Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:sunnycrest.gif|left|thumb|350px|Sunnycrest Sanitorium]]SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM. Opened August 13, 1921, as a means of curtailing the rapid spread of tuberculosis. Initial discussions about the care of patients with tuberculosis were held in the early 1900s between Dr. A. M. Loes, Mrs. Herbert Adams, Miss Cook, Mrs. Anna Dolan, Alex Hassler, Mark Kane, L. F. Metz, M. O'Donald, Mrs. Charlotte Quinlan, and Miss Maude Reader with members of the [[SAINT VINCENT | [[Image:sunnycrest.gif|left|thumb|350px|Sunnycrest Sanitorium]]SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM. Opened August 13, 1921, as a means of curtailing the rapid spread of tuberculosis. Initial discussions about the care of patients with tuberculosis were held in the early 1900s between Dr. A. M. Loes, Mrs. Herbert Adams, Miss Cook, Mrs. Anna Dolan, Alex Hassler, Mark Kane, L. F. Metz, M. O'Donald, Mrs. Charlotte Quinlan, and Miss Maude Reader with members of the [[SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL]] Society. | ||
Informational meetings with local charitable organizations and social clubs led to a public vote to approve a bond issue of $75,000 and a two mill levy for payment of bonds and maintenance of the building. | Informational meetings with local charitable organizations and social clubs led to a public vote to approve a bond issue of $75,000 and a two mill levy for payment of bonds and maintenance of the building. | ||
Revision as of 03:22, 4 August 2008
SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM. Opened August 13, 1921, as a means of curtailing the rapid spread of tuberculosis. Initial discussions about the care of patients with tuberculosis were held in the early 1900s between Dr. A. M. Loes, Mrs. Herbert Adams, Miss Cook, Mrs. Anna Dolan, Alex Hassler, Mark Kane, L. F. Metz, M. O'Donald, Mrs. Charlotte Quinlan, and Miss Maude Reader with members of the SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL Society.
Informational meetings with local charitable organizations and social clubs led to a public vote to approve a bond issue of $75,000 and a two mill levy for payment of bonds and maintenance of the building.
A twenty-seven acre site on the north end of town was purchased at $100.00 per acre. Prior to the start of construction, observations of similar facilities were made in Davenport, at the Oakdale institution in Iowa City, and at sites in Illinois and Wisconsin. Further work on the institution was halted until the end of World War I at the request of the government. When work resumed, Anton Zwack was awarded the construction contract for $89,000. In most instances local firms were the low bidders for additional work. Dr. J. C. Painter was placed in charge of the hospital and served in the position for twenty-five years.
Prior to his retirement in 1957, Painter was able to announce the closing of the facility as a tuberculosis sanatorium. Once filled nearly to capacity, Sunnycrest had been nearly empty since World War II and the development of better methods to cure the disease. The remaining patients were transferred to Oakdale Sanatorium in Iowa City.
Within two and one-half years of its closing, the facility was reopened as the Dubuque County Nursing Home whose primary responsibility was the care of indigents. Those who could make partial payments were given secondary priority. Private patients were admitted with the understanding that they would move out if room for the other two categories of patients became unavailable. In 1983 the Dubuque/Jackson County Mental Health Center opened an office at the renamed Sunnycrest Manor Nursing Home.