills and we cannot accommodate any requests at this time. Fewer than 5% of patients initially survived. These dead patients were taken to the burial site through the tunnels known as the 490-foot (150-meter Death Tunnel), one of the most famous parts of the hospital. Alberhaskys intentions were to construct the worlds tallest statue ofJesuson the site, along with an arts and worship center. It was considered very state-of-the-art for its day. . It could accommodate at least 400 + patients and be considered one of the most modern and well-equipped facilities at the time. Our objective is to provide a resource and a memorial for all the building and the people whose lives made an impact on Louisville's history. There are currently 10 different medications available in the US to treat tuberculosis. This list does not included patient data from the geriatric center after inpatient tuberculosis treatment had stopped. A reminder to visitors that Waverly Hills is private property and the residence of it's owners. This website wouldbe With a design from local renowned architect D. X. Murphy, the new building now had a capacity of 400 and opened on October 17, 1926. Winner will be selected at random on 06/01/2023. A childrens pavilion was built in 1916 that housed 40 children and included a schoolroom. After World War II, the need for a TB sanatorium waned until the hospital closed in 1961. The following year, most of the land on which the buildings sat were auctioned off, and the main hospital building, several remaining facilities, as well as 40 acres were purchased by Simpsonville developer J. Clifford Todd, at a cost of $3,000,5,000. Even those who don't believe in ghosts enjoy the site for its history, its controversy, or for its popularity. They do this through offering tours, am annual haunted house held on the main buildings first floor, as well hosting private events in the restored laundry room. Land was donated and $11 million was used to started construction on the new hospital in 1924. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, Historical Case Studies in Crime & Punishment, Infirmaries and Poorhouses: Image Gallery, Transylvania University Medical Department, University of Louisville Medical Department, Kentucky Institution for Feeble Minded Children, Covington-Kenton County Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Madisonville State Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. 4400 Paralee Lane,Louisville, Ky 40272Owners: Charles & Tina MattinglyThe GPS address for tours and investigations is: [redacted]Note: Nobody is allowed on the premises without a reservation! Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky opened in 1910 to treat tuberculosis patients. The enormous and haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium by night. The current owners of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium use the derelict space as a haunted attraction, staging horror houses in the fall and running ghost tours the rest of the year. img7.mynet.com They were buried by passing through the death tunnel. B.A.S.E.-Bay Area Supernatural Encounters 2009Follow us @ www.facebook.com/bayareaseor visit our webpage @ www.bayarease.comBack before the sanatorium was ev. Today, it stands today as a monument in the fight against the dreaded disease. Now and Always,The Trusted Content Your Research Requires, Now and Always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires, Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus. In the film, five college girls fulfill an initiation rite by spending the night in the haunted institution. In 1908, ground was broken on what would become known as Waverly Hills Sanatorium (no one is quite sure when or how the second e was dropped from Waverly). A new sanatorium opened on October 17, 1926 that could accommodate 400-500 patients. TB - Tuberculosis PatientG - Geriatric Patient Another theory is that Mary got pregnant by one of the doctors, and when he tried to perform an abortion, she died, and the suicide was staged. **Research compiled for Ryan & Shane on January 27, 2017 by Micki Taylor. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. There are two legends concerning the room: a nurse committed suicide by jumping out the window, and a nurse who hanged herself in room 502 because she was single and pregnant. In 2014, the most recent year for which the CDC reports a mortality figure, 493 people died of TB. Since then, theyve worked with the Waverly Hills preservation society to restore the building. Buildings were added to the institution in 1912, 1916, and 1926. In this procedure, nitrogen is injected into the lungs, forcing them to collapse. Consumption was the most common name for pulmonary tuberculosis, the form of the disease that affected the lungs and, per its name, seemed to consume the body as it progressed in stages over many years. We do not own all of the materials on this website/blog. WoodHaven Medical was closed by the state in 1981. An abandoned tuberculosis hospital moulders on into an uncertain future. A private tour of the death tunnel is available by appointment. As no reason has been given for why she would have committed suicide, rumor is, she was actually pushed. Construction on the second hospital was underway in March 1924. Major Hays was in need of a school for his daughters to attend, so he started a one-room schoolhouse that was located on Pages Lane. So while it's true that the most common treatments were exposure to sunlight, bed rest, healthy foods, and fresh air, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium