Waverly Hills Sanatorium

The Beginnings

The sanatorium is located at 4400 Paralee Drive in Louisville Kentucky, on land that once belonged to Major Thomas H. Hays in 1883. On the property he built a one roomed school house so his daughters could attend school. He hired a woman named Lizzie Lee Harris to teach at there. She named the school “Waverly School.” Thomas liked the name so much that he named his property “Waverly Hills.” The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital kept the name when they purchased the land and then opened the Sanatorium.

Construction on the building began in 1908 and originally consisted of a two-story frame building. The building was completed on July 26th,1910. The building was designed for the Tuberculosis pandemic (also as the “white death”) and was built to hold 40-50 patients safely. Louisville Kentucky had the highest TB death rate in America. They built the building there for the purpose of isolation and peace. They had hoped that the scenery and privacy would help the patients to recover.

The building itself was like its own self-contained community and it even had its own zip code. It also contained a post office, water treatment facility, grew its own fruits and vegetables and also raised its own animals for the purposes of meat.

Everyone who “joined” the hospital, not just patients, but doctors, nurses and all staff had to say goodbye to the outside world. Once you came to Waverly Hills, you weren't going to leave. Tuberculosis was quickly becoming a pandemic across many towns in Kentucky. The clinic soon was housing over 141 patients! Those who contracted the disease had to be isolated from the general public as it was so contagious. It wasn't even known at the time that the disease was airborne.

The building was expanded (started on March 26th, 1924 and completed on October 17th, 1926) and would now accommodate over 400 patients. At the time, the building was considered the most advanced and modern treatment facility. This is the same building that is still standing to this day.

The building served as a Tuberculosis hospital until 1961. When the discovery of an antibiotic for TB was discovered in 1944, it rendered the building obsolete and was closed down. It was then renovated and reopened in 1962 as Woodhaven Medical Services (A geriatric facility). It was later closed by the state in 1982.

Over the years the building saw much destruction and vandalism by people breaking in. Many feel sad that a building that was so vital and important during such an awful pandemic could be so damaged and disrespected.

What is Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infection that is caused by slow-growing bacteria. The bacteria grows best in areas of the body where there is lots of blood and oxygen. Up until the late 1940's there was no cure for TB. Symptoms included a terrible cough that often resulted in coughing up a bloody mucus. Tiredness, weight-loss, night-sweats, fever and a rapid heartbeat. There can also be swelling in the neck (lymph nodes) as well as chest-pain and and shortness of breath.

Tuberculosis and Patient Abuse

The “treatments” performed at Waverly Hills were sometimes even worse than the disease itself. Patients lungs would be exposed to UV light to try and stop the spread of the bacteria. This treatment was performed in rooms known as “sun rooms.” These rooms could either have artificial light or actual sunlight. Sometimes the patients where even placed on the roof or open porches. It didn't even matter if the weather was terrible. Patients had even been photographed sitting in chairs in the snow during these treatments.

Balloons would often be inserted into the lungs in order to expand them. This treatment often ended with terrible and bloody results. They removed muscles and ribs from a patient to allow the ribs to expand and let in more oxygen. This particular procedure was deemed a “last resort,” as most did not survive it.

Most patients ended up “leaving” the sanatorium through an area known as “the body chute.” This was an enclosed tunnel that lead from the hospital down to the railroad tracks. They used a motorized rail and cable system so they could lower the bodies in secret, down to the waiting trains.

They tried to make it as secret as possible so the patients would not see how many bodies were leaving the hospital. Doctors stated they felt witnessing so many bodies would affect the mental well-being of their patients.

By the late 1930's, TB numbers had begun to decline. There was a small jump in 1945 due to WW2. Dr. Stewart stated in a book he had written that the soldier's cases from the war were so far advanced that they didn't survive more than a week after arriving at the hospital.

When the Sanatorium was reopened in 1962, there were many rumors of abuse and unusual experiments happening to the patients.

Electroshock therapy was extremely common during this time and when funding was cut in the 1960's/70's, the conditions of the hospital became appalling. The horrible treatment and condition of the patients lead to the hospital finally closing its doors in 1982.

After the Hospital

After the closure, the building and the land were auctioned off and then changed hands various times over the years. In 1983, a developer purchased the property with plans to turn it into a minimum security prison for the state of Kentucky. These plans were eventually abandoned after surrounding neighbors protested the addition of the prison. They then considered turning the area into apartments, however, this idea was also forgotten due to a lack of funds and financing.

Now, I don't know about you, but I would never buy property on an area where such awful things took place. So much death and suffering. I strongly believe that these types of emotions leave imprints and energies embedded in land and building. I am sure many people would not have a very comfortable time living in an apartment build on the site of such suffering.

In March 1996, the property was purchased by Robert Alberhasky, he ran the Christ the Redeemer Foundation Inc. His plans were to build the world's tallest statue of Jesus. The statue was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue located in Rio de Janeiro. It was to be housed on the roof of the hospital and would cost an estimated 4 million dollars. Then he planned to transform the sanatorium into a chapel, theatre and even a gift shop! This would cost an additional 8 million dollars. Not surprisingly, donations for this project fell short (only $3000 was raised in the first year) and the project was cancelled in 1997.

In order to recoup some of his loses, Alberhasky tried to have the property condemned so the building would be torn down and redeveloped. This plan was blocked by the county and according to many rumours, demolition “work” was done to the southern edge of the building in order to compromise the foundation and collect the insurance money. This plan of Alberhasky also failed and luckily, in 2001 the building was purchased by Historian and paranormal enthusiasts, Charles and Tina Mattingly.

