- Muirdale Tuberculosis Sanatorium
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Muirdale Tuberculosis Sanatorium, also called Muirdale Tuberculosis Hospital, was built in 1913 by Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. It was located near the corner of Highway 100 and Watertown Plank Road in Wauwatosa and named after noted Wisconsin naturalist John Muir. Maximum capacity in 1923 was 350 patients, but in later years this figure rose to over 600, including a 100-bed Children's Cottage, or Preventorium, devoted to the treatment of young children.[1]
Muirdale ceased treating tuberculosis patients in the 1960s and, although the main structure still remains, many of the outlying buildings and "cottages" were razed. It was renamed Rehab West in the 1970s and functioned as a care facility for elderly persons with mental illnesses but was permanently closed in 1978.[2] The facility, which had been slated for destruction in June 1992, was saved due to the efforts of historical preservationists and is now being used as part of the Milwaukee County Research Park, a business incubator. It is now known as the "Technology Innovation Center" and is listed on a registry of haunted landmarks.
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Research materials
The Milwaukee County Historical Society retains some records related to Muirdale, including historical information, annual reports published in 1922 and 1966-1970, audit reports from 1963-1974 and a two-volume patient registration record listing the names of all those admitted to the sanatorium between 1941-1962.
The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Library has three videocassettes in its archives of motion picture film taken by Eugene Millmann between 1926-1972. The clips, mostly shot during the 1920s and 1930s in both B&W and color, were transferred to videotape from the original 16mm film and include footage of Muirdale Sanatorium.
Notes
References
- Unknown authors. Annals of Milwaukee County. The Milwaukee County Employee's Association, 1923.
- Unknown authors. Images of America: Wauwatosa. Wauwatosa Historical Society. Arcadia Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0-7385-3232-0
External links
Categories:- Hospitals in Wisconsin
- Buildings and structures in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
- Organizations established in 1928
- 1928 architecture
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