Twisted Sisters: The haunting of Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Misc. and Interesting Facts About Waverly Hills Sanatorium

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* For WHS, a switch has been constructed from the Illinois Central Railroad nearby to supply the new powerhouse with 75 carloads of fuel (coal) that are needed annually and the hospital with supplies sent by freight. (Taken from an unknown 1926 article.)

* In the beginning, a small group of buildings were erected on the hill under the name "Waverly Hill Tuberculosis Hospital". (Louisville Herald, Sept. 8, 1929)

* The main building is a modern four (5 if you count the station on the roof)-story structure. It was built of stone and is fireproof throughout (Louisville Herald, May 11, 1930)

* Estimated cost of the African American Hospital is $212,000 and the children's unit was estimated to cost $153,000. The Laundry building estimated cost was $10,000, a Power House at $50,000 and 14 fire hydrants at $30,500. (Courier Journal, Aug. 9, 1930)

* The 1931 budget for operation of the sanatorium asked $402,562.07 from the city and $204,750 from the county. Totaling $607,312.07. This covers an estimated deficit to Dec. 31 of $107,000, the sum of $25,000 for incidental expenses and $474,000 for actual operation. (Courier Journal, Aug. 9, 1930)

Main Sanatorium (1926)
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Minor Surgery:
-Artificial Pneumothorax

Major Surgery:
-Thoracoplasty
-Pleurectomy
-Lobectomy
-Pneumonectomy
-Phrenicotomy (Phrenic Nerve Crush)

Morgue:
-The morgue on the first floor was used for autopsies. The majority of the dead were processed through the body chute to the receiving building off the hill.

Kitchen, Bakery, & the Dining Room:
-The kitchen has the capacity and equipment of which can easily take care of 500 people w/ a ventilation system that can completely change the air tempature every 3 minutes.
-The average consumption in one meal was 140 pounds of bacon, 100 dozen eggs, 30 pounds of cottage cheese, 30 gallons of ice cream, 9 gallons of syrup, and 190 pounds of liver. In 1 year, in addition to container milk, 1,147 barrels of bulk milk, 13 tons of sugar, 6 tons of butter, and 52,276 pounds of ground beef.
-The main dining room capacity in which 328 employees and, or patients can be seated at one sitting. The room could be expanded to seat 448 people at once. An average of 2,100 meals served daily.

Patient Areas:

-Each bed is equipped with headphone connections for listening to the radio.

-Single & double rooms were available for patient use.

Theater:

-Motion Pictures

-Plays provided by local drama clubs

Library:

-Variety of donated & bought books, magazines, newspapers for the patients entertainment.

Workshop (Not in main sanatorium) / Occupational Therapy Department:

-Patients who are able to work without injury to themselves are taught rug weaving, toy making, wood carving and basket making, copper hammering, leather cutting, and the girls are instructed in needlework and fancy embroidery. The workshop for men produces furniture and other things of interest to them.

-The articles made in the department are sold by the woman's board of the hospital and the funds are devoted to the hospital.

School & Other Childrens' Activities
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-The children spend about 4.5 hours a day in school each day.

-The children have outdoor swings, see-saws, trapeze, slides and other playground devices upon which they play as much as other school children do.

Here is a link to a newspaper article about Waverly: