Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Since my husband is not a traveler and I would like to see as many places as I can before I move along to Summerland I travel a lot with my sister. We are both very interested in all things paranormal and unexplained. She loves things like UFOs and hauntings. I am more a Cryptid and hauntings. But we both like to be spooked.
In one of our trips we arrived in Louisville, KY to explore Waverly Hills Sanatorium. First a little history (from the Waverly Hills Website):
https://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/about/
Waverly Hills Sanatorium sits on land that was originally purchased by Major Thomas H. Hays in 1883. 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. He hired a woman named Lizzie Lee Harris to teach at the school. Her love for the tiny school, in addition to her fondness for Scott’s “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.
Originally, Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a two-story frame building with a hipped roof and half-timbering. Construction on this building began in 1908 and opened for business on July 26, 1910. The building was designed to accommodate 40-50 tuberculosis patients safely. At the time, Tuberculosis was a very serious disease. People who were afflicted with Tuberculosis were isolated from the general public and placed in an area where they could rest, stay calm, and have plenty of fresh air. Sanatoriums were built on high hills surrounded by peaceful woods to create a serene atmosphere to help the patients recover.
Tuberculosis was becoming an epidemic in Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, and other parts of Jefferson County in Kentucky. 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. Because Tuberculosis was so extremely contagious and at epidemic proportions, those living with it could not be allowed to live and exist among the general population. It was not known at the time that Tuberculosis was an airborne disease.
Waverly Hills was a self-contained community. A city in and of itself, complete with its own zip code. It had its own post office, water treatment facility, grew its own fruits and vegetables, raised it’s own meat for slaughter, and maintained many of the other necessities of everyday life. Everyone at Waverly – patients, nurses, doctors, and other employees had to say ‘goodbye’ to everything they knew on the outside world. Once you went to Waverly Hills, you became a permanent resident “on the hill.” Oddly enough, despite that fact, many patients received visits from loved ones on visiting day. When the visit was over, the visitors left Waverly and ventured back out into the community.
The massive, collegiate, gothic style Sanatorium that you see in the 1926 photo (above) remains standing on Waverly Hill, today. It could accommodate at least 400 + patients and be considered one of the most modern and well-equipped facilities at the time. Construction of this Sanatorium began in March 1924 and opened for business on October 17, 1926. 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. It was closed down and quarantined, then renovated. In 1962, the building reopened as Woodhaven Medical Services, a geriatric facility. WoodHaven Medical was closed by the state in 1981.
Over the next few decades, Waverly Hills would fall into more dark times. Vandalized, damaged, nearly condemned. Previous property owners had no desire to maintain the luster of the building and did little to stop people from slowly destroying her. It is sad that a place that played such a vital role during this period of history and medical discovery was not only over, but now disrespected. But in 2001, Waverly Hills Sanatorium was purchased by historical and paranormal enthusiasts Charles and Tina Mattingly. Since then, there have been many changes and improvements to the building and surrounding property. Charles, Tina, and the Waverly Hills Historical Society continue to work tirelessly and devote their lives to restoring the historic gem that is Waverly Hills to its once amazing splendor!
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.
The tour was awesome. We learned so much and of course heard the about the deaths and ghost stories, but the history of the place was astounding. Of course we were on a ghost tour, so we took a lot of pictures in the dark and tried to see things. At one point in the tour in one of the halls we stopped and watched shadow play down the hall. One visitor was chosen to walk down the hall by himself and walk back with his arms spread like an airplane - it was weird to see the shadow following him and flapping its "arms". So the guide asked if anyone else would like to do it and my hand shot up and I moved to the front of the group. My sister (who is really short and was at the front of the crowd) watched me come forward and exclaimed "You aren't doing this!" I replied "This is the stuff I have been waiting for all my life" and I headed down the hall and back up with my hands first over my head and then arms spread like an airplane.. Sadly I felt nothing - no hair raising, no creepys, no tingles - nuttin. When I got back to the group my sister said that I had a dark shadow following me with its "arms" straight out even when mine were over my head & she said it looked like it was flapping its arms.
From there we went to the surgical suite/morgue. I was in a corner because that is where the crowd pushed me & my sister was beside me. As the guide was speaking of what happened in those rooms (in regards to TB treatment of the time) I felt something touch my back. I thought it was one of those big icky Kentucky spiders so I turned my back to my sister and told her to brush it off. She flashed her light onto my back and said nothing was there & there were no webs around. She said there was a dimple in my shirt as if someone tugged on it. She swears to this day a spirit tugged on me. I am more skeptical about that.
From that area we went to the "Death Tunnel" or the "Body Shoot". That was first used as a way to bring supplies into the hospital, but eventually became the way to remove the bodies. It was less stressful on the patients if they didn't see the bodies wheeled through the hospital & into the waiting trucks. I have to say in this area I did hear squeaking like wheels on an old gurney and some mumbling.
