nothing without you. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. It was the workers that would be detached to gather the bodies of the dead and either burn, bury, or transport them elsewhere. Louisville's Waverly Hills Sanatorium has been called "the most terrifying building in America," with an infamous history that draws paranormal thrill-seekers from all over the world.Lately, the . Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, or "the white plague" , had a. The History Behind the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. During the late 1800s, roughly one in five deaths (20%) was attributed to tuberculosis. Hays later sold the land to the Board of Tuberculosis Hospital, and they built the sanatorium there, adopting the name, to house a rapidly increasing number of tuberculosis patients. Due to the rapid increase of Tuberculosis cases, the original hospital was soon to capacity. The Waverly Hills death tunnel actually was considered a sanctuary during an air raid and held enough space to fit everyone in the building safely. Over the next few decades, Waverly Hills would fall into more dark times. However, many people owe their lives to the care they received at Waverly Hills. Alberhaskys intentions were to construct the worlds tallest statue ofJesuson the site, along with an arts and worship center. In 1907, the Louisville Tuberculosis Association established Hazelwood Sanatorium for the treatment of white patients from any part of Kentucky, even before Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened, in 1910, for city and county residents. Nestled on the top of a placid hill, the old Waverly Hills Sanatorium once tried to heal tuberculosis with peace and good vibes. Robert Alberhasky bought the property in 1996 with plans to to erect the world's tallest statue of Jesus and a religious center. Tuberculosis was becoming an epidemic in Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, and other parts of Jefferson County in Kentucky. There have been reported ghost sightings in Room 502 at the sanatorium, particularly the ghost of a nurse in uniform. 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.. Kelli Patrick:Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened in around 1910 because of an outbreak of tuberculosis. 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. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky. The area known today as Waverly Hill was purchased by Major Thomas H. Hays in 1883 as the Hays family home. Some have called this long concrete structure the Death Shute over the years. It wasnt until 1882 that Robert Koch published a paper identifying this bacillus for the first time. Symptoms of tuberculosis include: a lasting cough, chest pains, fever, loss of appetite / weight loss, hills, sweating, and coughing up blood. Visitation is only available during Historical Society events. & Historical Research GroupAll files, pictures, video, E.V.P., articles, trademarks; etc. A new sanatorium opened on October 17, 1926 that could accommodate 400-500 patients. These records shed light on public services that often reached across lines of class and race. Very little of this part of Waverly has fallen down, and the structure itself is still safe. At the same time they also reveal stark racial disparities in mortality rates and institutional treatment. 10 Horrifying Stories From The Waverly Hills Sanatorium - Ranker Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville opened in 1910 to accommodate tuberculosis patients. 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 mechanical drawings from 1924 and 1962, however, this room is labeled the Transformer Room, and it clearly appears to be an electrical room. A documentary named Spooked was also made during the filming of The Death Tunnel. That is, 63,000 people seeking treatment at the Waverly Hills hospital were left to die, they were forced to commit suicide or they lost their minds. 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 Haunted Hospital | Mental Floss 2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218. The building is host to ghost hunters from all over the globe. They focused less on the tunnel and more on a college kid storyline, highlighted with a little bit of history. Mind you, we are not confirming nor denying that Waverly is haunted, but it has been featured on quite a few documentaries and television shows over the years. 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Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, or "the white plague", had a high mortality rate before streptomycin was introduced as a treatment in 1943. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Rumors VS. Facts, 10+ of Hollywood's Most Famous Twins Listed, 7 Best Horror Audiobooks of 2022 that Will Make Your Spine Chill, 8 Best British Crime Series on Netflix: Crime Series, the English Way, 9 Best Comedies on HBO Max to Watch Right Now, 10+ Best Stand-up Comedy Specials on Netflix: Tickle your funny bone with the best comedy shows, 10 Best Anime Series on Netflix (Updated), 10 Best True Crime Podcasts to Keep You Up at Night, 10 Best Movies To Watch On Disney+ For All Ages (Updated! 