Aldercrest Sanatorium was a former tuberculosis sanatorium located in Snohomish, Washington, United States. The sanatorium was opened in 1918 and closed in 1954.
History Construction on the facility began in 1917. The architects were Lundberg & Mahon, who were based out of Tacoma. The sanatorium was the second county run sanatorium built in Washington State, with the first being Mountain View Sanatorium in Pierce County in 1914."Snohomish Hospital Contracts Awarded," The Tacoma Daily Ledger, June 10, 1917, pg 11. A dedication ceremony for the sanatorium took place in the administration building on February 26, 1918. The ceremony had multiple speakers, including the president of the Washington anti-tuberculosis league."Interesting Exercises Dedicate Sanatorium at Aldercrest to Warfare Against Tuberculosis," The Daily Herald, February 27, 1918, pg 5.
The facility officially opened on March 1, 1918."Aldercrest Work reported on at Annual Meeting," The Daily Herald, June 15, 1918, pg 11. Construction and furnishing of the hospital cost around $30,000. The campus consisted of three buildings; a two story administrative building, one male ward and one female ward. Each ward could initially treat 20 patients for a total of 40. On opening, the medical director was Leon G. Woodford and the nurse superintendent was Grace L. Holmes. Holmes was formally superintendent at Edgecliff Hospital before moving to Aldercrest."Spokane Doctor on Tuberculosis War Council Bill," Spokane Chronicle, July 24, 1917, pg 2.
In 1922, the average stay at the sanatorium was 6 months.Results of Work at Aldercrest Sanatorium are Discussed in Report to the Medical Society," The Daily Herald, August 19, 1922, pg 7. In 1947, Cordia Maddox was named the director of rehabilitation."Rehabilitation Director Engaged to Aid Aldercrest Sanatorium Patients," The Daily Herald, October 16, 1947, pg 7. From 1944 to 1946, John Fountain was named acting medical director of the sanatorium."Seattle TB Control Director to be Speaker," Tri-City Herald, April 23, 1950, pg 1. In 1948, Cora O. Phibbs took over as occupational therapy and rehabilitation director."Mrs. Phibbs Named Therapist at County Sanatorium," The Daily Herald, November 2, 1948, pg 13. By 1953, the hospital had 61 patients."TB Executives in Business Session," The Daily Herald, June 10, 1953, pg 5.
Aldercrest was closed on April 30, 1954. The remaining patients were moved to Firland Sanatorium in Seattle."Easter Candy to be Sent to County's Shut-In's," The Daily Herald, April 20, 1954, pg 22."Closure of 5 TB Units Near," Spokane Chronicle, April 7, 1954, pg 6.
Post-Closure On May 2, 1955, the buildings of the sanatorium were put to auction by the county."Sanatorium at Everett Will be Auctioned," The News Tribune, April 5, 1955, pg 7. In 1959, the facility was purchased and opened as a nursing home named Delta Rehabilitation Center."Delta Hearing Concludes, Council Defers Decision," The Daily Herald, August 4, 1965, pg 1. In 1975, the facility shifted to caring for patients with severe brain injury.
In 2020, Delta Rehab closed due to cuts in Medicare funding. By 2022, the former sanatorium was demolished and developed into a housing development named the Walsh Hills Subdivison.
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