Silvercrest Sanatorium
Silvercrest Sanatorium was a hospital in New Albany, Indiana for those riddled with tuberculosis, a deadly disease that infiltrated Southern and Mid-Atlantic in an area called the “black belt.” Tuberculosis was mostly treatable with antibiotics by the 1970s, resulting in mass closures of the sanatoriums. Silvercrest was reused as a disabled children’s development center before closing in 2006. It is slated to be restored as an elderly care facility.
History
Silvercrest Sanatorium remains an excellent example of Art Deco and Art Modern architecture. The five-level 147,300 sq. ft. (5) facility dates to 1917 when the Floyd County Tuberculosis Association was established to prevent the spread of tuberculosis and to construct a tuberculosis sanatorium in southern Indiana.(1) The region was encompassed within the “black belt,” named such for a region that included Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio where tuberculosis was prevalent.
In 1924, the Association purchased the old Handy Farm on Old Vincennes Road for $6,500 that included 42 total acres, 20 of which were flat and prime for development.(1) Funding was secured through popular subscription from the citizens of New Albany and other fundraising efforts that included neighborhood performances and plays, such as one at the Hackett resident at 1732 DePauw Avenue that charged a 3-cent admission and the more elaborate production at Glenwood Park in 1923. The production, titled “The Greatest Gift: A Pagent of Health,” was written for the benefit of the Association and had a cast of 1,000 members.
By 1936, enough money was collected to fund construction of a 20-bed sanatorium on the old Handy Farm.(1) Two years later, in July 1938, the Indiana General Assembly held a special session to enact a bill that would locate a site for the Southern Indiana Tuberculosis Hospital.
A New Albany Citizens Committee (NACC) was formed as a result. The NACC, along with the New Albany Chamber of Commerce, submitted a formal proposal that competed with twelve other communities in southern Indiana for the location of the hospital.(1) The proposal stated that the Association would donate the existing sanatorium and land to the state, and that the property contained beautiful scenery, a hilltop location, and easy access to transportation. In September, the state announced that New Albany would be the home of the new state hospital.
Indianapolis architect August Bohlen was chosen to design the new hospital, and construction began later in the year as a Public Works Administration project. In August 1940, the $1 million, 150-bed hospital was opened, serving a 32-county region.(1) There was no formal dedication until May 10, 1941, however, as the new hospital was overwhelmed with demand. The formal ceremony that was held included Indiana Governor Henry F. Schricker and other local dignitaries.
The new facility contained individual patient rooms instead of wards, such as what was used at Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky.(1) It also featured an outpatient clinic, several laboratories, surgery rooms, kitchen and laundry facilities, a dental office, a recreational gym and a heated swimming pool. A residence for the superintendent and several guest houses were located on-site.
In December 1952, five low-rise structures, along with two large residences, were added that cost $275,000. Designed by Hawkins and Walker of New Albany, the new structures were designed in a style similar to a motel.(1)
Beginning on April 1, 1972, the state began to phase out tuberculosis treatments at Silvercrest due to the development of medicines that began combating the disease.(1) The hospital was closed by 1974, and was converted into the Silvercrest Children’s Development Center in that year.(2) The developmentally disabled treatment facility was in operation until it closed on May 12, 2006 (3) following years of research by the health department, the Family of Social Services Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, the state Department of Education and The ARC of Indiana, an advocacy group for people with developmental disabilities.(4) ARC stated that the $8 million a year spent at Silvercrest could be used as a match for federal Medicaid funding, potentially making $24 million available to provide home- and community-based services to more disabled children.
The Department of Health had planned to file a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board on January 24, 2007 as the first measure towards possible demolition of the hospital, however, it receded the motion after local public outcry.(2)
Gallery
Further Reading
Related Posts
Art Deco Echo by Dan Glass: Tuberculosis has, until recent decades, crippled thousands of Americans yearly. Those who contracted the disease were often whisked to remote, state-operatedhospitals specialized to isolate and…
Related Sites
- Initial application (item 3) to demolish Silvercrest by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Sources
- “Silvercrest: An Architectural Treasure in the Hills of New Albany.” New Albany Historic Preservation Commission. 24 Mar. 2009 Article.
- Fulmore, Ted. “Silvercrest Can Be Reused.” Weblog post. Our History in New Albany. 13 Jan. 2007. 24 Mar. 2009 Blog post.
- Moss, Dale. “So Long Silvercrest.” Weblog post. Courier-Journal. 15 May 2006. 24 Mar. 2009.
- “Closing Silvercrest is right decision.” News and Tribune. 23 Jan. 2006. 24 Mar. 2009 Article.
- ““Save Silvercrest” web site is launched: http://savesilvercrest.org/.” Weblog post. NA Confidential. 22 Jan. 2007. 24 Mar. 2009 Article.
my mom and grandmother was at slivercrest 1955 my mom lived mildred june white grandmother pearl ashley lane pass away any way to find there records thanks kathy snyder
can i get in here legal or not without too much breaking in i just want to photograph
It is under renovations, and is inaccessible.
Wasn’t Silvercrest a Polio Hospital? Some one I know had polio as a child and that is where she was.
I would like to know if any records are available for my father, Herbert Lowe,. He was a patient at Silvercrest TB sannitorium from Fall 1962 till Spring 1963. My Grandson has respitory problems and I would like to know if there might be a genetic connection. My addressis: 2709 State St., Columbus , IN 47201. My e-mail address is: rickyticky47@yahoo.com. Thank you.
My mother (and I to a very small degree) painted a mural in 1984 in the childrens recreation room. She passed away in 1984 and there was a dedication ceremony in her honor with a bronze plaque of her image hung on the wall. Her name was Bonnie Flick and I am desperately searching to see if I can find the plaque. Please let me know if there is anything that can be done to retrieve this.
Sincerely, Keri
I spent l4 months at Silvercrest. It was like a girl’s dorm. All private rooms. The staff was wonderful and I owe my life to them. I was there in 1952 and 1953. I had TB in both lungs and I am now 82.
my mother was there at that time and i was wondering if you knew her i would love to hear about her more she died in may of 1969 her name was elsie sego