Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Location: 4400 Paralee Lane, Louisville, KY Map

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Waverly Hills Sanatorium

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Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a massive abandoned hospital that was constructed in 1924 to treat and prevent spread of Tuberculosis. It is located on the outskirts of Louisville in South- West Louisville/ Jefferson County in Kentucky state. Later it was handed over to Geriatrics medicine in 1962 after first antibiotic streptomycin was invented to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative bacteria of tuberculosis. It was finally closed in 1980 due to unsatisfactory care for its patients. It is considered to be one of the most haunted places in United States. So if you like to explore the paranormal you should not miss this destination. The first things that comes to your mind when you find yourself standing next to it is its sheer size. It is huge. You can see the upper levels of the main building as you approach this impressive structure. It was constructed in neo- Gothic style and it screams for a mystery, ghosts and death. And this sanatorium saw plenty of death during its long history.

The name of the Sanatorium date back to 1883 when Major Thomas H. Hays bought his family the grounds of the future sanatorium. His kids were home schooled due to remoteness of their estate from other settlements. A small one room school house that was constructed by the orders of the Major became known as Waverley Hill after Walter Scott's novels and its protagonist Edward Waverley. Major Hays liked the name and renamed his whole estate as Waverley Hills.

History

Hazel Howell (1891- 1919) The history of Waverly Hills Sanatorium date back to an act of legislature passed in 1906 that reserved these lands for a hospital for treatment of tuberculosis. "White Death" as it was known at the time had no cure. Unfortunate victims of this disease would be infected by a Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It would survive inside their lungs in white blood cells knows as macrophages forming large granulomas. Eventually these formations would burst and new bacteria would spread throughout out the organism without warning. Healthy individuals experience weight loss, fever, night sweats, blood sputum and many other symptoms. Without adequate antibacterial treatment people burned out in a short time and in most cases they would die. People, suspected of the infection had to be isolated in an area far from major cities and with plenty of fresh air and sunlight. Waverly Hills proved as an ideal location for that.

Most of residential area that surround the forest around the hospital did not exist at the time so it was a fairly extensive expanse of wilderness. In 1907 first tuberculosis dispensary was opened to accept first patients and just three years later in 1910 Waverly Hills Sanatorium was opened. It was a fairly small building with modest capacity of only 40 patients. In some cases kids of the sick patients stayed with other relatives like in case of Hazel Howell (pictured right, 1891- 1919). This was not the case for everyone, however. Often families didn't have the financial means or any relatives so they brought their kids to the sanatorium. The administration of the hospital opened an open- air schooling in 1913 to house all the new comers. Number of patients grew steadily and in 1923 a bond was issued for $1,000,000 for construction of much larger building for Waverly Hills Sanatorium.

WWI veterans on the steps of the Sanatorium Hospital Lab

Sanatorium School

Waverly Hills Sanatorium Waverly Hills Sanatorium started its construction in March 1924 and was opened on October 17, 1926. New five- story building replaced the old hospital (opened July 26, 1910). Swampy areas around Louisville, Kentucky offered a great location for spread of tuberculosis bacteria and thus the disease became almost an epidemic. Hospital construction was fought to be state of the art of its own time and incorporated theories that were widely spread at the time. It was widely believed that TB can be cured by sun exposure and plenty of fresh air. The bat like structure of the building was designed so that it followed natural wind patterns of the area and did not block it. Most of the windows had no glass and instead had meshed screens that allowed sun inside the building. The building was five stories high and contained about 400 rooms for the patients. Corridor that runs through the middle of the levels allowed access to all rooms in the building. These long halls that divide the building have wide open rooms on one side and smaller rooms on the other. Open spacious rooms were made for those who were in early stages of the disease. Their beds were wheeled out on the promenade (shown on the picture) where they lay all day. During winter they were given blankets, but rule stayed the same. Plenty of fresh air was believed to be the only good way to safe patients. On the other side of the halls are smaller rooms. They were made for those who had no chance of survival and were left to die. Patients were simple transported across the hall from open rooms to more closed and isolated ones.

The main building was reserved for white patients. Children were separated and lived in children's unit those cost was $153,000 to construct. African American (obsolete term used in the documents is Colored) were kept in a separate Colored unit that was smaller, less sophisticated at a cost of $212,000.

African American aka Colored Unit

African American Unit that was known at the time as a Colored Unit was intended to house African- American patients as well as other non- White races. It is clear that "separate, but equal" does not apply here. The building was much smaller and had less staff. However the general layout was similar to the main building. Windows were meant to allow fresh air inside the promenade. The original building was replaced by a two story larger hospital. Today both structures have been demolished. Only photos remain. As far as we know no one tried to explore this area for any paranormal activity or strange occurrences.

Children's Unit

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Children's museum was opened to house ever growing number of kids in the sanatorium. Original living headquarters were not enough to fit all the residents so a separate wing was constructed. Many patients had no other options, but to bring their kids here. Unfortunately many healthy newcomers often contracted the deadly disease and themselves became patients in the hospital.

