Livermore Sanitarium
| Livermore Sanitarium | |
|---|---|
 The hydrotherapy building (1904) at the Livermore Sanitarium | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Livermore, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°40′28″N 121°45′16″W / 37.67431810166208°N 121.75441466124317°W |
| Organization | |
| Funding | For-profit hospital |
| Type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Speciality | Psychiatry |
| History | |
| Opened | 1894 |
| Closed | 1965 |
| Links | |
| Lists | Hospitals in California |
Livermore Sanitarium was a private sanitarium and psychiatric hospital, located in Livermore, California, in operation from 1894 until 1965.[1] The facility specialized the treatment and research of alcoholism and mental disorders.[1][2] During this time period the Livermore Valley was considered an ideal climate for optimizing one's health.[3]
History
The Livermore Sanitarium was founded by Dr. John W. Robertson, he had previously worked at Napa State Hospital in the alcohol treatment clinic.[1][4][3] The main facility building was the former William Mendenhall Estate on College Avenue in Livermore; previously owned by one of the founders of the town, William Martin Mendenhall (1823–1911); and another facility building located next door was the former Livermore Collegiate Institute (also known as the Old Livermore College).[4] In June 1909, the college building burned down and was rebuilt.[4] The grounds had separate cabins for the patients.[3]
In 1904, he built a hydro-sanitarium facility, for water-based treatments and therapy.[4] In 1912, a gym was built that included exercise equipment, a swimming pool, and a bowling alley - during this time period it was an unusual to find such amenities at a medical facility.[1][4] By 1920, there were 120 patients.[4] In the 1960s, new medical approaches to psychiatry were discovered and popularity of this type of hospital declined.[4]
The sanitarium closed in 1965.[1] The property now serves as a housing department.[4]
Another private sanitarium in Livermore was the Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium (1918–ca. 1960), specializing in the treatment of tuberculosis.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Dowd, Katie Dowd (2016-06-16). "Historic asylums and sanitariums of Northern California". SFGate. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ "Livermore flourishes at turn of century". East Bay Times. 2006-03-31. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ a b c "Livermore Sanitarium". California Digital Newspaper Collection (CDNC), Center for Biographical Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside. Livermore Herald, Volume 19, Number 13. 25 January 1896. p. 14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Early Livermore. Images of America. Livermore Heritage Guild. Arcadia Publishing. 2006. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-7385-3099-4.
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