Fort Bayard Hospital, Infirmary Group, 100 Calle El Centro, Fort Bayard

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NM-229. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Fort Bayard Hospital is one mile northeast of US Highway 180 in Santa Clara, Grant County, New Mexico. The building is located at latitude: 32 longitude: 108 which represents the center of the building. The coordinates were obtained in by plotting its location in Google Earth. Coordinates are based on North American Datum Present Owner/ Occupant: State of New Mexico

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NM-229. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The infirmary group at Fort Bayard is a Second Generation Veterans Hospital. These hospitals were constructed from and are historically significant as the physical manifestation of the federal government s commitment to providing medical care primarily to war veterans. The hospitals from the interwar period offered veterans, for the first time, continuous care and rapid rehabilitation through modern medical facilities, therapies, and medicine. Second Generation hospitals used standard plans, were located on campuses (often incorporated into existing campuses), and were constructed using nationally popular architectural styles.1 In Public Law of the Congress (40 Stat. was enacted.

The law included an appropriation to purchase or lease medical facilities for veterans of World War I and placed the responsibility for the veterans care with the U.S. Public Health Service. Two years later, Public Law of the Congress (42 Stat. established the Veterans Bureau, provided for improvements of the facilities that the bureau had inherited, and amended the War Risk Insurance Act to ensure that World War I veterans would be eligible for the Marine Hospital Service, the first U.S. veteran health care which had been originally established for sailors. In an Executive Order issued by President Warren G.

Harding referred to Public Law and required the Public Health Service to transfer all veterans treatment and care facilities to the Veterans Bureau, including those hospitals that were under construction by the Treasury Department.2 By the time of Harding s Executive Order, the former Fort Bayard Army post had become a Public Health Service veterans treatment and care complex that was called Hospital No. 55, and a new, standard plan, poured concrete infirmary group was under construction there by the Treasury Department. As a result, Hospital No. 55 fell under both requirements of the President s Executive Order and the facility was transferred in from the U.S. Public Health 1 Trent Spurlock, Karen E. Hudson, Dean Doerrfeld, and Craig A.

Potts, National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form, United States Second Generation Veterans Hospitals, October 24, Lexington, KY, Section F, Page 96. 2 Spurlock, et al., Second Generation Hospitals, Section E, Page 28. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 2) Service to the Veterans Bureau. The Treasury Department completed construction of the large tuberculosis facility and then transferred it to the Veterans Bureau for operation. Hospital No. 55 at Fort Bayard was the largest tuberculosis hospital in the world. It was a self- sustaining site that provided state-of-the-art care for up to patients. The site itself was home for thousands who were employed at the hospital complex.

It included its own water supply, on-site utilities, ice-making, dairy, pig area, and other infrastructure necessary to provide state-of-the-art care for veterans with tuberculosis. The infirmary was a sf, three story building. Construction was completed within seven months by a crew of five hundred men. The period of significance for this building was from when it was transferred to the Veterans Bureau for operation as a tuberculosis hospital for veterans, until when it was transferred to the State of New Mexico for use as a general hospital. Historian(s): Karen Van Citters, Van Citters: Historic Preservation, LLC

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NM-229. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Fort Bayard was included in the National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings in In July of Fort Bayard Historic District was listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties In July of Fort Bayard Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, under Criteria A, C, and D. The listing consisted of eighty-eight contributing properties on 704 acres. In Fort Bayard was listed as a National Historic Landmark. Finally, in Hospital No. 55 was included in the multiple property nomination, United States Second Generation Veterans Hospitals, Nationwide. In the hospital building was vacated and the New Mexico Facility Management Division sought developers who might adaptively reuse the structure.

Although developers did analyze the building, a new use was not found, vandalism increased, and FMD ultimately determined that the building should be razed. In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer under the New Mexico Cultural Properties Act et seq. NMSA an agreement was developed: Memorandum of Understanding By and Among the Facilities Management Division and the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer Concerning Demolition of the Old Fort Bayard Medical Center Located at Fort Bayard and Owned or Administered by the Facilities Management Division (dated October 1, This HABS Level II documentation was stipulated in that agreement and was completed by for Tatsch Construction, which is under contract with FMD to demolish the building.

Photographic documentation was completed by Martin Stupich in September, Part I. Historical Information A. Physical History 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: Treasury Department Edward Clifford, Assistant Secretary, Treasury Department James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervisory Architect Albert B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 3) 3. Original and subsequent owners, occupants, uses: In U.S. Public Health Service constructed a new building at Hospital No. 55, a previously Army-owned tuberculosis hospital located at Fort Bayard. The same year the Veterans Bureau was established and the hospital was transferred to the new agency. The new building operated as a veterans hospital until when it transferred to the State of New Mexico.

