Livermore Sanitarium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Livermore Sanitarium |
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The hydrotherapy building (1904) at the Livermore Sanitarium
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| 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 |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Speciality | Psychiatry |
| History | |
| Closed | 1965 |
The Livermore Sanitarium was a special kind of private hospital. It was located in Livermore, California. This hospital was open from 1894 until 1965. It focused on treating and studying mental health conditions. At that time, people believed the Livermore Valley had a perfect climate for getting healthy.
Contents
History of the Sanitarium
The Livermore Sanitarium was started by Dr. John W. Robertson. He had worked at the Napa State Hospital before. The main building was once a large home. It belonged to William Mendenhall, who helped found Livermore. Another building nearby was the Livermore Collegiate Institute.
Early Years and Buildings
In June 1909, the college building caught fire. It was later rebuilt. The hospital also had separate small cabins for patients. This gave them more privacy.
Special Treatments and Facilities
In 1904, Dr. Robertson built a special facility. It was for "hydro-sanitarium" treatments. This meant using water for therapy and healing.
In 1912, a gym was added. It had exercise equipment, a swimming pool, and even a bowling alley. It was very unusual for a hospital to have these things back then! In September of the same year, another fire happened. It destroyed the engine house and laundry building. The damage cost about $15,000.
Changes Over Time
By 1920, the sanitarium had 120 patients. In the 1960s, new ways to treat mental health were found. These new methods made this type of hospital less popular.
The Livermore Sanitarium closed its doors in 1965. The main building has since been torn down.
See also
- List of hospitals in California
