Muirdale Tuberculosis Sanitarium

[Orpheus]

Muirdale was a tuberculosis treatment hospital on the old Milwaukee County grounds. Wondering if anyone might know the whereabouts of old records from this institution. Do they even still exist or were they all destroyed? My parents were both patients there for several years and I'd like to find the exact dates when they were admitted and discharged.

Also, anyone have any old photos of the grounds, circa 1940-1948? I understand almost all of the residential buildings were razed in the 1960s except for the main hospital building.

Orpheus

[Orpheus]

Am hoping someone might recognize any one of the three men named in this photo, taken in June 1945 at Muirdale Sanatorium. Their nicknames may refer to their home towns but I have been unable to verify this.

[nectarsis]

According to this page( http://www.linkstothepast.com/milwaukee/muirdale.php) The complex was closed in 1978 (TB area was indeed closed in the 60's, and many building razed).


Undated pic

http://resources.msoe.edu/library/archive/digital/mss01/Photos/image7.htm

undated aerial pic

http://resources.msoe.edu/library/archive/digital/mss01/Photos/image3.htm

another undated

http://www.antiquevintagepostcardimages.com/m20796.jpg


Also via wiki:

The Milwaukee County Historical Society retains some records related to Muirdale, including historical information, annual reports published in 1922 and 1966-1970, audit reports from 1963-1974 and a two-volume patient registration record listing the names of all those admitted to the sanatorium between 1941-1962.

The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Library has three videocassettes in its archives of motion picture film taken by Eugene Millmann between 1926-1972. The clips, mostly shot during the 1920s and 1930s in both B&W and color, were transferred to videotape from the original 16mm film and include footage of Muirdale Sanatorium.

[Orpheus]

Thanks for the photo links Nectarsis. Those are some nice clear shots. I added the Wikipedia material myself after making a visit to the Milwaukee Historical Society but forgot to include mention of it here. I was able to find the names of my parents, an aunt and the names of several friends they made there during their stay. Even the assistant curator was unaware that the Muirdale registry contained the names of individuals. She had thought they had only some general info about the hospital. Makes me wonder how they came to obtain that list. Someone had the foresight to save it and I am so glad they did!

[nectarsis]

Glad to have helped. Very cool you found so much info you were looking for. 

[Skinner4]

Am hoping someone might recognize any one of the three men named in this photo, taken in June 1945 at Muirdale Sanatorium. Their nicknames may refer to their home towns but I have been unable to verify this.

Hi Orpheus and Nectarsis, I wonder if either of you could tell me where you found that photo? I'm working on an archaeological paper about Muirdale and I can't find record of this photo anywhere online besides on this website and I would be so grateful for any help you can provide!

[Orpheus]

Skinner,

The photo is from my personal collection. The man second from left was my father. My mother was also at Muirdale for about four years (exact same time as my dad, though they didn't start dating until a year after they'd both been discharged, and only then because of a chance meeting on a city bus). I have photos of her too, at Muirdale, taken by one of my aunts (whose hobby was photography at that time).

Up until a few years ago, you could still just walk into Muirdale and look around (now the doors are kept locked and require card-access for security purposes). I went there in 2012 one Sunday afternoon and took a lot of exterior shots of the remaining buildings and then went inside, just to see how it had changed since the time my parents were there from 1944-48. Clearly they made some updates (carpeting, acoustic-tile drop ceilings, etc.) but in some areas the floor pattern looked identical to what they had in the 1940s. I could tell by comparing my photos with ones my aunt took back then) The hot water radiators looked original and so did the walls in those two semicircular "airing" rooms on either side of the main building. Many of the exterior window frames also looked pretty vintage.

I did find a bit of info on John C. Rittman. His father, Raymond, is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery but I have no idea of where John might be buried or even when he died. I suspect he may have died while still at Muirdale because I couldn't find anything on him beyond when that photo was taken. He had enlisted in the army in 1940 or '41 and served in Panama. I'm guessing he may have contracted TB while there and was discharged and sent home to Milwaukee. He would have been about 26 years old in the picture.