Waverly Hills Sanatorium: A History

by Lynn Pohl

High on a hill on the south side of Louisville, Kentucky, a massive Tudor Gothic Revival building still stands as a testament to past struggles with a deadly disease. The structure was once part of the sprawling complex of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, established in 1910 for the treatment of tuberculosis. Waverly Hills expanded rapidly, with racially segregated facilities housing up to five hundred patients a day by World War II before new medical developments led to the institution's closure in 1961. Join author Lynn Pohl for an investigation of Waverly Hills Sanatorium's rich history and mixed legacy, explored through photographs, public health records, newspaper accounts and the stories of patients and employees.

Genres: History

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2022

Reviews

[M. Slinger-Carreer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, interesting and informative read!
This is a history book. You won't find any spooky or ghost stories here. The author only brings up one urban legend at the very end; the death tunnel. But she goes on to explain how it got it's name and the stories around it can't be proven right or wrong.

[Trevor Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so refreshing to see a well researched and historical approach to the history of Waverly Hills. There are so many misconceptions surrounding Waverly, which is to be expected I guess with something like a local legend. If you’re a fan of Waverly Hills or even just like Kentucky history or medical history, I definitely recommend checking it out. It’s a quick read, too!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waverly Hills is well-known as a notoriously haunted place in Louisville, KY, but this book ignores the sensationalism of the former tuberculosis sanitorium's supposed ghostly inhabitants and provides a comprehensive history of this important public health institution. Lynn Pohl makes great use of the available source materials such as newspapers, Board of Health minutes, letters, and photographic archives to paint a picture of how Waverly Hills came to exist, operated, and grew and changed over time. This is not a book for those looking for a spooky read, but it is a book for those interested in medical and public health history or Louisville history.

[Arwen Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an informative read. I picked this book up at the gift shop of Waverly before our paranormal investigation there. It’s so cool learning about historical locations such as the sanitorium. It’s rich with history, heart break, and hope.

[Ione DeOllos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brief look at the history of the Waverley Hills Sanatorium is quite good. The book provides a vlear.coherent look at the medical challenges faced by doctors beginning in the early 1900's. Interwoven in this discussion is a look into the private and social lives of the patients.

[Videoclimber(AKA)MTsLilSis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of the hospital landmark. A lot of information about tuberculosis, treatments, experiments, and general care. If you are searching for hauntings, you won't find it here. A nice, short, historical read. This was well researched and well written.

[Christy Schultze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical book. Easy to read.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting and quick which is a pretty good combination.

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

See the only problem is that I wanted the ghost stories and I got none :(