In the early 1900s, America was in the throes of a full blown tuberculosis epidemic.  Hit hard was the State of Kentucky.  According to James C. Klotter’s book, Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, 1900-1950, the state ranked second in the nation in the early 1900s for its death rate from tuberculosis.  Black populations were particularly at risk, with a disease contraction rate twice that of the white population.  Something had to be done.  In 1910, Louisville opened up a forty-bed hospital, but it was quickly over-run with patients.  Then, after much fundraising, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium was built and opened in 1926, and was a state-of-the-art TB hospital with over 400 beds.  Built high on a hill, Waverly Hills offered the best “cure” for tuberculosis known at the time: lots of fresh air.  There were other treatments available, some of the remarkably barbaric in nature, but Streptomycin, the first real treatment for TB, was not discovered until 1943.

The Body Chute 

At the height of the epidemic, Waverly Hills took in entire families, some of which lived, many of which died.  The death rate at one point was calculated to be one death per hour, twenty-four hours a day.  A 500 foot long tunnel was built, with stairs on one side and a ramp on the other, to transport the dead from the facility so that the other patients wouldn’t have to see the dead being transported from the hospital.  The tunnel became morbidly known as “the body chute.”

Patient Resting at Waverly Hills

Life at Waverly Hills was not all bad.  Though most did not survive “the white plague,” the staff and physicians were dedicated to trying to make a stay at the sanatorium as pleasant as possible.  Radio, horseback rides, movies, and visits from Santa for the kiddos were all part and parcel of convalescence at Waverly Hills.  This government video features Waverly Hills in its hey-day.

When antibiotics finally became available, the population of people in need of the services of places like Waverly Hills dwindled, and eventually the hospital was shut down in 1961.  It was reopened in 1962 as a geriatric sanatarium called WoodHaven.  WoodHaven was shut down by the State in 1980 for alleged patient abuses.  The building has remained unused since that time.

With ownership of the building bouncing around for the next 18 years, the building fell into immense disrepair.  One owner, who wanted to tear down the hospital to build a massive statue of Jesus but was told he couldn’t because the building was on the National Historic Register’s “endangered” building list, opened the building to vagrants and vandals.  The damage done at that time was intense, with rubble piling up three feet deep in some areas.  Then Waverly Hills was purchased by its current owners, who are using the proceeds of both historical tours and ghost tours to renovate the property to its former glory.  Several years into the project, they still have miles to go, and much of the building is still in a horrible state.

Vandalism at Waverly Hills

 It was during the time when the building was open to vandals that the first reports of restless spirits began to surface.  An investigation by the Louisville Ghost Hunter’s Society in 2001 showed high, moving EMF readings.  Electromagnetic Field Detectors are often used in paranormal investigations because it is believed that ghosts use a lot of energy to manifest, and this energy will register on an EMF meter.  At the time, all electricity to Waverly Hills had been disconnected, and the electrical poles had been torn down, so it is certain that the EMF was not picking up on any electical energy being run to the building.  They also reported hearing footsteps, drastic temperature changes, and the smell of baking bread.  Room 502 also caused the EMF meter to react, and the temperature rose and then dropped suddenly.  Room 502 is notorious in Waverly Hills lore because of the deaths of two nurses who worked in that room.  One jumped from a fifth floor balcony to her death for reasons unknown, and the other hung herself from a light fixture in that room in a fit of depression.  It is rumored that she had become pregnant by one of the married doctors that worked there at the time.  Photos taken from this investigation show spectral lights, shadow spirits, and a disembodied face behind two of the investigators.

Room 502

Many investigations have take place at Waverly Hills in the seven years since this one, and the tales of the paranormal get ghastlier and ghastlier.  A little girl is seen peering out of the windows.  A ball has been seen rolling out of one room and changing course so that it rolls into another room down the hall.  And scariest of all, a woman has been seen running out of the front door in chains, wrists bleeding, begging for help.  Several people have reported seeing objects move of their own accord, doors open and slam shut on their own, and one investigator actually had a brick lauch up at him from the floor and hit him in the small of his back.

Waverly Hills continues to be a hot spot for paranormal investigations.  The Most Haunted crew recently came over from Great Britain to film a show there, and the gang from T.A.P.S. has also done an investigation there.  The Sanatorium is also featured on the Travel Channel as one of the “World’s Scariest Places.”  I had planned on including some youtube investigation footage here, but there are so many decent clips, I recommend you go there yourself, search for Waverly Hills, and just enjoy.

