Old Postcard Wednesday--Christian Science Sanatorium - Arden Wood, San Francisco, Calif.

san·a·to·ri·um (source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary)
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ri·ums or -ria
1 : an establishment that provides therapy combined with a regimen (as of diet and exercise) for treatment or rehabilitation
2 a : an institution for rest and recuperation (as of convalescents) b : an establishment for the treatment of the chronically ill

sanatorium (source: Online Medical Dictionary)
An institution for the treatment of chronic disorders and a place for recuperation under medical supervision.
Origin: Mod. L. Neuter of sanatorius, curative, fr. Sano, to cure, heal
Compare: sanitarium.

Arden Wood Residential and Nursing Home opened in May 1930. Information here shows three additional old postcards of the Christian Science Sanatorium, describing them as dating to 1930 (I have at least one of these other three in my grandmother's collection and have written before that she was a Christian Scientist). The website linked above is a feature about San Francisco's Western Neighborhoods Project and describes the one where this picture was taken as the West Portal Neighborhood. Additionally, it mentions that the building was recently renovated but does not give a date (it appears the website was launched in 2003 and has been updated recently, leading me to believe the renovation must have taken place sometime after 2003).

"The First Church of Christ, Scientist" selected the plot of land in the newly-developed West Portal neighborhood for its west coast nursing facility in the 1920s. On a beautifully landscaped twelve acres the home provides residential living, nursing training, and nursing care under Christian Science standards (no medicine, no physical therapy, faith in God to heal).
The chalet-like main building has been recognized as an architectural landmark by the City of San Francisco and has been recently renovated and refurbished by Arden Wood Inc.

Arden Wood, as it is now known, "first opened its doors in 1930 as a healing sanatorium for patients needing Christian Science nursing care and for nurses training. Today, Christian Science nursing remains at the core of Arden Wood’s purpose." You can visit Arden Wood's website, with descriptions of its mission and services, here. There is a section at the website containing Accounts of Healing, of sorts. I am neutral concerning this issue and feel it important to note that not everyone seeking healing at the sanatorium has indeed been healed (see "Last Years" at the end of the article about Butler Sturtevant).

I find this postcard shot, Garden and Forest, very beautiful and wonder if the area remains undeveloped today on the grounds of Arden Wood.






UPDATE TO OLD POSTCARD LAST WEEK
GRANDVIEW COMMUNITY, INC., (MADRONA MANOR)
HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA:
Joseph Hadley, General Manager of Madrona Manor, wrote the kindest email to me in response to my filling out an online form at their website notifying them of the post with old picture of Madrona Manor. In part, he wrote:

In the limited research we have been able to accomplish, really all we learned was that it was owned by a succession of private parties using it primarily as a summer home. I had heard a rumor that there was a commercial venture of some kind, although until hearing from you, we did not have a name with which to begin. We felt that there had to have been a commercial entity of some kind prior to the conversion to an inn and restaurant in 1980, which would explain the addition of a commercial kitchen prior to the 1960’s.

Perhaps I can find something at the county property records department under Grandview Community Inc.

I want to publicly thank you, Mr. Hadley, for your communication. I am positive that I'm not alone in hoping to someday enjoy a stay at the fabulous Madrona Manor! Please let us all know if you find additional information about Grandview Community Inc.

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