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. This video by Youtube user JustAVideoPage shows a hauntingly beautiful collage of many faces that may have eventually traveled down the death tunnel. In 1961, Waverly Hills Sanatorium was closed because there was no longer a need for a tuberculosis facility. At the time, Tuberculosis was a very serious disease. The search began for a proper location to constructed the much needed facility. 2023 Project MUSE. Reporting on what you care about. The LGHS "Waverly Hills Sanatorium" Investigation A total of 63,000 people lost their lives up until 1961, the year when the hospital was closed. Was a May Day Attack by Pilgrims a Practice Run for a Massacre? In 1912, patients in advanced stages of infection were moved from from the City Hospital to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Are they real, or arent they, that is the question? Youtube user Dead Explorer perfectly captured what its like to walk through the tunnel in the video above. Contributed by Phil Tkacz, Shawn Logan, Jay Gravatte, & Hope Bryant | contact@kyhi.org. Alberhaskys plan fell through, as only $3,000 was raised in a year. Its also believed that patients whose infection spread to the brain, rendering them insane, were sent to the 5th floor. publications, etc do not reflect the views of The Waverly Hills Historical Society, Inc. In 1961, the hospital finally closed its doors. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. One story has it that in 1928, one of the nurses, Mary Hillenburg, hung herself in room 502. In 1873, Agatha Logan Marshall wrote matter-of-factly to her brother-in-law Thomas W. Bullitt about her recent diagnosis of consumption and her concerns about her future well-being and economic security: Dr Bush made an examination of my lungs and told me they were very seriously involveda fact I have known all alongof course I am in no immediate danger for consumption is a lingering disease but I have no hope or expectation of ever being well again and I am very anxious if possible to have my little prosperity so it will yield me an income. Marshall aptly characterized consumption as a lingering disease, one in which symptoms could come and go and progress slowly over years. & W.G.C. All proceeds benefit the restoration project. 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. Every state in the country has its fair share of haunted locations, and Kentucky is no different. Meet MasterChef Gordon Ramsays Children - Who are They? Official Waverly Hills Sanatorium/ Woodhaven Geriatric Center Memorial & Historical Resource. Troy Taylor from the American Ghost Society claims, on his website, that he saw the man in the white coat disappear into a treatment room on the 4th floor during his first trip to WHS, shortly after the Mattinglys purchased the property. There are a few abandoned tunnels in Kentucky, but none have quite the reputation of the notorious Waverly Hills Death Tunnel on 4400 Paralee Lane in Louisville. In 1849, Ann Beatty wrote to her mother about her attacks of spitting bloodone of the most dreaded symptomsand expressed her fear of developing the disease: Pa says that if I am not very careful he thinks I will have consumption. 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Murphy, the new building now had a capacity of 400 and opened on October 17, 1926. KEY: S - Submitted NP - Newspaper Article KDR - Kentucky Death Records TB - Waverly Hills Sanatorium G - Woodhaven Geriatrics Center 20 - 1920 Census Report Many people claimed that the souls of the people who died in the hospital were still wandering in the corridors. The new Sanatarium was officially opened July 26, 1910. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. & W.G.C. Over the following years the population of Waverly began to decrease until it closed in June 1961. Waverly Hills Sanatorium sits on land that was originally purchased by Major Thomas H. Hays in 1883. EVIL in the DEATH TUNNEL || Waverly Hills Sanatorium The Haunted Side - Paranormal Investigations 162K subscribers Join Subscribe 2K Share 27K views 5 months ago On this episode of The. We wouldnt want you to end up in the hospital, or worse, jail. To be honest, it is very much a B flick at best. can not be used in any means without written persmission from the owner of the media. Thank you! Welcome to the Official Waverly Hills/ Woodhaven memorial & historical resource site. Waverly Hills Sanatorium We now have a patient death index for patients that died at Waverly Hills starting in 1911. All rights reserved. The Haunted Hospital Where 63,000 People Died: Waverly Hills Sanatorium Centres VHU Agrs - Rgion : Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes 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. Our objective is the facts as we are a resource. The Mattinglys have established the Waverly Hills Historical Society in an effort to raise funds to help restore the interior of the old sanatorium. Offer subject to change without notice. No, it is actually a long tunnel with flooring. The only building in Louisville (hopefully) that contains two ancient holy skeletons. In an attempt to to contain the disease, a