Waverly Hills Sanatorium
A Dedication To The Past, Present, And Future Of Waverly Hills
I am setting up this page as a dedication to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky. Yes, the place is known to be haunted but I am wanting this page to be a tribute to the doctors, nurses, patients, volunteers, and everyone else who has been involved in the past, present, and future of Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I also want to thank everyone who has helped with this dedication by telling me their stories, sharing their photos, and memories with me. Peace and love to all of you and all that you do.
Peace and Love,
Jamie
A Little Bit Of History On Waverly Hills Sanatorium
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium was created by an act of the legislature of 1906. The Sanatorium's, original hospital, was opened in 1910 with a capacity of 40 patients. In 1913 the open-air school for undernourished and pre-tubercular chilren was opened at the hospital. In 1923 Waverly Hills Sanatorium was granted additional accommodations, as the hospital had outgrown the original buildings. A bond issued for $1,000,000 was voted by a large majority for a new hospital to be constructed. The present commodious buildings were completed in August, 1926 with the new capacity of 435 beds. This building was erected at a cost of $3,625 a bed. November 1st thru 8th, 192, A proclamation, asking the people of louisville to join the Louisville TB Association in observing "Open Window Week," was issued by Dr. C. H. Harris, City Health Officer. The 5 (counting the roof top section) story, 435 bed building was formally dedicated Wed., Oct. 20, 1926. October 24, 1929 The only residents of Louisville & Jefferson County were admitted to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in the future treatment of TB. Announcement was made by Dr. O. O. Miller, superintendent of the institution, following a conference with A. H. Bowman, president of the board. On December 12, 1929 The land of Waverly Hills Sanatorium was increased by 159.52 acres when the board purchased for $5,000 from I. Sidney Jenkins the farm of the Hoertz estate. The board made the purchase because of the advantageous price. On May 1st, 1932 Waverly Hills Sanatorium had a total of 480 patients. At that time between 75 and 100 applicants were on the waiting list. In December 1955 Waverly Hills spent approximately $5.19 a day per-patient. In June 1961 Waverly Hills Sanatorium was closed as a Tuberculosis hospital. In October 1962 Woodhaven Geriatric Center / Woodhaven Medical Services was opened. In July 1980 Woodhaven Medical Services was court ordered to close due to improper patient care. In 1996, Seavers sells Waverly and surrounding property to Bob Alberhasky. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is considered for demolition as Bob Alberhasky seeks funding for the erection of a 150 ft. tall statue of Jesus Christ and a adjoining Christian meditation center in 1998. The project was later abandoned due to the lack of funds for the project. In 2001, Charles & Tina Mattingly purchase the 29 acre property from Bob Alberhasky in plans to restore Waverly to its original glory. On Halloween 2001 Waverly Hills was reopened again for tours and a haunted hospital attraction. Proceeds went to begin renovations of the Waverly building & property. Since 2001 so many things have been done to the building including new windows, safety issues have been addressed and so much for has been done and even more to come. Charles and Tina have done a truely wonderful job working to restore this grand old hospital. I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication to restoring the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Peace and love to you both.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis most commonly attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, bones, joints and even the skin. Other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium canetti, and Mycobacterium microti can also cause tuberculosis, but these species do not usually infect healthy adults.
Over one-third of the world's population has been exposed to the TB bacterium, and new infections occur at a rate of one per second.Not everyone infected develops the full-blown disease; asymptomatic, latent TB infection is most common. However, one in ten latent infections will progress to active TB disease, which, if left untreated, kills more than half of its victims.
In 2004, mortality and morbidity statistics included 14.6 million chronic active TB cases, 8.9 million new cases, and 1.6 million deaths, mostly in developing countries.In addition, a rising number of people in the developed world are contracting tuberculosis because their immune systems are compromised by immunosuppressive drugs, substance abuse, or HIV/AIDS.
The rise in HIV infections and the neglect of TB control programs have enabled a resurgence of tuberculosis.The emergence of drug-resistant strains has also contributed to this new epidemic with, from 2000 to 2004, 20% of TB cases being resistant to standard treatments and 2% resistant to second-line drugs.TB incidence varies widely, even in neighboring countries, apparently because of differences in health care systems. The World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency in 1993, and the Stop TB Partnership developed a Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis aiming to save 14 million lives between 2006 and 2015.
A True Waverly Experience
As a young child I was always eager to help others. While in grade school at St. Paul’s on Dixie Highway a group of my friends and I formed a little after school-club. We would make little trinkets and cookies for the sick and shut-in.
One fall day we had made arrangements to visit the Old Waverly Hills Sanatorium. During the early 60’s the TB hospital had been turned into one of Louisville’s first nursing homes.
As we entered the massive building we all huddled together. At first it was startling.
