Difference between revisions of "Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium"

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*Clinton Veterans Center (1972)
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== History ==
 
== History ==
As early as 1897, at least one of the county superintendents of health suggested that tuberculosis should be placed in the list of contagious diseases, and that it be obligatory for all cases of suspected tuberculosis to be reported to the county superintendents of health.  However, the tuberculosis movement in Oklahoma was not truly established until Dr. Lewis J. Moorman opened a private sanatorium in 1914.  His intention was overtly to care for the patients, but isolating them to prevent the spread of tuberculosis to others was another important consideration. Although this was an auspicious start, TB was still a virulent disease to which the health statistics testify: from 1918-1919, 1,850 people in Oklahoma died of tuberculosis. 
 
  
It was clear that the private sanatorium was not the answer so in 1921, the Oklahoma Legislature established the state's first sanatorium in Talihina. A year later, in 1922, the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium was established in Clinton and the Soldiers' Tubercular Sanatorium was created in Sulphur, OK. These became the mainstays of tuberculosis treatment in Oklahoma.
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It was clear that the private sanatorium was not the answer so in 1921, the Oklahoma Legislature established the state's first sanatorium in Talihina. A year later, in 1922, the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium was established in Clinton and the Soldiers' Tubercular Sanatorium was created in Sulphur, OK. These became the mainstays of tuberculosis treatment in Oklahoma. The City of Clinton donated 100 acres of land one mile south of the city for the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium which opened April 3, 1922 with beds for 100 patients.
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In 1931, the Negro sanatorium at Boley, OK closed and patients were given a separated building at Western State Sanatorium. By the time it closed in 1975, it had grown to 356 beds. The  Clinton Veterans Center now occupies these grounds; few of the WOTS buildings that were in operation are still on the grounds.
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==Cemetery==
  
The City of Clinton donated 100 acres of land one mile south of the city for the Sanatorium which opened April 3, 1922 with beds for 100 patients. By the time it closed in 1975, it had grown to 356 beds. The  Clinton Veterans Center now occupies these grounds; few of the WOTS buildings that were in operation are still on the grounds.
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The cemetery is located on the Veterans Center property. It was severely overgrown and being used as part of a livestock grazing area. The grave markers are a flat concrete slabs with handmade brass plates attached to them. A group from the Southwestern State University unearthed grave markers with a metal detector in 2012. One marker had no plate attached to it and several graves were unmarked.
  
 
==Images==
 
==Images==
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==References==
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* [http://wotbscemeteryproject.blogspot.com/| Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanitarium Cemetery Project]
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* [https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CL016| Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: Clinton, OK]
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* [http://genealogytrails.com/oka/custer/westernoktuberulosissanatorium.html| Genealogy Trails, "Admissions & Discharges as published in the Conqueror - a publication published by the Patients"]
  
 
[[Category:Oklahoma]]
 
[[Category:Oklahoma]]
 
[[Category:Preserved Institution]]
 
[[Category:Preserved Institution]]
 
[[Category:Cottage Plan]]
 
[[Category:Cottage Plan]]

Revision as of 10:53, 9 May 2020

Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium
Established 1921
Opened 1922
Closed 1975
Current Status Preserved
Building Style Cottage Plan
Location Clinton, OK
Alternate Names
  • Clinton Veterans Center (1972)



History

It was clear that the private sanatorium was not the answer so in 1921, the Oklahoma Legislature established the state's first sanatorium in Talihina. A year later, in 1922, the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium was established in Clinton and the Soldiers' Tubercular Sanatorium was created in Sulphur, OK. These became the mainstays of tuberculosis treatment in Oklahoma. The City of Clinton donated 100 acres of land one mile south of the city for the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium which opened April 3, 1922 with beds for 100 patients.

In 1931, the Negro sanatorium at Boley, OK closed and patients were given a separated building at Western State Sanatorium. By the time it closed in 1975, it had grown to 356 beds. The Clinton Veterans Center now occupies these grounds; few of the WOTS buildings that were in operation are still on the grounds.

Cemetery

The cemetery is located on the Veterans Center property. It was severely overgrown and being used as part of a livestock grazing area. The grave markers are a flat concrete slabs with handmade brass plates attached to them. A group from the Southwestern State University unearthed grave markers with a metal detector in 2012. One marker had no plate attached to it and several graves were unmarked.

Images

References