From: Linda Garland <yes2horses@aol.com>
Subject: Cresson Sanatorium
Date:
Jul 9, 2013
Charles, I just received the link in which to view the pictures and stories regarding the Cresson Sanatorium.
It brought back so many memories of my childhood and the many, many trips I would take with my mom to visit my aunt (my mom's
sister, Pauline Ruffley) at the sanatorium. I believe I would have been around 7 to 10 years old at the time, so the years
that my aunt would have been at the san would have been somewhere in the 1950's.
My grandparents could not drive, so my mom would drive them from Hollidaysburg to Cresson. I
was not permitted to visit her while she was in the hospital, so they would take turns going in to see Pauline while someone
would stay with me in the car.
Not
only was Pauline a patient there for several years, she eventually was able to work in a little store that was on the grounds.
Her favorite past time was crocheting doll accessories. I don't know if she sold them in the store or not but she was
amazingly gifted and talented. I also remember the neat leather change purses and pocketbooks that were made at the san. They
were special.
I know my aunt had a lung removed and was really ill for a long period of time. When it was possible
for her to come home for a visit, we had to sterilize her dishes/glasses/cups/utensils and keep them separate.
My sister and I had to go to the hospital twice a year and be tested to make sure we were free from TB. I remember
that we had to take an excuse to school (that would have been St. Michael's in Hollidaysburg - grade school) and my mom
would pick us up and take us to the Mercy Hospital for testing.
While in the waiting room at the Mercy, there was a sign across the hall that said Physiotherapy. I
had nothing better to do but learn how to spell the word and I remember my mom being surprised that I could spell it without
looking. Of course, she had to tell me how to pronounce it. It's so funny what our minds remember from childhood.
I found a picture of Pauline and her dad (Joe Ruffley,
who was my grandfather) and wanted to share it with you. Oh, by the way, Pauline's dad (my grandfather) was a barber on
Allegheny St. in Hollidaysburg.
Thank
you so much for sharing your information regarding the Sanatorium.
Sincerely,
Linda L. (Shoenfelt) Garland |
| Pauline Ruffley and her father Joe. |
|
|
( Chuck Felton note: It looks like Pauline has a lot to smile
about! On her lap is a box which appears to be a present of clothing like a bathrobe or pajamas. The item
to the right of the box looks like a doll which was made by many of the patients. All such items had to be
disinfected and sealed in plastic before being sent home with family members. On her tray is a covered dish of
goodies undoubtedly brought from home by her father. Any ideas about the Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer tray?)
______________________________________________________________________________ Subject: Necklace
Date: Jul 8, 2013 Dear Chuck, I was telling my husband about this necklace. It was
given to my Grandmother by her brother who was in Cresson ( don't ask me how I remembered the name). It was explained to me that my Great Uncle Fred made this, and another that my sister has, as part of his therapy
while he was a patient at Cresson. I see by your web site that the facility was for people
with TB. I was told that my Great Uncle was gassed in the war and that is why he was a patient there. Have you seen any more necklaces like this?
Thank you,
Diane Lochner
elphaba.fiyero@yahoo.com
______________________________________________________________________________
From: tamelashipley77@comcast.net
Sent: Jul 25, 2013
Subject: cresson sanitarium
Hello,
My name is Tamela Shipley and I
am doing the family tree and I came across that Mabel Irene (Akers) Shipley was there at the Cresson Sanitarium in 1949.
She was a patient there for 13 months before she died there on April 23 1949. If you have any information or know how
I can locate the information it will be greatly appericated. The lady that was there is my son's great grandmother.
Thank you so much,
Tamela
______________________________________________________________________________
| Agnes Marie and Andrew Clark at Confirmation. |
|
|
FROM: PEG GOMRICK
SUBJECT: CRESSON SANITARIUM
RECENTLY MY SISTER ASKED ME IF I REMEMBERED ANYTHING REGARDING MY AUNT MARIE AGNES CLARK. SHE MUST
HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE VERY EARLY PATIENTS AT THE SANITORIUM. OUR DAD ANDREW CLARK WAS BORN IN 1907 AND SHE PROBABLY THREE
YEARS OR SO EARLIER. HE WAS 15 OR 16 WHEN SHE WAS SENT HOME "TO DIE", AS HE TOLD ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
MY DAD WAS WORKING AT THE "CAR BARN" WITH HIS DAD WHICH WAS NEAR THEIR HOME WHEN HIS BOSS GAVE HIM THE NEWS
THAT HIS SISTER HAD PASSED AWAY.
AT RIGHT IS A PHOTO OF MY DAD
ANDREW AND HIS "BIG" SISTER MARIE ON THE DAY OF THEIR CONFIRMATION, DATE UNKNOWN. THE
PARISH WAS CLOSED YEARS AGO AND UNTIL I CHECK TO SEE IF THE MORMAN CENTER IS STILL OPEN NEAR THE PITTSBURGH AIRPORT, I CAN'T
CHECK TO SEE IF MARIE IS ON THE 1920 OR 1930 CENSUS.
ALL I
KNOW IS THAT SHE WAS A VERY YOUNG EMPLOYEE OF WESTINGHOUSE IN PITTSBURGH AND BLAMED HER JOB AS THE SOURCE OF HER TB.
SHE WENT TO CRESSON AND WAS SENT HOME TO DIE AT AGE 18 OR 19. A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL FROM THE FEW PICTURES WE
HAVE, WHO RESEMBLES MY FIRST DAUGHTER. THERE WERE JUST THE TWO CHILDREN SO NO ONE IS LEFT TO CONSULT.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS ARE THERE ANY EARLY LISTS OF PATIENTS AVAILABLE? MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED AT 7 HOLLAND
AVE, RANKIN, PA. ALL THIS HAPPENED LONG BEFORE I WAS BORN.
THANK
YOU FOR HOSTING THIS WONDERFUL WEBSITE. I COULDNT BELIEVE ALL THIS INFO WAS AVAILABLE ABOUT "CRESSON."
PEG GOMRICK
(NOTE:
A SUBSEQUENT CALL TO THE CAMBRIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT (814-472-6674) CONFIRMED
THAT MARIE WAS BORN IN 1904 AND DIED ON 11-23-23.
mcgomrick@verizon.net
________________________________________________________________________________________
|
