Website Devoted to the Cresson TB Sanitarium, its History & its People
It was called “the san” and it’s part of a haunting and nearly forgotten chapter in Pennsylvania history.
The Cresson Sanitorium for tuberculosis patients was located 140 miles from Harrisburg, between Johnstown and Altoona. Thousands of people were sent there between 1913 and 1964. Some stayed for years. Some died there. In a reflection of the fear and stigma that surrounded tuberculosis, some who died were never even claimed by their families. They remain buried on a nearby hillside.
Charles Felton, who lived there for 18 months in the mid-1950s, has breathed new life into the facility by creating a Web site devoted to it. Felton, a 71-year-old retired aerospace engineer who lives in Texas, began the site for personal reasons. In his later years, he had been nagged by questions about the facility, where he was forced to live while his classmates graduated from high school.
Read the full article by David Wenner in the October 24, 2009 edition of PennLive.com.
May 26th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Is there any way I can find the patient rolls for 1920-1924, I am researching my family and my great great grandmother and her small daughter were admitted
Any help would be appreciated
June 9th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Karen,
I have copies of the 1920 census taken at the Cresson TB Sanatorium. Email me your great great grandmothers name and her daughers name and I will check the rolls.
June 28th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I had an aunt whom I believe passed there. She was a Catholic nun. Her name was Caroline or Carolyn Kovacevic, from McKeesport. Can you verify?
July 10th, 2010 at 7:22 am
My brother, Earl Lloyd, was a patient at both Cresson and Mt. Alto. He died in 1949 at Mt. Alto. Another brother, Frank Lloyd, was also a patient there. Is there any way I can see the patients’ list..
July 28th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Great idea – I’d like to do the same thing for the Massachusetts Sanitarium for TB in Rutland, MA. My great grandmother died there and I can’t find any of the records. I hear that there in the LDS archives somewhere. LYN
August 1st, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Is there any information available about Mt. Alto. A dear friend of mine who is now 83 had two sisters who spent several years there when they were in their teens.
September 18th, 2010 at 11:46 am
My grandmother was supposedly a patient at the Cresson facility for a short time, I am guessing that she was there sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. She lived in Madera, Pennsylvania. Her name is Anna Catherine Durica her date of birth in 07/221897. She died at home in 1939 two years after the birth of her 12th child. Her death certificate read TB, Bronchial Pneumonia. I would like to know if and when she was at Cresson. Thank you Shirley Busch, 575 Paul Avenue, Lewisberry, Pa. 17339. 717-580-6536. My Email address is tbusch575@comcast.net.
September 24th, 2010 at 5:43 am
CRESSON SANATORIUM PATIENT RECORDS
I get lots of requests from people seeking patient records, but I’m afraid there is not much available from the Cresson san. The patient medical records were sent to the State Archives in Harrisburg, but were destroyed in a flood during Hurricane Agnes in the 1980′s.
But there are several things you can try. About 9000 patient index cards were found in the attic at the san and were sent to the Cambria County Historical Society for safe keeping. Give them a call and they may be able to check he index cards for info about your relatives. Their web site is at the following link:
http://www.cambriacountyhistorical.com/gallery.htm
There is one other option to explore. Index cards on TB patients were often kept by the Pa Dept of Health. If you know what county the patient was living in when they were diagnosed with TB, then you can call the Health Dept office at that county seat and see if they have such a record. I lived in Towanda, the county seat of Bradford County, and obtained my index card from them. The Pa Dept of Health phone number is 1-877-724-3258. They should be able to tell you what number to call for each county seat. Their website is at: http://www.portal.health.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/department_of_health_home/17457
Click on the following link and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see what my index card looks like and a description: http://www.feltondesignanddata.com/cressontbsanatoriumremembered/id15.html
I hope this proves helpful in your search for information. Email me at charlesfelton@earthlink.net if I can be of any further help.
Chuck Felton
November 19th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I am attempting to find information on a sanitarium called River Crest where I was a pre tuberculosis patient in the early fifties when I was seven. I lived in Phila. and as I recall the drive from the city to River Crest was two to three hours, maybe less. Does this ring any bells with you?
January 21st, 2011 at 10:35 am
I am looking for information about Ethel Madaline Williams Coffey. She died in 1955 of TB but I don’t know when she was diagnosed with it. She lived in Cambria County from what I understand.
I was also told she was buried in Lloyd Cemetary but she is not listed on their website as buried there. Did the sanitorium have their own cemetary?
January 30th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Sharon,
TB patients whose bodies were not claimed by relatives were burien in Union Cemetery, just down the road from Cresson Sanatorium. There is a website which lists all people intered there including the san patients. Its at: http://www.camgenpa.com/db/cemetery/cemList.php?cem=111
I took a look, but didn’t see Ethel Coffey listed.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:00 am
Did they have a separate section at Cresson for African Americans? My mother seems to think her mother was sent there back in the 1950s while she was suffering with TB. My mother remembers the long ride to the mountains from Philadelphia. Any help would be appreciated.
February 20th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
My great grandmother died of TB when my grandfather was six or so. I’ve always wanted to know about her and all we know she might have died there. Is there anyway you could find this out?
February 20th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Renee & Tera,
The only help I can give is in my email of Sept 24, 2010 above entitled “CRESSON SANATORIUM PATIENT RECORDS” I hope this helps.
Renee,
I can tell you that Cresson Sanatorium was always an integrated facility offering care throughout its history to anyone regardless of race. Differences in skin color, education, social status, etc were all swept away at the san since we were all people fighting a common deadly disease. The fact that we were all in pajamas, bathrobe and slippers for months on end pretty much broke down all the social and racial barriers. I was there in 1955 as a TB patient and had 3 close African American friends. Photo #7 at this link: http://www.feltondesignanddata.com/cressontbsanatoriumremembered/id18.html and Photo #3 at this link: http://www.feltondesignanddata.com/cressontbsanatoriumremembered/id113.html will show you African Americans at Cresson San.