The state used the property as a general hospital until 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: Four separate contracts were let to construct the infirmary group; 1) Wing A, Wing B, connecting corridors, Kitchen/Mess and utility extensions to the plants; 2) Mechanical equipment, which included plumbing, heating, electrical, and refrigeration; 3) elevators; and 4) light fixtures.3 General Contractor Robert E. McKee, El Paso, Texas Subcontractors: Truscon Steel Company El Paso Sash and Door Company Hipolito Screen Company El Paso Bridge & Iron Company Special Service Flooring Corporation Frank Yelton Paint Company Moore Iron Works H. Welsh Company (sheet metal) El Paso Roofing Company Suppliers Structural Steel: Stupp Bros.

Bridge & Iron Company Hollow Metal Doors: Solar-Sturges Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Illinois Cooler Doors: Victor Cooler Door Co., Hagerstown, Maryland Red Lead: Tuttle Paint and Glass Co., El Paso, Texas White Lead: Carter White Lead Co., Chicago, Illinois Varnish: Pratt & Lambert, Chicago, Illinois Linseed Oil: Archer Daniels, Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota Turpentine: Hyatt Turpentine, Co., Biloxi, Mississippi Portland Cement: Portland Cement, Co., El Paso, Texas Roofing Tin: American Tin Plate Co. Medical Furniture: White Steel Manufacturing Co. Metal Cabinets: Max Wocher and Son Co. Cork Board: Armstrong Cork Co.

Slate: The Structural Slate Co., Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania Magnesite Flooring: Special Service Flooring Corporation, New York, New York 3 Not all cities and states of the contractors and suppliers were noted on the project correspondence, but those that were are included here. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 4) Mechanical Equipment S. Faith Company, Inc., Philadelphia, PA Suppliers Plumbing Fixtures: Federal-Huber Co., Chicago, IL Drinking Fountains: Trenton Pottery Company Sterilizers/Warmers: American Sterilizer Co. Engine: Harrisburg Foundry & Machine Works Generator: Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. Hot Water Tanks: Whitlock Coil Pipe Co. Nurses Call System: Holtzer-Cabot Electric Co. Switchboard: General Electric Co.

Radiation: Smith Co., Westfield, Massachusetts Refrigerator Compressor: Triumph Ice Machine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Cafeteria Equipment: John Hoos Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Refrigerators: Banta Refrigeration Co.4 Elevators: Kimball Bros., Council Bluffs, Iowa Light Fixtures: The Kayline Co., Cleveland, Ohio 5. Original plans and construction: The original Army post hospital was on a hill at the north end of the parade ground; officer s row was on the west side of the parade ground and temporary World War II buildings were on the east (these have been razed). The veterans hospital building was constructed on the south half of the original parade ground (Figure 1). There is a veterans cemetery to the west, and west of that was a golf course and rifle butt.

The livestock, dairy, and garden areas were to the east of the hospital/parade ground. The nurses and other staff quarters were to the north of the original officers row and west of the original Army hospital, and another grouping of support staff quarters was to the south flanking the west road into the complex. Support buildings, such as laundry, heating, and storage were just to the south of the hospital. The veterans hospital building was originally constructed in an H-shaped plan with a basement, first floor, second floor and third floor. The central portion became to be known as kitchen/mess (Building the east wing as Wing A (Building and the west wing as Wing B (Building The kitchen/mess was the central portion of the H and consisted of a basement and one tall story.

It was 113 10 by 92 10 and connected to the wings through a long, narrow 8 2 corridor. The structure was laid out on a grid and made of a poured concrete foundation with poured concrete floors on a concrete beam and column structure with hollow block walls and a steel framed roof all structural poured concrete included steel reinforcing bars. The connecting 4 S. Faith Co., Inc. to Office of Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, November 19, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 5) corridor ran close to the north end of the central building with 18 of the floor plan on the north side of the corridor and 91 on the south.

The larger north portion of the basement housed food storage, including cold storage rooms for milk, fruit, vegetables, and subsistence ; meat scale, preparation, and cold storage rooms; subsistence storage goods); frozen food storage; vegetable preparation area; linen storage; and locker rooms. The south basement included the building engineering offices and storage. The south portion of the first floor housed patients dining rooms on the west and a large kitchen on the east. The north portion originally included offices and a staff dining area. The wings were 256 0 long by 56 2 wide with three stairwell bays and twelve room bays about 14 each, using the same concrete and steel frame structure as the central portion of the building.