Yours in this life and the next!

GhOsTwRiTeR KiM

sources:  http://www.louisvilleghs.com/LGHS_MASTER/SUB/Investigations/Waverly/, http://www.emedicinehealth.com/tuberculosis/page3_em.htm, http://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/, http://books.google.com/books?id=o58mJavC4msC

New Year’s eve is quickly approaching, and on its heels is the year 2009.  Know where you’re going to ring it in yet?  Well, if you haven’t made any concrete plans yet, and if you’re the type that likes to knock back a few drinks to welcome the new year, you might find one of the following places hauntingly delicious!

Lafitte’s Blacksmith’s Shop - New Orleans, LA

Reportedly one of the most haunted bars in the U.S., Lafitte’s is named after the pirate, Jean Lafitte.  The building is one of the oldest in the quarter, dating back to around 1772.  Situated on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Phillip St., the building was a favorite hangout of the pirate, and many of his raids were said to be plotted there with his brother, Pierre.  It is also rumored that Lafitte may have stashed some of his “booty” on the property, and his spirit comes back to keep an eye on it.  His spirit has been encountered sitting at a table in a dark corner, a brandy in one hand and a cigar in the other.  He has also been spotted (naughty naughty!) in the ladies room.  Other patrons of the bar have reported seeing a pair of red eyes staring out at them from the old fireplace.  Lights turn on and off by themselves, and it’s not uncommon to get a tap on the shoulder, only to find no one there doing the tapping.

Moon River Brewing Company - Savannah, GA

A stop on several haunted pub tours in the city, the Moon River Brewing Company has become notorius for its spirits - the ones they serve up as well as the ones they don’t…

Located in the old City Hotel, built in 1821, the pub is home to a ghost called “Toby,” who often hangs out in the billiards room, and has been known to push customers out of his way.  The Lady in White that haunts the third floor of the building made an appearance for the Ghost Hunters, who filmed an episode at the bar for their 2007 Halloween Special.  Several bartenders and other staff have had run-ins with the spirits as well.  It is even rumored that the Oglethorpe Brewery shut down because of the ghostly activities that kept interrupting renovations they were doing on the building.  As always, Savannah knows how to deliver when it comes to their ghosts.

Chumley’s - New York, NY

Located on Bedford Street near Barrow, Chumleys is said to be haunted by Henrietta Chumley, the proprietor of the place when it was an infamous speakeasy.  She is said to knock back Manhattan’s at her table by the fireplace, and occassionally knock over liquor bottles.  If that weren’t enough, twelve of the bar’s former employees were fire fighters who died during the attacks on the World Trade Centers.  On that fateful day, it is said that the jukebox, unplugged, played a song with lyrics that said “they’re on their way to paradise.”  The jukebox has played itself several times since then, often chiming in with songs that fit the holiday at the time.

Captain Tony’s Saloon - Key West, FL

Captain Tony’s is the site of the first bar in the State of Florida.  In the 1930s, the building also served as the city morgue.  It is said that when Tony was preparing the foundation of the building, he uncovered a tomb with 16 bodies.  The Elvira Tombstone is an artifact from this find and is on inlaid on the floor of the pool room.  The local “hanging tree” is also located right outside of the bar.  Sounds like the perfect setup for a haunting experience, eh?  A woman who brutally murdered her husband and two children was hung from that tree, and it is said that she is the woman in the blue dress that has been sighted numerous times at the bar.  Ghostly images have been captured on film there as well, and no one really knows how many of the morgue’s “guests” forgot to check out.

Katie’s of Smithtown - Long Island, NY

Katie’s was featured on an episode of Paranormal State, and is known to be haunted by it’s prohibition era bartender, Charlie, who killed himself across the street from the bar.  He is said to break glasses to get attention in the establishment.  Another ghostly spector has been spotted walking through the men’s room door.  An icy hand on the back got one waitress’ attention as well.  The building was said to be cursed, and three businesses managed to go under in that building since 1985.  After the visit and cleansing by the people at Paranormal State, Katie’s managed to turn a profit for the first time ever.

No matter what you dream up to do this New Year’s Eve, do it smart and do it careful.  We want everyone back at Geek Speak in 2009.  Prosperity and happiness to you and yours…

Yours in this life and the next!

GhOsTwRiTeR KiM