Board of Tuberculosis Hospital was established in 1906. In March 1996, Robert Alberhasky bought Waverly Hills. The Historical Society and the family that owns the property hold fundraising events throughout the year. It was considered very state-of-the-art for its day. The story goes that Lizzie Lee Harris loved Sir Walter Scotts series, The Waverley Novels -- more than, Hays reportedly like the name and so named all of his land Waverley Hill. but patients families still visited them on designated visitors days, lol. The empty building was purchased by a number of buyers in the following years, but nothing ever saw fruition. Even so, the CDC reported 9,557 cases in the United States in 2015. While no records exist to report an accurate death count that occurred within the building, it is . What are the creepiest cemeteries in Kentucky? Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky. (The myth was further spread by Tina Mattingly on an episode of. It's believed that nearly 50,000. More Waverly Hills haunted history, after the jump. During the World War, the U.S. found the tunnel to be safe in the case of an attack. From Alabama to Wyoming, there are abandoned towns, amusement parks, and ruins lurking in your home state. In 1926, the massive building seen today opened its doors to accommodate another 450 beds. Its believed that, at one point, he hospital was tending to as many as 140 patients. Here are 9 things that make the death tunnel in Kentucky unique: The patients that passed on at Waverly were left at the end of the tunnel. The project was canceled in December 1997. The Ghosts of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville - Ghost City Tours It was also a disease that could end in a painful death. Our objective is to provide a resource and a memorial for all the building and the people whose lives made Laundry facilities, a maintenance garage, butchery, as well as several hundred acres of farm land were established on the Hill.. Plans to turn Waverly Hills Sanatorium into a hotel, restaurant, and convention center are moving forward after the Louisville Metro Council approved a zoning change request by the owner on Feb. 27. The numbers are hard to believe, however. It's a place where the smell of death is hidden, and where the painful screams are still in the air. It had its own post office, water treatment facility, grew its own fruits and vegetables, raised its own meat for slaughter, and maintained many of the other necessities of everyday life. (Please get in the death tunnel.). Construction on this building began in 1908 and opened for business on July 26, 1910. Powered by www.tripod.com & More than half of those diagnosed with TB would die in three to five years. Her love for the tiny school, in addition to her fondness for Scotts Waverley Novels, prompted her to name the little schoolhouse, Waverley School. Major Hays liked the name, and chose to name his property Waverley Hill. The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital kept the name after purchasing the land and opening the Sanatorium. This list includes only patients that died at the hospital. The Halloween season draws much larger crowds and lots of fright enthusiasts. The tunnel is supposed to be haunted by those who made their last journey through it. WAVERLY HILLS SANATORIUM - arch.thomas-industriesinc.com Waverly Hills Historical Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, the history of its past employees and patients, as well as the education of the public of the history of TB and the effect on the area. mentioned or used within 2025. 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. It also shows a special department where the (presumably uninfected) children of adult sanatorium patients lived and were taken care of. It opened in 1910 as a two-story hospital to accommodate 40 to 50 tuberculosis patients. (Note the slightly different spelling of Waverley here. These include nineteenth-century correspondence, diaries, and medical publications in which Kentuckians wrote of debilitating symptoms and possible treatments. It was closed down and quarantined, then renovated. The following index contains recorded patient deaths at Waverly Hills between 1911-1960. Surgical intervention, including removal of ribs and/or parts of the lungs, was reserved for patients close to death. Waverly Hills Sanatorium Body Chute: Is It Haunted? If the number is true, the cost would equate to roughly. In the first few years of possession, the Mattinglys removed the asbestos and replaced 100 broken windows. This is an active project so check back often for updates. The Board decided to keep the name Waverly, as it had a peaceful sound to it. Please remember that information contained on this site, authored/owned by KHI, is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. We now have a patient death index for patients that died at Waverly Hills starting in 1911. Waverly Hills was later reportedly given $11 million dollars with which to build a new, larger hospital. