Mountain Sanatorium

From Asylum Projects
Jump to: navigation, search
Mountain Sanatorium
Opened 1906
Demolished 2014
Current Status Demolished
Building Style Single Building
Location Hamilton, Ont
Alternate Names
  • Chedoke General Hospital



History[edit]

In 1906 the Mountain sanatorium was founded to provide care for people from Hamilton and the surrounding communities who were ill with tuberculosis. The hospital site began on a donated farm far out of town on the escarpment overlooking west Hamilton with two tents and eight patients. Gradually small frame cottages completely open to the weather were built. In time these were replaced with more comfortable and fireproof brick buildings. On Sept. 26, 1916 the Hamilton Health Association agreed to build the Brow Infirmary. The Brow Infirmary was built to treat World War I soldiers suffering from tuberculosis and lungs exposed to poisonous gasses. The location of the infirmary was intended to keep the often rowdy solders away from the other patients and to take advantage of the air breeze that was available on the location. The cost to build the Brow Infirmary was $146,569 which opened on December 5, 1916.

In 1917 East and West pavilions were added for dining rooms, wards and vocational training. The vocational training for soldiers would eventually include weaving, leatherwork, metal work, printing, refinishing furniture, picture framing, basketry and wood working. The Eastern pavilion was enlarged in 1922, 1932 and in 1950 to 1952. In 1923 Mr. Charles S. Wilcox, a member of the Board of Directors donated radio equipment to the sanitarium which allowed them to have their own radio station. At its height, through the 1920s and 1930s, the sanatarium had more than 700 patients and more than 450 staff members.

In 1961 the sanatorium changed its mandate, expanded its services and became a general hospital called the Chedoke General and Children's Hospital. In 1971 this name was changed to Chedoke Hospitals. In 1979 it amalgamated with the McMaster University Medical Centre to become half of Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals. In 1997 Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals amalgamated with Hamilton Civic Hospitals to form Hamilton Health Sciences. It is now known as Chedoke Hospital of Hamilton Health Sciences. The buildings and surrounding area are being developed for residential use by Valery Construction. [1]

References[edit]