I don't know if the place is haunted with ghosts or just memories, but it is a fascinating place to visit.
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The place was huge.
I've heard about that place. I would like to visit it some time.
I first heard of it on the original Ghost Hunters & they got a thermal hit on something (child size) running across the hall. After I saw that I really wanted to visit. It took me years, but I got there.
Is that the place where they placed a ball on the floor and it moved? I think my sister was there with her husband
I am not sure on the ball. I have seen so many of the "ghost shows" that some become a blur, but that thermal hit has stuck with me. Just like the picture they have of someone leaning over the railing at the ST. Augustine Lighthouse.
Hope you didn't bring anything home with you. I used to be up for all things haunted and supernatural like you but at this point I'd be concerned with something negative attaching to me.
We always sage after visiting places. So far so good. In fact my sister carries sage in her vehicle in case we stop somewhere spooky.
I usually light it & waft the smoke saying 3x "Whatever was here must remain here. It cannot follow me (us)".
Nice article. We have a local haunted "building" that does ghost tours sometimes. It used to be a TB hospital and then a nursing home. My mother worked there while it was both.
Thank you.
From what I have researched a lot of TB hospitals were renovated into nursing homes.
Thank you for stopping by.
Well, you should have said something - I may have given you a treat.
In my town of Douglas, AZ here on the AZ/Mexican border we have the Gadsden Hotel. It is known as one of the few remaining "grand hotels" of the Wild West. It dates to 1912 and is said to to haunted. My late son worked there for several years as the night front desk clerk and he had some interesting stories to tell of strange things he experienced in the middle of the night. About 60 miles away we have the famous Birdcage Theater in Tombstone, AZ along with the famous "Boot Hill" cemetary that both are said to be haunted. Both the Gadsden Hotel and the Birdcage Theater have been investigated numerous times by paranormal researchers and have been on television.
I will have to check them out.
My grandmother had TB as a teenager. By then, they knew it was airborne.
Now... to reference the article.
My mom and I are really into supposed haunted places. I've had my share of experiences, a few in my own home. Surprisingly, I've witnessed my husband become more of a believer since he moved in with me. Our house was built in 1906. When we gutted and redid our main floor bathroom, we found a birth and death year of a child... AFTER we both witnessed a "ghost" child in our home. The death was actually rather recent considering the age of the home, 1974. So, I asked my neighbors about it, because they were in their 90s and they knew several of the previous residents. The owner's grandson had died; don't know of what. The owner was renting the house out to his daughter and son-in-law and their family. Sometimes things are pretty interesting when you start digging.
I love to research the places my sister and I go to. The history of a place is always a tingler...
I grew up in a couple of "haunted" places. One I wrote of already - the other will be another story.
The old sanitoriums...
One man enter, no man leave...
Those places definitely leave an impression.
Great story, Veronica
I've never been there but it sure sounds like it's worth the trip.
BTW, the scariest place I've ever been is in the north woods of Minnesota when the Windigo was out and hunting humans.
The Wendigo and Skinwalker stories have always fascinated me. I do not know if I would be brave enough to go into the woods when either of them have been seen out & about.
Thank you for stopping by.
I went on a ghost hunt here. Originally a church then became a funeral home. My "paranormal" experience was feeling cold on my back walking through the various rooms with my friends who did not feel what I was feeling.
This is me on the ladder looking into the attic
My sister and I are planning a trip to the Iron Island Museum when they open up again. So cool to know you have been there, too.
I enjoyed reading the story - I never had a paranormal experience or knew of any haunted house except what a neighbour did with his place on Hallowe'en.
Thank you for stopping in and reading. I love when people make their houses scary for Samhain (Halloween).
Very cool story, thanks for this..
I am thinking of making a trip to The Stanley Hotel this summer. Long ass drive though. For those that don't know, it's the hotel used in Stephen King's, The Shining .
Heeeere's Johnny!!!
My sis and I stayed there 2 years ago, right down the hall from room 217. The placard with the room number gets stolen on the regular.
We got locked out of our room twice. Our key cards wouldn't work. Neither would the maintenance guy's master key. They had to cut the lock off of our door.
OOOOO - I want to go so bad....
Should go with me, i'll keep you safe.. LOL
The Stanley Hotel is on my Bucket List. My sister & I both have one. So far I have marked off two of mine & she has done two of hers...(she likes haunted lighthouses.
We've talked about it. Mr G's folks live in Denver so it's definitely doable
I so want to go.
It was a great visit. We spent the day driving through Rocky Mountain National Park, which is gorgeous, and the evening walking around Estes Park. Their riverwalk is beautiful.
I recently watched an episode of Aerial America that showed Rocky Mountain National Park. It looked so beautiful.