Richard Gundry Home
| Opened | 1891 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 1997 |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Catonsville, MD |
| Alternate Names |
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History
The Richard Gundry Home, formally known as the Harlem Lodge, was established in 1891 to treat a variety of mental and nervous disorders, as well as exhaustion or addiction to alcohol or opium. The Home was named in memory of Dr. Richard Gundry, Sr. (1829-1891) and was owned by his wife, Mrs. Mary M. Gundry (1838-1908) and their son Dr. Richard Fitz Harris Gundry (1866-1924). Mary acted as the proprietor with her son as the resident physician until 1898 when Mary retired, and her son gained complete ownership. The Home had five buildings, and it prided itself on its modern conveniences, like steam heating and electricity, as well as its many "attractions to divert the mind" such as its extensive library, bowling alley, conservatory, and orchard. The house had the capacity for 45 patients who were in the course of their treatment expected to engage in various outdoor work, such as gardening or sports.
The sanitarium was purchased by the Glass Hospital, headed by Dr. Sheldon Glass, for $3.2 million on February 5, 1988. The newly renamed facility, Gundry-Glass Hospital, became a 29-bed inpatient center for children aged 4 to 12 who suffered from acute psychiatric problems. On August 17, 1997, Gundry/Glass Hospital closed and laid off 130 employees. It claimed state officials had failed to pay the facility $3.2 million in Medicaid funds. An investor group purchased the property and then sold it to the New Psalmist Baptist Church in August 2000. The church subsequently sold the mansion to the city of Baltimore in August 2006. The main building was destroyed by fire in 2021.
