Livermore Sanitarium was a private
sanitarium and psychiatric hospital, located in
Livermore, California
Livermore (formerly Livermorès, Livermore Ranch, and Nottingham) is a city in Alameda County, California. With a 2020 population of 87,955, Livermore is the most populous city in the Tri-Valley. It is located on the eastern edge of Californ ...
, in operation from 1894 until 1965.
The facility specialized the treatment and research of alcoholism and mental disorders.
During this time period the
Livermore Valley
The Livermore Valley, historically known as the Valle de San José (Valley of San José), is a valley in Alameda County, California, located in the East Bay region. The city of Livermore is located in the valley.
Geography
The valley is bound ...
was considered an ideal climate for optimizing one's health.
History
The Livermore Sanitarium was founded by Dr. John W. Robertson, he had previously worked at
Napa State Hospital
Napa State Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Napa, California, founded in 1875. It is located along California State Route 221, the Napa- Vallejo Highway, and is one of California's five state hospitals. Napa State Hospital holds civil and for ...
in the alcohol treatment clinic.
The main facility building was the former William Mendenhall Estate on College Avenue in Livermore; previously owned by one of the founders of the town, (1823–1911); and another facility building located next door was the former Livermore Collegiate Institute (also known as the Old Livermore College).
In June 1909, the college building burned down and was rebuilt.
The grounds had separate cabins for the patients.
In 1904, he built a hydro-sanitarium facility, for water-based treatments and therapy.
In 1912, a gym was built that included exercise equipment, a swimming pool, and a bowling alley - during this time period it was an unusual to find such amenities at a medical facility.
By 1920, there were 120 patients.
In the 1960s, new medical approaches to psychiatry were discovered and popularity of this type of hospital declined.
The sanitarium closed in 1965.
The building has since been demolished, with the site now home to the Livermore Public Library and Civic Center.
Another private sanitarium in Livermore was the
Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium (1918–ca. 1960), specializing in the treatment of
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, i ...
.
See also
*
List of hospitals in California
This is a list of hospitals in California (U.S. state), grouped by County and sorted by hospital name. In healthcare in California, only a General Acute Care Hospital (GACH) or Acute Psychiatric Hospital (APH), as licensed by the California Depart ...
References
{{Authority control
History of Alameda County, California
1894 establishments in California
Psychiatric hospitals in California