Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium
Recognize this building? If you’ve been to the North Park Village Nature Center, this building faces the parking lot. Modified for current use as senior residential buildings, the former dining halls and service buildings still are recognizable from this photograph in a 1915 book.
The infirmary group consisted of the men’s wing on the north side and the women’s wing on the south side. All still stand today. I’ll be identifying the other remaining Sanitarium buildings and talking about their original purpose at a talk in May at the North Park Village Nature Center. I’ll share my research into the history of Chicago’s TB sanitarium and lead a tour around the grounds. I will joined by Luna Johnston, a third-grader from the neighborhood who shares my interest in this historical site. She did a terrific research project for school about the sanitarium, and you can see it at the Nature Center. I’m also hoping some former residents of the area will attend and share what they remember of the sanitarium.
- Date: Sunday, May 6
- Time: 1 pm – 2:30 pm
- Location: North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski
- To register: call North Park Village Nature Center: 312-744-5472.
Hope to see you there.
Credits: The Municipal Control of Tuberculosis in Chicago: City of Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium, Thedore Bernard Sachs, et al., 1915
No, this was never known under any other name than the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium, until it closed in 1974. Thanks for stopping by.
Was this ever known as the Home for the Friendless built in the late 1800’s? I think that was on Vinncents (sp) in Chicago.
Debbie, that’s a great idea. I’ll ask about doing the program once a year. Thanks for letting me know of your interest.
So sorry i have to miss this, I would love to be there. Hopefully the tour will be offered again.
Chris, I hope you can attend. It’s been so long since we got together. In researching the sanitarium I found there are many interested in asylums as well. So there be something out there already. Thanks for stopping by.
I am really hoping I can make it…Sounds really interesting.
I know you focus on Chicago, but Elgin Mental Health Center would be another interesting place to research. I used to work there.
Thanks for stopping by Harriet. You right, an institution like this wouldn’t exist today. Imagine people having to live there for years, not free to leave.
I remember this place. It is hard to imagine today with all of our medical advances that such a place once existed. Thank goodness for modern medicine.