The basement of the north end of Wing A was unexcavated; the remainder of the basement in this wing housed a large work room, glass room, casket display room, supply room, offices, janitor s room, storage, and a room for a large hot water heater. The Wing B basement housed an assembly room, recreation room, recreation director s office, barber shop, storage rooms, clothing supply room, truck storage, restrooms, and a room for a large hot water heater. The remaining three floors of Wings A and B were mirror images of each other and included a central hall, three stairwells (one at each end and one at the center), and an elevator near the center of the wing. The first floor, south end of Wing B housed the surgical unit with two operating rooms at the end.

Wing B also contained eight single-bed rooms and a 4-bed ward (near the central stairwell) on one side of the hall with four single-bed rooms, a surgeon s room, exam room, eye/ear/nose/ throat room and a waiting room on the other side of the hall. The plan was the mirror image on the north end, but without the surgical unit. The second and third floors housed 1-, 3-, and 6-bed patient wards, a day sun-porch room, a small dining room and serving kitchen, bathrooms, utility and linen rooms, duty nurses room, and a doctor s office. These floors included four 1-bed wards, ten 3-bed wards, and one 6-bed ward.

The wards on all floors included a door onto the central hall, and interior arched openings running parallel to the hall (one bay in the 1-bed ward, two bay in the 3-bed wards, and three bay in the 6-bed ward). Each arched bay included a pair of folding doors that lead to a porch-like area with large windows separated only by a structural column running vertically between the units. This configuration allowed the flexibility for patients to be either in an open-air environment or in a more controlled indoor environment without leaving the room. The dining room, serving kitchen, linens, doctors office, and nurses room were located at the center of the wing near the connecting hall, so that the wards would make the best use of the windows along the wing.

The day rooms were fully glazed to the extent possible: there were 5 windows, approximately 14 wide, with a narrow masonry wall between for support. In the Silver City Enterprise described the building as: The new hospital building included two large, 125-bed wards with a dining area/kitchen in the middle. The north end included a 46-bed solarium that was divided into three bed wards. The solarium walls had a high percentage of windows, so they could allow for maximum air and sunshine. In good weather the windows would all be opened to allow for an open air effect, and during inclement weather they would be closed, but louvers FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 6) could be opened to allow for proper ventilation in the wards.

The south end of the building included two 6-bed wards on each of the three floors. There was a lift that would provide the means by which food could be delivered to each floor: each floor included a serving kitchen and dining room for those who could not make it to the large central dining area. Each floor also included doctors rooms, rooms for nurses who were on duty, linen and storage rooms, and modern bathrooms with four showers and three baths. There were elevators and three staircases to each floor. The basement housed occupational therapy, recreational activities, a barbershop, storage for the kitchen, its own refrigeration plant, and other support spaces.5 6. Alterations and additions: As with any large building that was in use for over forty years, many changes took place.

Most changes were minor to keep the building up-to-date; many changes were to room configuration and were made to meet the requirements for numbers of beds. Two changes that affected the architecture of the building included a major structural repair required shortly after construction and the addition of a two-story surgical unit on Wing B. The alterations were made during the period of significance, were part of the significant historic function of the building, and did not have an adverse effect on the overall architectural and historical character of the building. Construction was completed in and the Silver City Enterprise reported that there were already structural issues at the new infirmary of Hospital No. 55.

The concrete floor slabs for the first, second, and third floor had begun to deflect in November of The reinforcing bar in the concrete had to be set exactly at the depth specified which worked quite well on similar buildings in large cities where there were engineering controls and contractors that understood the methods. But in this remote location, with a constrained schedule and a contractor and government superintendent who did not understand the nuances of the engineered design, most of the reinforcing was set too low in the concrete. Additionally, because of the altitude, large diurnal swings in temperature, and lack of humidity, the contractor and superintendent decided to add additional water to the concrete mixture believing that this would allow it to cure better.

However, too much water in a concrete mixture ultimately weakens the concrete and no matter how long it cures, it will never reach full strength. As soon as the forms were removed, cracks began to show on the surface. The contractor grouted them while the concrete was wet, but the damage was done. The rebar and the concrete itself were not installed properly and the first time the steam heat went on that fall, the floors began to deflect. Ultimately, the structural issue was repaired by jacking up the floors and then installing structural steel to support the concrete slabs. The work was completed by mid-June There are drawings showing structural upgrades for the employee dining room, which is on the north side of the connecting hallway in Building 144 (the Kitchen/Mess).