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. The 400-bed hospital that opened in 1926 at Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Once a state-of-the-art tuberculosis treatment spa, these ruins are now ruled by paintball players. **Research compiled for Ryan & Shane on January 27, 2017 by Micki Taylor. The hospital was deteriorating badly when they took possession. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium death tunnel in Kentucky has an interesting history, and you can read more about it in our previous article. This is the building that still stands to this day. In the nineteenth century, tuberculosis killed as many as one in seven people in the United States. Woodhaven was closed by the state of Kentucky in 1982 after a Grand Jury inspection found several patient abuse, and the degrading state of the facilities. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. What makes this tunnel in Kentucky stand out from the others? & Historical Research GroupAll files, pictures, video, E.V.P., articles, trademarks; etc. This company operated the nursing home facility until 1982 when it was closed by the state for violations and the mistreatment of patients. Waverly Hills Sanatorium has been a TB hospital, a nursing home, a failed religious monument, and now a paranormal investigation site. The warm, wet weather in Kentucky near the Ohio River was a breeding place for bacteria, and insects often helped to spread disease. During its time as a hospital, Waverly Hills would sadly see many deaths. In crowded cities in the 19th century, anywhere from 70 to 90% of the population may have been infected with the bacteria, which could lie dormant for any amount of time. A childrens pavilion was also built to house not only young victims of the disease, but also children whose parents were too ill to care for them. 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. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Previous property owners had no desire to maintain the luster of the building and did little to stop people from slowly destroying her. Buildings were added to the institution in 1912, 1916, and 1926. 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. In fact, it has been called one of the most haunted places in the world Room 502 (Real location, unsubstantiated myths). What makes this tunnel in Kentucky stand out from the others? The tunnel itself was originally 525 feet long and ran out to the bottom of the hill. Waverly Hills Sanatorium The BCG vaccine was first successfully used to ward off tuberculosis in 1921 in France, but the use of vaccines tended to travel slowly in those days. Even with the building of additional pavilions, space for patients was consistently at a minimal. The second phase was to convert the old sanatorium into a chapel, theater, and agift shopat a cost of $8 million or more. - 1920 Census Report30 - 1930 Census Report What are the most haunted places in Kentucky? Public health advocates managed the Free Tuberculosis Dispensary on West Chestnut Street, hired a corps of traveling nurses, sponsored educational campaigns, and supported anti-spitting laws. He had a small schoolhouse built on Pages Lane and hired schoolteacher Lizzie Lee Harris to teach his three daughters. It has been estimated that the death tunnel actually saw more dead people than most modern hospitals do in its first three years. There are a large number of people who enjoy the idea of believing and chasing ghosts and ghosts tales, and this fanbase is one that seems to grow byleaps and boundsevery single year. They screamed and banged on the door until two security guards came to their rescue -- and found that the door gave way easily for them. will currently be the memorial for the tuberculosis & geriatric hospitals. Some of the names were difficult if not impossible to read. This site Some have reported seeing shapes near the window in room 502 and even a voice saying, Get out.. History Kentucky's Infamously Haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium Photographs, text, illustrations and all other media not authored by KHI belong to their respective authors/owners/copyright holders and are used here for educational purposes only under Title 17 U.S. Code 107. Waverly Hills Sanatorium Louisville Kentucky 2009 - YouTube They found themselves stuck in a room whose door would not open and shadowy figures appeared in the room. The hospital, known as Waverly Hills, was opened in 1926 and was considered to be the most advanced tuberculosis hospital in the country. memorial. Records have been lost, but it is estimated that tens of thousands died at Waverly. His plan was to turn the main hospital building into a minimum-security prison for state use. The reasons for doing this may have been to keep from spreading disease once the body was brought back into town, and/or to make the body lighter. The 1920 & 1930 census reports were all hand written. for all the names listed and to be listed. The facility served as a tuberculosis hospital until 1961 when the discovery of an antibiotic that successfully treated and cured TB rendered the facility obsolete. Death Tunnel (2005) - IMDb I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side. 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.
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