Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium
| Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1921 |
| Opened | 1922 |
| Closed | 1975 |
| Current Status | Preserved |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Clinton, OK |
| Alternate Names | |
History
As early as 1897, at least one of the county superintendents of health suggested that tuberculosis should be placed in the list of contagious diseases, and that it be obligatory for all cases of suspected tuberculosis to be reported to the county superintendents of health. However, the tuberculosis movement in Oklahoma was not truly established until Dr. Lewis J. Moorman opened a private sanatorium in 1914. His intention was overtly to care for the patients, but isolating them to prevent the spread of tuberculosis to others was another important consideration. Although this was an auspicious start, TB was still a virulent disease to which the health statistics testify: from 1918-1919, 1,850 people in Oklahoma died of tuberculosis.
It was clear that the private sanatorium was not the answer so in 1921, the Oklahoma Legislature established the state's first sanatorium in Talihina. A year later, in 1922, the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium was established in Clinton and the Soldiers' Tubercular Sanatorium was created in Sulphur, OK. These became the mainstays of tuberculosis treatment in Oklahoma.
The City of Clinton donated 100 acres of land one mile south of the city for the Sanatorium which opened April 3, 1922 with beds for 100 patients. By the time it closed in 1975, it had grown to 356 beds. The Clinton Veterans Center now occupies these grounds; few of the WOTS buildings that were in operation are still on the grounds.