The drawings show that in the basement steel I-beams were added at the center of the ceiling, running between the poured concrete framing. Structural steel columns with a new concrete footing were added to support the new I-beams. The roof was reconstructed using steel I-beams 5 Will Dedicate the New Hospital, The Silver City Enterprise, June 16, Vol. 40 No. 36; U.S. Public Health Service, construction drawings, Hospital No. 55, November 15, all drawings on file State of New Mexico, Facility Management Division, at Fort Bayard maintenance office. 6 The work required to make the repairs is documented in detail in the body of the text. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 7) running from the hallway wall to the exterior wall.

A new parapet was constructed at the same time to allow for the connection of the roof and wall structural systems.7 The Veterans Bureau made interior upgrades to the hospital, including new finishes and doors. The new door frames were metal, but the doors were wood. Many of the doors had glazing panels. A floor plan showing the renovation was not located during this HABS documentation project.8 The north day rooms in Building 143 (the original Wing A) were being used as patient wards, and each housed seven beds. The original patient wards off the central corridor had become 4- and 5-bed wards, and the original 1-bed rooms were serving as 2-bed wards. One 3- bed ward had been converted to an isolation ward with an entry room and two small 1-bed rooms behind.

Also by the mid-1950s, the basement had been renovated for laboratories; X-ray; physiotherapy; hydrotherapy; hot and cold rooms; a morgue and pathology lab; pharmacy; and dental clinic.9 The second floor was being used for general medicine and the third floor for tuberculosis and research. The second floor included the sun porch at the south end and a day room at the north end, with 4- and 5-bed wards on either side of the corridor. The third floor included an occupational therapy clinic with a restroom across the corridor, and a day room on the south end where 3-bed wards were originally located. Where originally there had been 3-bed and 1-bed wards, 4-bed and 2-bed wards replaced them.

The north end of the wing included fourteen 2-bed wards the original larger wards had been subdivided to create the new rooms.10 In Building 145 (the original Wing B), the second floor was called Surgery Ward No. 5 and it included a 10-bed ward in the original north day room, a day room where a 3-bed ward was originally located, an isolation ward with and entry room and two small 1-bed rooms behind, and 3- and 4-bed wards on either side of the corridor. At the south end, there were six 4-bed wards, and two 2-bed wards with a doctors office, treatment room, two 1-bed security rooms, and ward secretary at the center.11 A plan for both wings that includes revisions through shows that at some point the third floor was altered from hospital wards to other uses.

At the north end: the day room had become a nurses class room; three of the original 3-bed wards were being used for a patients library; and opposite the patients library there was a medical library and rooms for the chaplain. On the south end: the original 3-bed rooms were being used for an occupational therapy clinic and offices; a 1-bed and 3-bed room had been combined as a MAT clinic; and across the hall there were storage rooms. On the second floor, the north day room had been 7 Reinforcing For Personnel Dining Room, U.S. Veterans Hospital No. 55, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, Sheet Number March 27, 8 Miscellaneous Details, Veterans Administration Facility, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, Project Drawing Number March 23, 9 Hospital No. 55, Building No. Wing A , Fort Bayard, New Mexico, No.

2, As Built 10 Hospital No. 55, Building No. Wing A , Fort Bayard, New Mexico, No. 3, As Built 11 Ibid. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 8) changed to a 10-bed ward; the majority of rooms remained patient wards, but three 1-bed wards were altered for doctors offices.12 The revision of the drawing shows the north wards having twelve beds each and much more crowded conditions in the original wards. The 3-bed wards were to hold between five and eight beds, and all rooms had more beds than the original plan. The estimated numbers of beds at this time (hand-written on the plans) are seventy-nine for the third floor and eighty- four for the second floor. By Building 145 included a Surgery Wing addition to the south.

At the basement level, the addition had a post office, guest rooms, a lounge, and a library. The remainder of the basement included occupational therapy, a staff lunch room, linen storage, womens lounge, bathrooms, a dark room, and utility rooms. The first floor included two operating rooms at the south end, doctors dressing room, nurses rest room, sterile supply, a cast room, offices, and an 8-bed recovery room. The remainder of the first floor included offices, a conference room, telephone equipment room, and ancillary support rooms it no longer consisted of wards for patients.13 The second and third floors included patient wards with seventy-six beds on the second floor and seventy-three on the third floor.

