Waverly Sanatorium's history is fascinating. I can tell you that it was built in the early 1900's, on the highest point in Louisville to house all the patients afflicted with Tuberculosis. It was toted as the most advanced hospital of it's kind for that time period, but when you hear what they did to patients, all you can think is "how barbaric". They lost approximately 1 patient per hour. To keep the morale of the still living patients up, they devised a "body chute" or "death tunnel" to transport the bodies. 
At the bottom of the tunnel the waiting hearse, or family member would pick up the body. Some bodies were never claimed, they are in a mass grave somewhere on the property.
At the bottom of the tunnel the waiting hearse, or family member would pick up the body. Some bodies were never claimed, they are in a mass grave somewhere on the property. We had 6 people in our group. Kathy, Kris, Kelly, Bonnie, George and I. Kelly had a personal interest in the place, her great aunt died at Waverly on the exact same day as our tour, 74 years earlier. It really put things in perspective when Kelly said, "My aunt went down this chute".
If you notice the tunnel had steps on one side and a slope on the other for easier transport. This is the photo on Waverly's site. Mine has orbs and will be download soon.
If you notice the tunnel had steps on one side and a slope on the other for easier transport. This is the photo on Waverly's site. Mine has orbs and will be download soon.
1 comment:
I can't imagine just dumping bodies down a shoot. Did you make my mom slide down??
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