Attleboro Sanitarium
| Attleboro Sanitarium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1894 |
| Opened | 1903 |
| Demolished | 2000 |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Alternate Names |
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History
Timeline
1894, Spring: In Attleboro, MA, James M. Solomon, long to be known as an Indian Doctor (but who, in fact, was neither an American Indian nor a medical doctor), was gathering herbs and roots in the woods on this property; he was a medicine man, who concocted and peddled herbal remedies; he dreamed of a great sanatorium which he would one day build on this very spot; here people would come from all corners of the world to be healed ... cured of that dread disease, cancer.
1894, Summer: O. F. Higgins, a civil engineer, was engaged to survey and lay out these grounds; he was also commissioned to trace out the position of a great stone building of Dr. Solomon's dreams.
1895, Summer: In Attleboro, drives, lawns, and gardens materialize around the site of the longed for sanatoruim; the available funds run out.
1901, March: O.F. Higgins completes architect's plans for the Attleboro sanatorium; soon the walls stood in place ready and waiting to receive the giant roof; John M. Fisher, a local businessman, at this point, was smitten by Dr. Solomon's dream and pledged the necessary financial backing; the sanatorium cost $400,000 to build.
1902: Fisher and a number of Attleboro businessmen formed the Solomon Sanatorium Company.
1903, April 25: Dedication of Solomon's Sanatorium; statistics given in the printed program distributed that day include: “Bricks 475,709 of which 250,000 are enamel; windows, 309; panes of glass, 3,254; fireplaces, 21; rooms, 200; electric wire, 27 miles; power, lighting, and heating plant in duplicate to provide for accident."
1903, May 16: With Herbert B. Horton, M.D., as house physician the dream finally became a reality as patients were admitted.
1906: Lack of funds forced the closing of the Solomon Sanatorium
1908, June: A family of doctors named Nicola from Battle Creek, MI reopened the Attleboro Sanatorium; it flourished “for the relief of suffering humanity” till 1918
1918, Summer: The vacationing Dr. B. E. Nicola mysteriously disappeared; the Solomon Sanatorium folded up
1919: The Methodist Church inaugurated the Centenary Movement; Mr. John Fisher gave the Solomon Sanatorium to the Methodist Board of Foreign Missions; which called Dr. Herbert G. Vaughan from Kentucky, to take charge and changed the name to Attleboro Springs
1920, July 24: Death of Mr. John Fisher; maintaining and operating Attleboro Springs soon became a losing struggle
1924, October: Methodist Board of Foreign Missions closed the Sanatorium
1927: Mission Board prevailed upon the New England Deaconess Association to take over the Springs; the Rev Clarence D. Pierce was appointed superintendent; $30,000 spent on restoration
1934, July: Thomas J. Griffin, retired and well-to-do businessman, gave the Springs a shot in the arm, new health care programs were inaugurated, some degree of success ensued; funding once again became a problem and Attleboro Springs took to renting meeting rooms and serving meals for local civic and church groups to supplement its dwindling financial resources
1938, Jan. 1: Attleboro Springs shuts down
1942: La Salettes buy Attleboro Springs as major seminary
1952, Feb. 2: Construction of the Attleboro Shrine announced; statue placed at proposed site
From 1952 until 2000, the property was operated by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. On Nov. 5, 1999, flames broke out in a room on the third floor of the majestic, three-story romanesque revival structure known as The Castle. Within minutes, the blaze had spread to the attic and quickly consumed the 100-year-old former sanitarium. A visiting English priest, Paul O'Brien, perished in the flames. The La Salettes decided to not rebuild the structure.
