Kenilworth Sanitarium
| Kenilworth Sanitarium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1905 |
| Construction Began | 1903 |
| Closed | 1947 |
| Demolished | 1960s |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Location | Wilmette, IL |
| Alternate Names |
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HISTORY
Dr. Sanger Brown (1852-1928), a prominent "alienist" and neurologist opened the Kenilworth Sanitarium in 1905, calling it a "state-of-the-art facility" for the treatment of various mental disorders.
Construction on the large, three-story building started in 1903 and was completed in 1905. The sanitarium was built on ten acres of land and included six suites, with six to seven bedrooms in each suite. The sanitarium boasted modern conveniences such as electric lights, telephones, and an elevator. Because the sanitarium housed patients who were sent there on court orders, sections of the house were locked wards with barred windows. Despite these precautions, there are records of patient escapes published in local newspapers. Patient suicides were also a problem, with one patient jumping from a third-floor window after running away from guards.
After Dr. Brown's death in 1928, his wife and son took over running the sanitarium. After Mrs. Brown passed way in 1939, the sanitarium was sold and became known as Maryhaven, a Roman Catholic nursing home and retirement center. In the 1960s, Maryhaven was moved to a new location, and the original building was demolished.
Chicago Tribune article from 1906, detailing a patient death.