March 11th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
My Great, Great Uncle, Richard Denzel Ackert was a patient at Cresson in what we think was 1929. He was either 20 or 21 years of age. I heard the story of my Uncle Denny spending time in the TB sanatorium, but until today, I never saw it. Thanks for all the wonderful photos/postcards of Cresson. I have printed out for my Aunt Ellen to see and read. I think it was wonderful of Mr. Carneigie to donate the land.
March 17th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
I just discovered one of my great great grandmothers nieces died at Mount Cresson Sanitarium. Her name was Agnes M. Eisenman born in 1885, died 27 Feb 1942. She is buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Fryburg, Clarion Co., PA. She was the daughter of Joseph & Mary Ditz Eisenman and died from pulmonary tuberculosis. Just thought you might like to add her to your records. Keep up the great work.
April 11th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Just got another one, my great grandmother, Naomi Laura Kline Weaver was a patient at Cresson Sanitorium in 1940. She died 21 Jan 1945 in Cranberry twp., Venango Co., PA on 21 Jan 1945 from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis. Death certificate said it was reported in 1940 while she was at Cresson Sanitorium. Add her to your list of patients. She was the daughter of Jacob Kline & Christina Shreffler Kline, born 21 Dec 1876 in Fern, Clarion Co., PA. Was age 68 years 4 months when she died.
April 18th, 2011 at 11:19 am
I had a grandfather who died at Cresson TB clinic. His name is William Crusan. I am trying to find any information about him. I never met him as he died at a early age. I would appreciate any information at all.
Thankyou,
Nathaniel Crusan
May 5th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Nathaniel,
My post above on September 24, 2010 contains all the sources of info on Cresson TB San patients that I am aware of. I hope this is helpful to you.
Chuck Felton
May 15th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I believe my grandmother, Frances Campagna, was a patient at Cressons sometime between 1913 and 1916. Her home was in Franklin PA and Cressons was not far away. In 1910 she contracted T B in San Francisco. She then moved to Phoenix, and finally to Franklin to be near family. After receiving the lung collapse treatment, she returned home to her husband and 2 sons in 1916. My mother, born in 1917, was her first child born after her release. Was there any other sanitorium closer to Franklin PA that she could have been in? My grandfather, Anthony, took a trolly to visit her when he could.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:42 am
Hi I am Denzil Ackert’s Niece. I was trying to find Aunt Ellen’s address on the web and found your posts. How are you related? I am Denzil’s youngest sister’s (Ardeth) daughter.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:03 am
I am sorry was hoping this would post Mary who wrote to you. Would you please pass it on to her?
July 31st, 2011 at 8:29 am
I’m just emailed her her with your note. Mary’s email is: mgthompson20@hotmail.com
November 21st, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Hi. I work for a closed captioning company and I just captioned the story about The San. I was moved to tears by it, since my mom was born in a Sanitarium. After hearing the story, I am not sure if it’s Cresson or the one mentioned in Monaca. My grandmother was 28 years of age when she died there (Iva Cool Schmidt) and my mom was born there. Her name was Marjorie Grace Schmidt, June 22, 1931. They called her “Dolly” because she was like a little doll. I always knew my mom was born there and grandma died there, but this is the very first I’ve ever heard this story!
November 21st, 2011 at 1:52 pm
oh, forgot to mention. They lived in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
January 9th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
I believe my grandparents worked/met at Cresson. Does anyone have informaton on where I might find employee records?
January 13th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
My Uncle Charles Latta was a patient at Cresson and was cured of his TB. He then stayed until it closed. He is pictured in the Experience TV program. He is the man in front of the micro. I was wondering if any one knew him…thanks lois
February 26th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Hi! My mother worked in the lab. at the Sanatorium . She has seen a lot about the nurses and patients , but is wondering if there is anyone who worked in the lab. or remembers the lab she would love to hear some stories.
Her name is Velma McTague
Gail mcTague Foresman
gail.foresman@FGMsolutons.com
February 26th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Hi! My mother woked at the San. in the laboratory. She was wondering if anyone remembers the lab or if there are any of the lab workers out there. Her name is Velma McTague, She may have been Velma latterner
Thank you,
Gail McTague Foresman
April 21st, 2012 at 7:33 am
My grandfather George Edward King died in 1931 and his wife Hilda Elizabeth in 1932 of TB in Pennsylvania and I was wondering if they may have been sent Cresson. Thank you
June 4th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
My mother and her sister were sent to Cresson ca. 1920 or maybe 1921. This was very traumatic for my mother, to be separated from her family for the first time. She was even separated from her sister because Mom was placed in a children’s unit, while her sister, who was a couple of years older, was placed in a women’s unit. Mom’s name was Irene Kovacs, her sister was Julia Kovacs.
The thing is, neither of them had TB! No one can figure out why they were removed from their family and sent to Cresson, except that they came from a very poor, immigrant family from Pittsburgh. Was this common practice at that time? Any further info would be appreciated.
October 8th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
My aunt Mary C Petro went to Cresson in 1914 and recovered. She stayed and became a LPN( Liscensed practice Nurse), living there until 1958 when she retired. She was devoted to the patients. She never married and saw her work as God’s CAll to ministry. As a child she told me many fascinating stories of life in cresson. she was a devout Catholic and an assistant to the Catholic Chaplain as he brought communion to the patients. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who might remember her.