The air in the building was musky and bursting of stale urine. As we moved along the shadowy and dungeon like corridors crying and ear-piercing moans filled our ears.
Unprepared with what we had heard and smelled a couple of the girls ran from the building. Guardedly the last two of us took hands and began to peer over half doors into ominous and dingy rooms. Even at the young age of 11 or so our hearts were touched. To this day I can still conjure up the sounds, sights, and odors of years long ago that I encountered in that building.
Some of the people were lying on beds. Others huddled in corners. Suddenly turning around the other girl had run and I found myself all alone in the shadowy and fear-provoking corridors.
As I turned the corner I peered over the half door at a teeny frame of a lady huddled in a corner. She was naked, but quickly moved toward me. Frantically I backed away from the half door.
Without any forewarning she reached over the half door grabbing my sweater. The room and halls were cold with a draft that swirled around my legs. I pulled away from her, but not before she grabbed my sweater again. I soon realized that she wanted my sweater and without hesitation I quickly pulled it off, handing it to the skeleton like figure.
Like a flash she moved across the room grabbing a cardboard box. Opening the box she frantically dug through it searching for something. She stood up and tossed something shiny over the door. Clicking down the hall I couldn’t imagine what it might be. Scouring the floor I found a beautiful pearl brooch. I quickly picked it up and laid it back on the half door. Through the whole event the lady never spoke a word, but her piercing green eyes spoke a thousand words to my heart. Several times I placed it back on the half door and repeatedly she tossed it over the door towards me.
I soon understood that it was her gift to me for giving her my sweater. I certainly wanted nothing in exchange for my gift. She would not accept the broach back no matter how many times I put it back on the half door. She simply continued to pick it up and throw it towards me. I remember kissing the brooch in front of her and walking away. My heart had been touched by an act of love and appreciation that to this day some 40 years I have never forgotten. I can still see the microscopic lady huddled in the corner wrapped in my sweater. Over the years I wondered about her. Who she was, did she have family?
I know that from that day forward I was propelled into a destiny of compassion and caring for others in a way that only God could refine over the years as I journeyed through life.
When I saw the Waverly website and talked with Ron I knew that through that experience others would be touched by this story.
Are you wondering whether I have the brooch today? I don’t know how over the many years of moving and growing and life itself, but I do!
It’s as beautiful today as it was to a young girl of 11years old with wide sparkling eyes as she left such a sorrowful place with her treasure.
I wear it often and have had many people comment on it and so it opens a conversation whereby I can share such a cherished experience.
The journey of that day started me on a wonderful nursing career of many years allowing me to cherish and love the suffering and dying in ways I don’t think I would have ever been able to do.
Please feel free to email me and share with me your story or questions.
God bless,
Victoria
You may contact Victoria at LVNDRNLACE@AOL.COM
Treatment For TB
In ancient times, available treatments focused more on dietary parameters. Pliny the Elder described several methods in his Natural History: "wolf's liver taken in thin wine, the lard of a sow that has been fed upon grass, or the flesh of a she-ass taken in broth".While these particular remedies haven't been tested scientifically, it has been demonstrated that malnourished mice receiving a 2% protein diet suffer far higher mortality from tuberculosis than those receiving 20% protein receiving the same infectious challenge dose, and the progressively fatal course of the illness could be reversed by restoring the mice to the normal diet. Moreover, statistics for immigrants in South London reveal an 8.5 fold increased risk of tuberculosis in (primarily Hindu Asian) lacto vegetarians, who frequently suffer protein malnutrition, compared to those of similar cultural backgrounds who ate meat and fish daily.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium Tours And Links
Official Waverly Hills Sanatorium/ Woodhaven Geriatric Center Memorial & Historical Resource
http://whsmemorial.tripod.com/
The Waverly Hills Historical Society, Inc.
Tour Information for Waverly Hills
Official scheduling for tours, half night stays, and complete overnight stays will begin on January the 2'nd of 2008 at 9 am till 3pm (eastern daylight savings time). The days the office is open for scheduling is Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Please note that if you call to schedule a half night, or overnight stay.....you must pay in full by credit card when you call and make your reservations. Once you have made payment, there will be NO REFUNDS. So, make sure that when you make the reservation, you can keep it. ALSO, you can NOT make any date changes within TWO WEEKS of your scheduled tour date.
Cost for the 1/2 night, or Overnight Stays
1/2 night stays(4 hours) are $50.00 per person, and full overnight stays(8hours) are $100.00 per person.
Cost For the 2 Hour Guided Tours
The cost is $20.00 per person, which may be paid cash, or by credit cards.
Schedule for the Two Hour Guided Tours
Paranormal Guided Two Hour Tours are held on Fridays and Saturdays @ 8, 9, 10pm.
Historical Guided Two Hour Tours are held on Sundays @ 2:30pm.
