Eagleville Sanatorium for Consumptives

Eagleville Sanatorium for Consumptives, (1909 - 1965)

Under the direction of Dr. Cohen and several other professionals, the groundwork for such a challenging and ambitious project came to fruition. The group purchased a country farm from one of Dr. Cohen’s former tuberculosis patients, who had recovered from the disease and returned to their Philadelphia residence. One of Dr. Cohen’s original supporters, Solomon C. Krauss, offered the owner $100 of his own money as a down payment on the land which was obtained for $6,500.

As one of the founders of the Philadelphia Jewish Sanatorium for Consumptives, as it was first called, Mr. Krauss and other dedicated and generous individuals, began the transformation of a country farm into a fully operational tuberculosis hospital. Less than eight months from the first meeting, on September 16, 1909 the sanatorium opened its doors to four patients. Those suffering from the white plague received unparalleled treatment and compassion during their stay at the sanatorium. Through the decades the sanatorium continued to grow. In 1959, the sanatorium celebrated "Fifty Years of Progress in the Treatment of Tuberculosis."

The sanatorium was affiliated with several professional organizations, and was a member of the Philadelphia Hospital Council, the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania, the American Hospital Association, Delaware Valley Hospital Council, and the Federation of Jewish Agencies.

By the mid-1960s there were numerous changes in the medical field. The state had taken over the treatment of tuberculosis, and streptomycin and other antibiotics were discovered to effectively treat tuberculosis. Eagleville had to seriously reconsider its mission as a tuberculosis sanatorium. After discovering that many tuberculosis patients also suffered from chronic alcoholism, the board members agreed to convert the facility into a specialized treatment center for men who suffered from addiction to alcohol. On July 28, 1965 the sanatorium officially changed its name to Eagleville Hospital, specializing in the treatment of alcohol addiction.