Laurel Sanitarium

The Laurel Sanitarium for Nervous and Mental Diseases was a prominent sanitarium, and later women's nursing home, and landmark building along U.S. Route 1 in Laurel, Maryland.^[1] It was constructed in 1905 by Dr. Jesse C. Coggins and Dr. Conelius DeWeese to treat patients with mental illness and addiction.^[2] By 1950, it had treated over 20,000 patients. The facility ceased operations in September 1963 after the death of Coggins, and the historic structure was eventually demolished in August 1964 to make way for new housing and the Laurel Shopping Center.^[3]

The first Laurel Sanitarium structure was a 10-room house purchased by Coggins in 1905 to house patients. In 1909, Coggins acquired a three-story hotel building capable of housing up to 60 patients. He had the building moved intact a half-mile to the long-standing site of the Laurel Sanitarium, in what was considered a major engineering feat. In 1914, a new building and annexes were constructed, bringing the building to its largest size. From 1950 until operations ceased in 1963, the sanitarium was operated as a 90-bed women's geriatric hospital.^[1] Part of the grounds was sold to Prince George's County Board of Education and in 1965 became a new location for Laurel High School.^[1]

References

1. "Laurel Landmark Passes As New Community Is Planned On Site". Laurel Leader. August 27, 1964.
2. Hurd, Henry Mills (ed.). "Laurel Sanitarium". The Institutional Care of the Insane in the United States and Canada 2. 1916: Johns Hopkins Press. pp. 579–580.
3. Barry, Dan (December 23, 2007). "A Place Just Like Every Other Place. Only Not.". The New York Times.

Coordinates: 39°05′10″N 76°51′53″W / 39.08611°N 76.86472°W