Children's Island Sanitarium
Encyclopedia
Children's Island Sanitarium was a sanitarium
on Children's Island
from 1886 until 1946 where many chronically ill children spent the summer, where the outdoor, ocean air might make them better.
was for many years the location of a failed Island House (Lowell island house
), and was finally donated by its final owner, Mr. Fredrick Rindge, to develop what became known as the "Children's Island Sanitarium, a corporation
duly established...subject to the following conditions ‘That said property shall be used by the Children's Island Sanitarium only for the use and purpose for which said corporation was organized...and the property will revert and reinvest in me and my heirs and assigns.'” Additionally, he stressed that “children of every race, color and religion should be received there." The Sisterhood of Margaret of Boston were chosen to run the Sanitarium. This society was already very involved in the Children's Hospital
in Boston and the Sea-Shore Home in Winthrop
, so its members had experience with the recovery of ill or crippled children.
In the late 19th century, “sea air
[was] looked upon as almost a panacea for that class of disorders of nutrition which is shown in the disorders of joints and bones,...(and) in adopting the sea coast plan for their Institute the managers of the Lowell Island Sanitorium...hope that the beneficial effect of sea air would be especially manifest in children suffering from chronic malnutrition, a belief which is entertained by all medical authorities.”. On July 11, 1886 the Children's Island Sanitarium was opened for nearly two months and hosted a total of 150 children “exposed to the summer diseases of crowded cities, or to children...troubled by the affliction popularly called ‘rickets
’.”
The children were carefully selected and initially “boys under 10 and girls of any age or race, suffering from the chronic diseases which are benefited by a marine atmosphere, such as rickets, hip, spinal diseases, etc.; also, for children convalescing from severe operations” were eligible for admission. “Children (were) admitted free when circumstances demand(ed). The usual stay is a fortnight, which (was) extended when necessary.”
Despite the belief that the Children's Island Sanitarium was a tuberculosis
sanitarium, no child with a contagious disease, especially active tuberculosis, was admitted. Joint and bone infections (osteomyelitis
), both TB and non-TB, are not contagious and these children were admitted. Many other children who were there suffered deformities from rickets or vitamin D deficiency.
In addition to children, the Sanitarum allowed “working women in need of a holiday (to) be received on the payment of a sufficient sum to defray the cost of their board.”
A journalist from the Boston Transcript spent a day in September, 1890 on the Island and wrote
“Children’s island sanitarium...was carried on by the Sisters (of St. Margaret) for 15 years; at the end of that time the old house had gone to pieces and a new building was erected, but in this there were only accommodations for the children and those in charge of them. This changed the whole character of the work and in 1900 the Mother decided to give it up. Subsequently, a new Board of Managers to oversee the operation of the sanitarium was formed with Dr. Charles E. Inches as president (replaced by Phillip L. Saltonstall in 1905 Annual Report of the State Board of Charity of Massachusetts. January, 1905. p190), and Mrs. Lucy W. Davis as superintendent. It seems that most of the tasks previously carried out by the Sisters were now carried out by volunteers who were "young women who give their time and services out of love for the little people and interest in the cause. They remain on the average, three weeks, and are on either morning or afternoon duty for a week at a time-four in the morning, three in the afternoon."
Other changes included allowing children as young as 18 months and boys up to age 14, though most children were between four and twelve. One volunteer, Maude S. Curtiss, wrote an article for The American Journal of Nursing describing life on the island:
Another volunteer, Eleanor Fairchild Cadwallader worked in the 1930s and recalls:
Another account by a volunteer in 1940:
A large financial supporter of the Children’s Island Sanitarium, the Boston Community Fund, withdrew support necessitating the closure of the Sanitarium. In 1946, the trustees voted “not to use Children’s Island for the purposes for which this corporation is organized after November 1, 1946; and to surrender possession therof on that date to the heirs and assigns of Frederick H. Rindge.”.
Sanitarium
Sanitarium may refer to:*An alternate spelling of sanatorium, a medical facility for long-term illness or a summer resort.*Sanitarium, California, in Napa County*Battle Creek Sanitarium, made famous by John Harvey Kellogg...
on Children's Island
Children's Island
Children's Island, known as "Cat Island" prior to 1996, is an island off Marblehead, Massachusetts and is part of the City of Salem, Massachusetts. The YMCA of the North Shore has owned and operated a children's day camp on it since 1955. The first written record of the island was in 1655 when it...
from 1886 until 1946 where many chronically ill children spent the summer, where the outdoor, ocean air might make them better.
Children's Island Sanitarium
Children's IslandChildren's Island
Children's Island, known as "Cat Island" prior to 1996, is an island off Marblehead, Massachusetts and is part of the City of Salem, Massachusetts. The YMCA of the North Shore has owned and operated a children's day camp on it since 1955. The first written record of the island was in 1655 when it...
was for many years the location of a failed Island House (Lowell island house
Lowell Island House
In 1848, Stephen C. Phillips and associates formed the Salem and Lowell Railroad Company and by the summer of 1850 the railroad was opened; it terminated at Phillips Wharf in Salem. Their hope was to compete with the Boston and Lowell Railroad by restoring Salem’s lost commerce. To increase...
), and was finally donated by its final owner, Mr. Fredrick Rindge, to develop what became known as the "Children's Island Sanitarium, a corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
duly established...subject to the following conditions ‘That said property shall be used by the Children's Island Sanitarium only for the use and purpose for which said corporation was organized...and the property will revert and reinvest in me and my heirs and assigns.'” Additionally, he stressed that “children of every race, color and religion should be received there." The Sisterhood of Margaret of Boston were chosen to run the Sanitarium. This society was already very involved in the Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
in Boston and the Sea-Shore Home in Winthrop
Winthrop
-Places:United States*Winthrop, Arkansas*Winthrop, Indiana*Winthrop, Iowa*Winthrop, Maine*Winthrop, Massachusetts*Winthrop, Minnesota*Winthrop, WashingtonAustralia*Winthrop, Western AustraliaUnited Kingdom*Winthrop, Nottinghamshire, England-Other uses:...
, so its members had experience with the recovery of ill or crippled children.
In the late 19th century, “sea air
Sea air
The air at or by the sea is traditionally thought to be healthy. This was variously attributed to iodine or ozone but its cleanliness or salt may be more significant....
[was] looked upon as almost a panacea for that class of disorders of nutrition which is shown in the disorders of joints and bones,...(and) in adopting the sea coast plan for their Institute the managers of the Lowell Island Sanitorium...hope that the beneficial effect of sea air would be especially manifest in children suffering from chronic malnutrition, a belief which is entertained by all medical authorities.”. On July 11, 1886 the Children's Island Sanitarium was opened for nearly two months and hosted a total of 150 children “exposed to the summer diseases of crowded cities, or to children...troubled by the affliction popularly called ‘rickets
Rickets
Rickets is a softening of bones in children due to deficiency or impaired metabolism of vitamin D, magnesium , phosphorus or calcium, potentially leading to fractures and deformity. Rickets is among the most frequent childhood diseases in many developing countries...
’.”
The children were carefully selected and initially “boys under 10 and girls of any age or race, suffering from the chronic diseases which are benefited by a marine atmosphere, such as rickets, hip, spinal diseases, etc.; also, for children convalescing from severe operations” were eligible for admission. “Children (were) admitted free when circumstances demand(ed). The usual stay is a fortnight, which (was) extended when necessary.”
Despite the belief that the Children's Island Sanitarium was a tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
sanitarium, no child with a contagious disease, especially active tuberculosis, was admitted. Joint and bone infections (osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
), both TB and non-TB, are not contagious and these children were admitted. Many other children who were there suffered deformities from rickets or vitamin D deficiency.
In addition to children, the Sanitarum allowed “working women in need of a holiday (to) be received on the payment of a sufficient sum to defray the cost of their board.”
A journalist from the Boston Transcript spent a day in September, 1890 on the Island and wrote
“Children’s island sanitarium...was carried on by the Sisters (of St. Margaret) for 15 years; at the end of that time the old house had gone to pieces and a new building was erected, but in this there were only accommodations for the children and those in charge of them. This changed the whole character of the work and in 1900 the Mother decided to give it up. Subsequently, a new Board of Managers to oversee the operation of the sanitarium was formed with Dr. Charles E. Inches as president (replaced by Phillip L. Saltonstall in 1905 Annual Report of the State Board of Charity of Massachusetts. January, 1905. p190), and Mrs. Lucy W. Davis as superintendent. It seems that most of the tasks previously carried out by the Sisters were now carried out by volunteers who were "young women who give their time and services out of love for the little people and interest in the cause. They remain on the average, three weeks, and are on either morning or afternoon duty for a week at a time-four in the morning, three in the afternoon."
Other changes included allowing children as young as 18 months and boys up to age 14, though most children were between four and twelve. One volunteer, Maude S. Curtiss, wrote an article for The American Journal of Nursing describing life on the island:
Another volunteer, Eleanor Fairchild Cadwallader worked in the 1930s and recalls:
Another account by a volunteer in 1940:
A large financial supporter of the Children’s Island Sanitarium, the Boston Community Fund, withdrew support necessitating the closure of the Sanitarium. In 1946, the trustees voted “not to use Children’s Island for the purposes for which this corporation is organized after November 1, 1946; and to surrender possession therof on that date to the heirs and assigns of Frederick H. Rindge.”.