Piedmont Sanatorium facts for kids

Piedmont Sanatorium was a very important place in Burkeville, Virginia. From 1917 to 1965, it served as a rest home and hospital for African Americans who had tuberculosis. It was the first facility of its kind ever built in the United States specifically for African American patients. After it closed, the site became the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital.

Understanding Tuberculosis

In the early 1900s, tuberculosis (often called TB) was a very serious disease. It was a leading cause of death, responsible for about one out of every ten deaths. People who caught TB were often sent away from their homes to special hospitals called sanatoriums. These places helped to stop the spread of the disease. They also provided care for those who were sick.

Piedmont Sanatorium was built around 1917 to help African Americans suffering from tuberculosis. The idea for its creation came from concerns about public health for everyone, including white communities.

Segregation and Healthcare

In the 1910s, more people were moving to cities. This meant white and Black communities were living closer together. Health officials in Virginia noticed that African Americans faced many health challenges. They had higher rates of disease, death, and problems during childbirth for mothers and babies.

Hard physical work, poor diets, and a lack of good sanitation made these problems worse. Diseases spread easily in crowded Black neighborhoods. Often, there was no proper way to deal with garbage or sewage, and running water was not always available.

Many white people worried that Black childcare workers, cooks, and laundresses might spread tuberculosis to white homes. Because of this fear, the government started looking for ways to stop TB and other contagious diseases. At that time, the only places for Black people to get medical care were hospitals for mental illness or prisons.

The Negro Organization Society was a group in Virginia that worked to improve life for African Americans. They began talking with the State Board of Health. A key person in these discussions was Agnes Dillon Randolph. She was a strong supporter of public health and a nurse. Randolph worked hard to get a sanatorium built for Black tuberculosis patients. It was a new idea, and some lawmakers were unsure. But in 1916, the state government agreed to her request.

It's important to know that healthcare was segregated back then. This meant Black and white patients were treated in separate facilities. For example, the all-white Blue Ridge Sanatorium was built in 1920. The city of Charlottesville, Virginia wanted Blue Ridge in their community. They even paid a large amount of money for the land and its water supply. Piedmont Sanatorium, however, had to pay contractors to dig its own well.

Also, Blue Ridge patients could easily see doctors from the University of Virginia because the hospital was in the same city. But Piedmont patients had to travel more than 50 miles to St. Phillips Hospital in Richmond, Virginia if they had a medical emergency not related to TB. This showed the unequal treatment.

Finding a Place to Build

Finding a suitable location for Piedmont Sanatorium was difficult. The Board of Health advertised across the state for a place to build a "colored sanatorium." The first location they considered was in Ivor, Virginia. But local white residents strongly protested the idea. They hired a lawyer and presented a large petition against it.

The committee then looked at a site in Lynchburg, Virginia. But the response there was even more negative. The idea of buying land in Lynchburg was quickly dropped.

Finally, in 1917, the committee hired a real estate agent to buy land in Burkeville, Virginia. This time, they asked a group of Burkeville citizens to sign a statement agreeing to the sanatorium. Still, some people in Burkeville opposed it. An attorney wrote a letter on behalf of these citizens. But the State Board of Health was tired of the delays. They decided to ignore the opposition and began building Piedmont Sanatorium on a 300-acre piece of land in Burkeville.

The Negro Organization Society continued to be very involved. They helped raise public awareness and donated money to improve the facility. Money was also raised to build and equip a building for patients. It also included rooms for visiting doctors who would come to study at the Sanatorium.

Life at the Sanatorium

Life at Piedmont Sanatorium was very organized and routine. Patients woke up early for breakfast. They then rested until lunch. There was quiet time in the afternoon, followed by supper. Bedtime was at 9:30 p.m. Some patients who were getting better were allowed to exercise. An occupational therapist helped patients with handicraft activities. Some patients even learned new skills that could help them find jobs after they left the sanatorium.

Patients also had to attend weekly lessons about tuberculosis. They learned how to properly dispose of sputum (mucus from the lungs) and other important ways to manage their illness. The staff at Piedmont hoped that patients would return to their communities and teach other African Americans about tuberculosis.

Training Nurses

The Piedmont Sanatorium School of Tuberculosis Nursing opened soon after the Sanatorium. It was a two-year nursing school for Black women. They could become certified specifically in tuberculosis nursing. To become a full Registered nurse, they needed a third year of training at St. Phillips Hospital in Richmond.

During World War II, there was a shortage of hospital staff. In 1943, Virginia Governor Colgate W. Darden Jr. suggested having only Black staff at Piedmont. This would free up white nurses to work in white hospitals. But this idea failed. One reason was the concern that the quality of care at Piedmont would suffer if only Black staff were allowed.

The Sanatorium Closes

In 1965, a big change happened. Racial segregation was starting to end in the United States. Piedmont Sanatorium closed its doors. Black patients were then allowed to be admitted to the previously all-white Blue Ridge Sanatorium. By 1967, the Burkeville facility had been changed into the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital.