Fort San Sanatorium

Seems I am constantly getting e-mails about people asking about Fort San. People seem so think I don't know about it or have not heard about it. Well I have been to many many locations and most of my favorites are not posted online - this is because I want to protect them from vandalism.

However this building has been destroyed including nurses houses, power plant, tunnels & a large part of the main building. Now that most of it is gone and the history along with it I have decided to share it with everyone. Pictures are from 2008 - 2011 when we documented the site on various trips.

Some history.....

Officially opened in 1917, The Fort Qu’Appelle Sanatorium, consisted of 230 sprawling acres of land. Fort San, as it was known, was designed to be almost completely self sufficient, with its own powerhouse, stables, piggery, poultry ranch, and a five acre garden. Through the persistence and diligence of the Anti-Tuberculosis League and Dr. G. Ferguson, patients from all across Saskatchewan were brought to Fort San via train and horse drawn buggy, entering into a community dedicated to the eradication of TB.

At its peak, Fort San could accommodate 358 patients and a vibrant community emerged through activities such as the drama club, the jazz band, and the internal radio program while the facility provided an environment of rest, good food, fresh air, and relaxation.

In 1918, World War I veterans created an extensive library at Fort San; books on the subject of tuberculosis were purchased so patients could educate themselves on the disease during the long hours of recuperation. This literary enlightenment led to the creation of The Sanatorium Journal composed of poems and musings that eventually turned into The Valley Echo, a publication that consisted of articles on tuberculosis and the sanatorium, as well as humorous essays and advertisements.

Throughout five decades, thousands of patients spent long months—and sometimes years—at Fort San. For some, it was a respite from poverty and labour; for others, it was a place of suffering and loss.

Through massive screening and prevention programs, as well as through new drug therapy, the number of tuberculosis patients declined significantly by the 1960s. In 1972, Fort San was no longer needed and the tuberculosis facility was closed.

http://quappelle.mendel.ca/en/fortsan/lifeandbreath/index.html

 

For full history and lots more pictures visit my website: http://www.vanishedcompass.com/fort-san.html

Country Roads

Went out the other day on a small trip and decided to photograph some countryside. We found a beautiful little stone house, quite a few farmhouses and an old school. We also got to photograph some beautiful landscapes and to top it off a gorgeous sunset.

 

beautiful home built of fieldstone

Since i was shooting with a lens that had macro i decided
to photograph this huge spider that was the only
resident of the stone house

brick details

old school

power poles lining a long gone street

sunset to end the day

hollow hallways pt 2

There were to many pictures to share in just one blog so this is part two!

darkroom

storage in a classroom they never used - water damage on roof

gym

stage

arts & crafts

kindergarten!

indoor sandbox for the young kids

water damaged hallway

hollow hallways

As I said in the previous post, we did return to the school for a more thorough documentation during the day. We didn't leave as early as we would like but we did have enough daylight to photograph the entire school.

This school was so large and seemed to go on forever. Of course desks were still in the school, old equipment, posters and learning aids and books were all over. This school was equipped with a wood working shop, dark room, computer labs, science lab, large library and more. It was originally designed for 400 kids but at max capacity it held about an eighth of that.

This cornerstone of the community and close knit school was a huge lose to the community. It is sad to see something like this close when it was obvious it was in good condition but this is just a reality of this province and these schools.

classroom

gym

SaskUrbex photographing the changerooms

hallway

science lab

computer lab

main hallway

library

library from the other side

school sneak preview

Went out on the road the other day to photograph some churches. Of course when we go looking for churches we usually drive through towns along the way that we may have not visited previously. While photographing a small town we drove around and noticed a very large school with large weeds and overgrown sidewalks. Driving closer we discovered it was a very large modern abandoned town in what seemed to be a town of less than 50 people. It was amazing that this school was in such a small town and with no vandalism on the outside. Since the light was quickly fading, we did a quick walk through photographing quickly with a plan to return in the next couple weeks as an opportunity like this has not presented itself in a while.

cleanest hallway of an abandoned school I have seen

to the lake

Took a trip to the cabin. Of course taking the direct route is never an option so we took an alternate route which made us arrive hours later than we should have. On our way we took some interesting roads avoiding rain, found some abandoned churches and a schoolhouse. Overall it was a nice little outing photographing our favorite subject.

"goat paths" we use to get to locations

blue Ukrainian church - the first church on our roadtrip

schoolhouse

back in the trees, lies this huge beautiful catholic church

I think this may have been a religious camp...

flooded basement of a church

doing renovations

small town abandoned church