Sadly, the building was now in ruin and had become a frequent spot for the homeless as well as teenagers breaking in searching for ghosts. Between Charles, Tina and the Waverly Hills Historical Society, they have worked hard to restore the building and the surrounding grounds.

The Deaths

As you can imagine, there are many versions and reports of how many people have actually died within the walls of Waverly Hills. However, according to Dr. J. Frank Stewart (a former district medical director at the hospital), the highest rate of deaths for one year was 152. By 1942, the death rate had dropped to 42 deaths. In total, they believe a total of 6,000 deaths occurred at the hospital. This total is based on the number of death certificates filed for that year.

The Hauntings

In 2001, the rumors began to spread of the hauntings at Waverly Hills.

There were sightings of a little girl who supposedly runs up and down the third floor solarium, a little boy (Timmy) who is seen holding a small leather ball, a hearse that appears near the back of the building and a woman with bleeding wrists who cries out for help.

Visitors report slamming doors, seeing lights on throughout the hospital even though the power has been cut, strange sounds and many footsteps throughout the building. Others claim to have seen a man in a white doctor's coat. Many have reported smelling meals being cooked in the kitchen that has long since fallen apart. Even the smell of baking breads have been reported. Many have claimed to see the ghost of former patient Mary Lee. It is proven that she was indeed a patient and arrived at the hospital as a child and died within those walls.

The greatest legend of all reported taken place on the fifth floor. This floor consisted of 2 nurse's stations, a pantry, a linen room, a medicine room and two medium sized rooms (on either side of the nurse's station). One of these rooms is room 502. This room has reported shadow people, disembodied voices and shapes in the windows. There also stories of people who have committed suicide by jumping out the window. It is said that a nurse was found dead in room 502 in 1928. She had committed suicide by handing herself from the light fixture. She was 29 years old, pregnant and unmarried. This caused her to become ashamed and severely depressed. It is unknown how long it took for her body to be discovered and then removed from the room.

In 1932 another nurse who worked in this room jumped to her death from the roof top patio. No one was ever able to figure out why she jumped but many believe she could have been pushed. There are no records to support this theory but many investigators have claimed to have made contact with this nurse and she states she was murdered.

Over the years, may staff and volunteers have reported hearing sounds, footsteps and slamming doors.

Mike Flickner (a guide and paranormal investigator at Waverly Hills) claims;

"I've locked doors before and watched them unlock themselves and open up. I've seen a tub of concrete slide by itself."

The following is an exert from “American Hauntings Inc” regarding their experience while visiting Wavery Hills.

“In order for the reader to understand what I saw; I have to explain that the hallway ahead of us continued straight for a short distance and then turned sharply to the right. In the early 1900's, most institutions of this type were designed in this manner. It was what was dubbed the “bat-wing” design, which meant that there was a main centre in each building and then the wings extended right and left, then angled again so that they ran slightly backward like a bird, or bat, wings. Directly at the angle ahead of us was a doorway that led into a treatment room. I only noticed the doorway in the darkness because the dim light from the windows beyond it had caused it to glow slightly. This made it impossible to miss since it was straight ahead of us.

We took a few more steps and then, without warning, the clear and distinct silhouette of a man crossed the lighted doorway, passed into the hall and then vanished into a room on the other side of the corridor! I got a distinct look at the figure and I know that it was a man and that he was wearing what appeared to be a long, white drape that could have been a doctor’s coat. The sighting only lasted a few seconds but I knew what I had seen.

And for some reason, it shocked and startled me so badly that I let out a yell and grabbed a hold of my friend’s jacket. I am not sure why it affected me in that way but perhaps it was the setting, the figure’s sudden appearance, my own anxiety --- or likely all of these things. Regardless, after my yell, I demanded that he turn on a light and help me to examine the room the man had vanished into. After my initial fright, I became convinced that someone else was on the floor with us. My friend assured me we were the only ones there but he did help me search for the intruder – in an empty room with only one way in or out. There was no one there. Whoever that figure had been he had utterly and completely vanished.

Waverly Hills is haunted and for me, seeing was believing.”

Visit Waverly Hills

The building continues to draw ghost hunters and the curious for tours and overnight stays.

You can make reservations on the website. No one is permitted onto the property without a reservation and trespassing is not tolerated. To make reservation, please visit the link below for more information.

https://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/

The building continues to draw ghost hunters and the curious for tours and overnight stays.

You can make reservations on the website. No one is permitted onto the property without a reservation and trespassing is not tolerated. To make reservation, please visit the link below for more information.

https://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/

Conclusion

I already hated hospitals (mostly, I fear them) but after seeing how awful patients were treated during this pandemic just added more fuel to that fire. I feel there are many spirits that haunt the halls of Waverly Hills. How is it possible that there aren't? So many died and so painfully. Patients entered that hospital, dropped off by family who knew they would never see them again. Knowing that they would die within those walls.

Even with all the sadness and stories of suicide, I still want to set foot in places like this. Add another location to my haunted bucket list:)

Happy Hauntings Everyone...

Ghost Investigation Shows Featuring Waverly Hills

Ghost Adventureshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDN5t4lKjGc

Buzzfeed Multiplayerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXhLlWQtdt0

Whip Ghost Huntershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NTKHTy7hYg

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