UV Therapy X- Rays

Patients and Staff

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Roberta Payton

Nurse in the Sanatorium... and its patient

Waverly Hills Sanatorium lost its purpose when antibiotic streptomycin was discovered in 1943. This proved to be the best way to fight the infectious disease and soon cases of TB dwindled. The sanatorium was closed in June 1961, but reopened quickly in 1962 as a Woodhaven Geriatrics Hospital. Grim history of the building did not end here. Electroshock therapy was commonly used on senior people to cure some of the disorders that were badly understood at the time. Additionally lack of proper funding decreased overall sanitary conditions of the medical center. The conditions were so bad and old patients were treated so badly that it was closed in 1981. Remaining citizens were transfered to Hazelwood Center. The deterioration and overall state of the building was too expansive to restoration and it was closed.

Over the years several people came forward with their ideas for the hospital. Some offered minimum state prison within its walls. Others suggested erection of huge statue of Jesus Christ after demolishing a hospital similar to that in Rio de Janeiro. The last project even had its own "Christ the Redeemer Foundation Incorporated" organized by Robert Alberhasky with the help of architect Jasper Ward and artist Ed Hamilton who designed the sculpture that was supposed to be tallest statue of Savior in the World at 270 feet. Now the property is owned by Tina and Charlie Mattingly since 2001 who offer guided tours, half- night and overnight stays within the walls of Waverly Hills Sanatorium. They plan to remodel the structure and turn it into haunted Bed and Breakfast 120 room hotel, conference centre and a restaurant. They fixed some of the windows, removed asbestos insulation, secured the exterior brick sidings, but there is still a lot of work to do to bring the structure to its original appearance. Fortunately the haunted guides will still continue after the complete restoration of a four star hotel.

Surgery Room

Surgery Room of Waverly Hills Sanatorium is located on the fourth floor of the main building. It was state of the art, a medical wonder of its time. Doctors that worked here tried everything they could to save people who contracted the disease. Some of the operations were quiet horrific and barbaric by our modern standards. Ribs were removed (thoracoplasty), then lungs were removed, small balloons were inserted inside the chest or thoracic cavity. It was believed that losing part part of the lung tissue was worth the risk if the rest of the lung could be cured. Subsequent increase in volume of the balloon was supposed to "force out" the disease. It was performed as a last resort to save the patient who was mortally ill. Only about 5% of all people would survive this painful and gory procedure.

Body chute

Body Chute or Death Tunnel as it is occasionally called is a long tunnel that is 500 feet (150 meters) long. It was originally designed for workers that could easily access the top of the hill. It also raised food, medications and other things that the hospital needed. Over time however high mortality rate forced the administration of the hospital to use the tunnel for lowering bodies down the slope of the hill. It was believed that keeping the dead out of sight of the living would beneficially improve the esteem of those who were sick. Motorized cable system that you can see on the left side of the left picture is largely rotted away, but many it is not abandoned completely. It is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the compound. Don't get too jumpy though. Light might play tricks on you. Air ducts that are installed ever hundred feet lets some light and air inside the tunnel so some of the sightings of ghosts were actually an optic illusion.

Occasionally some people claim that the number of the dead reached 60,000 people. However it is not quiet true. This is the number that died in all of state of Kentucky in the same time period. Waverly Hills Hospital have records that indicates that approximately 8,212 patients died from tuberculosis on the grounds of the hospital.

The Morgue

Morgue is a fairly small room near the entrance to the hospital. It was here that every victim of the deadly disease came before being shipped away. It contains a table for dissection with the groove around it to collect blood and other fluids from autopsy of the dead. Additionally it has a box that could contain three bodies at a time. It is obviously could not hold too many dead so the process was fairly quick.

Room 502

Room 502 on the fifth and last floor is one of the most famous locations in the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. It is located in a small central tower of the former hospital that is also the highest part of the building. According to local legends supported by documents from the archives one nurse hanged herself in this room. She discovered that she was pregnant. The father of the child who was also one of the doctors in the Sanatorium refused to care for the child. Some also claim that she also found out that she contracted "the white death" or tuberculosis. Since she didn't want to leave her unborn child be abandoned, she killed herself. Some believe that she used a sprinkler system pipe, but it was installed in 1973, long after the tragedy. So there is no way to tell exactly where she hanged herself.

Another nurse several decades later killed herself by leaping from a tower to her death. Although her motifs are unclear, some of her former co- workers claim that terrible conditions of the Geriatric Hospital made her depressed and suicidal. The balls that you see on the right picture above are left for kids. The roof of the fifth floor served kids of the Sanatorium as a playground. Some say shadowy figures of dead children are still visible at night.

