Paris Tuberculosis Hospital
Constructed from 1946 to 1948, the Paris Tuberculosis Hospital serviced the Paris, Kentucky region for about 15 years before the threat of the disease finally diminished. Similar buildings were constructed across the state in smaller cities such as Ashland and Owensboro.
History
On June 14, 1950, the Paris Tuberculosis Hospital was dedicated on the outskirts of the Bourbon County, Kentucky seat.(1) An estimated 1,500 attended the opening ceremonies. The third such facility in the state constructed with others in Ashland, London, Madisonville and Glasgow, the 100-bed facility was designed to “solving the tuberculosis problem” although a solution to that was still unknown, according to Commissioner of Health Bruce Underwood. An estimated 1,500 died each year from the disease.
According to Underwood, the 100-bed hospital would be wholly inadequate to care for more than a small portion of the tubercular cases needing treatment in the 20-county area the facility was designed to serve upon opening.(1) By law, the beds in the hospital must be allotted to the counties on a population basis, and some counties that have high tuberculosis rates would only receive two or three beds in the hospital.
By July 1, process work began on patient applications.(1) Governor Clement stated that the new state biennial budget provided $2.7 million for administrative and operational costs of the hospitals. On July 20, it was disclosed that the sanatorium would receive its first patients on Monday, July 24.
The tuberculosis hospital closed in the late 1970s and it was proposed in the late 1980s of converting the building into an apartment complex for the elderly.(1)
Gallery
Sources
- “Paris, Bourbon County Welcome Tuberculosis Hospital.” Bourbon County Citizen (Paris) 15 March 1989. 3 Dec. 2007: 15.
Hello My Name Is Brenda:
And I recently moved here to Paris Kentucky I have An big Interest In Researching, the History of The TB Hospital Of Paris, Bourbon County.. I would Be highly Interested in knowing If you have any more Information and Pictures of the Doctors And Nurses & Staff also of the Patients of the hospital.. I Am doing a research and study of the desease of Tuberculosis and so living here in Kentucky this Is a Honor to me, If You Can help me I would really Appreciate your help.
Thank You
Sincerely
Brenda Vreede
P.S. I would also like to know How I could become a voulnteer of the Historic Society?
i was once a patient at that hospital i was treated for histoplasmoses when i was 7 or 8 years old there waw a man that played cards with me every night and they put on a christmas play i was the only child in the hospital at that time they got me a baby that away they tried to find me a table and chairs ,and one of the nurses made me a raggedy andy doll my mother got to come see me once a week and the little man would come and play some form of cards with or he would read too me as well as the nurses would and i havent forgot it and im 43 getting ready to turn44 im thankful that i had strangers to care about as well as my own family if ti had not for sam i would not be able to talk about it now he always told me he d be with me i was a lucky little girl . its amazing what u remember when u were a young girl u never forget kindness and love for others especially the dr and sam.
Does any one the exact location of this building? i live in the nashville Tn area I know of the Paris area but not this location, I am doing an art project for my portfolio and would love to photograph this beautful building? Thank you
Here is the location: Google Map, but it is not accessible due to its location next to a juvenile detention center and school.