Memorial records that several other methods were applied to patients, including surgical methods that were cutting edge for the time, but that might sound barbaric now. This list includes only patients that died at the hospital. Over the next two years of construction, a two-story wooden administration building as well as two connected open air pavilions on either side, each housing 20 male and female patients were built at a cost of $25,000. Waverly Hills was later reportedly given $11 million dollars with which to build a new, larger hospital. The official estimates were admitted at more than 60,000 individuals died from TB or some of the questionable treatments utilized as attempted cures for the ailment. var tlxLastPublishedDate = null; var now = new Date(); var edited = (tlxLastPublishedDate != null) ? The new Sanatarium was officially opened July 26, 1910. The two TB sanatoriums were open for a total of 51 years, which means that 3 to 4 people would have died every single day. Since then, it has become a popular destination for paranormal investigators. The Historical Society and the family that owns the property hold fundraising events throughout the year. The number of shrouded bodies being taken away from the building began to have a dramatic effect on the morale of the victims, which was hugely problematic since this was the cornerstone of treatment. In later years, the property was repeatedly vandalized, and landowners didnt seem to care much about upkeep on the building -- which was nearly condemned. & Historical Research GroupAll files, pictures, video, E.V.P., articles, trademarks; etc. Plans are underway for an on site memorial This road trip takes you to some of the most haunted places in Kentucky, including notorious paranormal hotspots like Mammoth Cave, the Jailers Inn, Maple Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast, and what might just be the most haunted place in the country: Bobby Mackeys Music World.. Its said that the state shut it down due to reports of improper care and physical abuse of the elderly patients there. The warm, wet weather in Kentucky near the Ohio River was a breeding place for bacteria, and insects often helped to spread disease. Ruins of a historic medical facility sits eerily by the water. mentioned or used within From Alabama to Wyoming, there are abandoned towns, amusement parks, and ruins lurking in your home state. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. On this grand tour, visitors can get the historical tales of the tunnel's actual purpose. The structure served a lot of purposes throughout history, but the most significant one was when it was a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients from 1910 to 1961. Tuberculosis was becoming an epidemic in Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, and other parts of Jefferson County in Kentucky. These include nineteenth-century correspondence, diaries, and medical publications in which Kentuckians wrote of debilitating symptoms and possible treatments. The Midwestern United States' tribute to Michelangelo is a foam statue sprayed with gaudy gold paint. For the past few years, this crumbling tunnel has been featured during the Halloween season. All information contained in this website We now have a patient death index for patients that died at Waverly Hills starting in 1911. Estimates vary, and records have been destroyed, but there may have been as many as 64,000 deaths at Waverly Sanatorium. The empty building was purchased by a number of buyers in the following years, but nothing ever saw fruition. KEY: S - Submitted NP - Newspaper Article KDR - Kentucky Death Records TB - Waverly Hills Sanatorium G - Woodhaven Geriatrics Center 20 - 1920 Census Report A documentary named Spooked was also made during the filming of The Death Tunnel. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. They would not be subjected to seeing dead patients taken away for burial/burning. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium was closed in 1961; it was first quarantined and then renovated. The 1920 & 1930 census reports were all hand written. The Beginnings of industrialism, as well as geographic make-up were contributing factors. & Historical Research GroupAll files, pictures, video, E.V.P., articles, trademarks; etc. The massive, collegiate, gothic style Sanatorium that you see in the 1926 photo (above) remains standing on Waverly Hill, today. Important note:If you would like to use any information on this website (including text, bios, photos andany other information) we encourage you to contact us. The most common treatment was simply bed rest in the, One fairly horrific procedure used on TB patients before medication was available was called. The little TB clinic was filled with more than 140 people, and it was obvious that a much larger hospital was needed to treat those afflicted with the condition. Room 502 has a reputation due to the two suicides that supposedly occurred there. The second e was dropped at some point.). Some have called this long concrete structure the Death Shute over the years. Nestled in the Ohio Valley, Louisville doesnt get a proper amount of fresh air flow. The hospital, known as Waverly Hills, was opened in 1926 and was considered to be the most advanced tuberculosis hospital in the country. KDR - Kentucky Death Records S - Submitted NP - Newspaper O - Other 20 - 1920 Census Report 30 - 1930 Census Report * followed by year - Died at WHS/WGC in that year Patients of W.H.S.

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