Haunting

This place is most famous for its haunting and ghost stories that happen quiet frequently. Most paranormal floor in the sanatorium is believed to be the fourth and fifth floors of the Tuberculosis hospital. The fourth level is particularly famous for its ghostly activity. It was the level where surgeries were performed, often fatal to patients. It is said to be haunted by a little boy named “Timmy” who is said to run around the place. He seems to be the most active ghost in the sanatorium. Many people who visited the place and those who work or worked there “played” with him. Shortly after setting ball on the ground it would move around the floor without outside help. Ball left on the third floor would often end up on the fourth floor. Another ghost said to roam empty hospital is “Mary” occasionally identified as Mary Lee. Although there is no certain way to check this guess the patient by this name did exist (pictured on the left). She came to the sanatorium as a healthy child, contracted the disease and died within these walls. Her slim, petite figure is said to be roaming around halls of the main building as well as surroundings of the hospital. Some people reported seeing her peek through the windows only to disappear moments later.

Mary Lee

Several visitors to the site and some of the volunteers claimed to have seen doppelgänger on the floors. This term can literally can be translated as a "double goer" from German. It basically describes the look alike spirit of a living person. He or she walks around like a normal human being. Some even claimed that these ghosts have talked and interacted with the tourists. Many European cultures believed that if it would encounter your doppelgänger it would almost certainly mean quick death.

Ghost in Waverly Hills Sanatorium Waverly Hills Sanatorium Ghost

Below is a photo that will probably will be shown to you if you choose to take a guided tour around the facility of the former sanatorium. The site where the photo was taken have no windows at least at the time when it was made. So reflection would not explain the appearance of a woman behind. By the way if you were curious why is that all the ghosts of the Sanatorium appear as white or Caucasian, there is simple explanation for that. All African- American patients were taken to a Colored Hospital at a certain distance from the main building. It was demolished after the closure of the main building. You can find its former location on the map that is provided in the end of the article.

Ghost in Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Not all ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium are friendly though. Couple of years ago several guards heard strange voices in the building and decided to investigate. The followed the staircase where they though was the source of the commotion. When they opened the door on the fourth floor four young men (around 19) fell out. They were scared and shocked. As soon as they were freed they ran downstairs and outside of the building. The guards managed to catch up with them only outside. There teenagers told them what happened to them. They quietly reached the building, avoided the guards and started to explore the creepy abandoned structure. Once they reached the fourth floor they started to hear strange sounds. Eventually spirits began to appear. The kids tried to make a run for it and approached the closest exit. The door turned out to be locked by someone or something. One of boys tried to use his ax to break through the metal door to get out into the staircase. Once you will get there you will see door with holes made by these men and that is more important you will see that there is no way anyone can lock the door from the inside or the outside.

Another scary figure is that of big dark shadow of a man that often scares people. One skeptic was convinced by his girlfriend to spend the night here. They were in a group exploring the site. This man suddenly saw someone at a distance entering one of the rooms. He decided to approach a man and offer company. He assumed it was someone from another group who was simply lost on the floor. Once he entered the room and started a conversation the figure turned around and it became visible that stranger was actually a talk dark ghost that had no eyes. Needless to say the man ran like hell and screamed like a girl until reaching open air. He never visited the place again.

The scariest ghost that visitors of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium have encountered is a so- called "Crawler". He is often seen crawling on the walls or ceilings. This spirit often moves from floor to floor straight through floors of the compound with ease. Often it is seen peeking at visitors from around the corners of the buildings. It usually disappears right away. It is described as a dark and threatening figure. Unlike other spirits of the compound this entity gives off very demonic vibes to anyone who encountered it.

Possible ghost of a child

More pictures of ghosts like apparitions

Personally I had a strange occurrence myself. I still remain somewhat skeptical, but I have no doubt now something actually happens there. Either time overlaps where two times exist on one or maybe demons to scare people. On a first occasion I felt like something was touching me on by left arm. My initial response was to dispel the feelings as merely brain reinterpreting might thoughts to a false signal of touching. Muscle twitches are common then you are under stress and this could be responsible for my feelings. I looked down on my right hands. In the light of "Exit" sign I actually saw my shirt being pressed against my arm. It was so distinct and localized as if someone's hands tried to grab me.

On another occasion I was in a group of people and decided to leave them for awhile, to explore the place on my own. Empty hall had several lighted spots left from a moon light that shined through the doors. Several times these lighted spots in the hall were crossed by someone silently, even though no one was in that part of the building. Really strange thing happened then I was returning back to the group. I actually felt like something or someone was pushing me either with a fist or a side of a cart. I decided not to say anything. But when I approached my friends they all turned around and looked at me speechless as if they saw a ghost. At this point my heart was pounding, but I decided to act all tough and even joked if my friends actually saw a ghost. Once they calmed down one of my friends told me something was actually following me. It was fairly tall and it was distinctly different from the shape of my shadow. It looked like a lighter more transparent human figure.

Map of Waverly Hills Sanatorium in 1954

Below is the map of the complex. The plan is aligned so that the top is the Western direction. Most of the buildings that you see on the map have been torn down. However the roads and rail road are still in place. Several buildings are now covered by the dense forest that shrunk in the past decades due to construction boom. As far as I know no one tried to carry out any archeological digs around the area. Many items might be found that can give a greater feel for the time period and daily life of the people here.