There were numerous interior renovations, but the general room layout remained the same. By this time, Building 144 no longer housed a staff dining room. The area on the north side of the connector corridor was being used for offices and a conference room. The more expansive south side still had the large kitchen, and two patient dining rooms. All the floors of Building 143 were for patient care. The basement retained the laboratories: X-ray; physiotherapy; hydrotherapy; hot and cold rooms; a morgue and pathology lab; pharmacy; and dental clinic. The first floor had seventy-three beds, the second floor had sixty- three, and the third floor had fifty-nine. Each floor was using the large north room as a day room again.

There were partition alterations, especially to remove the original two room open-air component of the original 3-bed wards.14 New lavatories were added to all the patient rooms and new fire egress doors were added to the stairs and central corridor.15 Fire protection systems were installed in the building. In there was a project to upgrade bathrooms in both wings, including fixtures 12 Hospital Building No.

55, Veterans Administration Hospital, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, January 23, revised through June 2, 13 Remodeling & Renovation for Conformance to the State of New Mexico Uniform Building Code Requirements, New Mexico Department of Public Health Licensing Regulations, Fort Bayard Hospital, Dysart & Mitcham, Sheets 1 and 2, Building August 23, 14 Remodeling & Renovation for Conformance, Sheets 3, 5, 6 and 7, Building August 23, 15 Remodeling & Renovation for Conformance to the State of New Mexico Uniform Building Code Requirements, New Mexico Department of Public Health Licensing Regulations, Fort Bayard Hospital, Building November 15, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 9) and finishes, update the radiator system, and provide forced air for the second and third floors in Building The project also included new power distribution.16 Exterior alterations were designed by Harris and Associates, Architects (Hobbs and Las Cruces, including concrete and stucco (patched and repaired), and new screens for the windows. In the bathrooms in Buildings 143 and 145 were updated. In there was a project to replace the boiler/heat exchanger and a new mechanical system was installed on the corridor with units extending into each ward. In a new porte cochere was designed on the west elevation of Building 145 so serve as the emergency entrance for the hospital. It was constructed of concrete piers with a steel frame roof.17 B.

Historical Context The United States has a long established practice of programs for its veterans. In August of the Continental Congress established pensions for soldiers who after service were incapable of afterwards getting a livelihood; in addition individual states and communities provided for the direct medical and hospital care of their veterans.18 In President Adams signed the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen that required the Treasury Department to deduct from the wages of seamen to support medical care for the sick or disabled who had been in naval service. Surplus funds were to be used for the construction of new hospital facilities at U.S. ports.

In order to carry out the plan, the Treasury Department established the Marine Hospital Fund; this was the first publically funded health care in the United States. After the Civil War, states established numerous veterans homes, which provided incidental medical and hospital treatment for all injuries and diseases whether or not the condition originated with the veteran s military service. In the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was established for veterans of the Civil War who were totally disabled. These homes served soldiers throughout the Civil War.

By veterans of the many Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and Mexican Border period could also avail themselves of the services at one of the five of the National Home facilities located in Togus Springs, Maine; Dayton, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Hampton, Virginia; and Leavenworth, Kansas. Many more facilities were added to the system after For the remainder of the nineteenth century, federal government care of soldiers was provided through these domiciliary facilities. The Marine Hospital Fund was reorganized in as the Marine Hospital Service, under the command of Dr.

John Maynard Woodworth, who had served in the Union Army before he 16 Fire Protection Systems, Buildings Fort Bayard State Hospital, Bayard, New Mexico, Eddy and Hidalgo Cottages, Fort Stanton Hospital & Training School for Department of Hospitals and Institutions, State of New Mexico, Allison Engineering, Inc, Sheet 1 of 2, November 6, and Correction of Plant Deficiencies, Wards One through Six, Ft. Bayard Medical Center, Property Control Division, Department of Finance and Administration, State of New Mexico, Harris and Associates, Architects, June 26, 17 Fort Bayard Medical Center, Patient Area Remodel, Ft. Bayard, New Mexico, Project No. Gregory T.

Hicks & Associated, October and Statewide Repairs-Southern Region, Fort Bayard Hospital Improvements, Sheet A.20, Gamelsky Benton Architects, September 2, 18 Gustavus A. Weber and Laurence F. Schmeckebier, The Veterans Administration: Its History, Activities and Organization, Institute for Government Research: Service Monographs of the United States Government No. 66, (Washington: The Brooking Institution, pp. 19 Weber and Schmeckebier, The Veterans Administration, pp. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 10) became the Supervising Surgeon General. When Woodworth organized the new service, he based it on military principles and developed a staff of uniformed surgeons who would travel to locations where they were needed.

Eighteen years later, in an Act of Congress established the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and formalized the corps as the uniformed services component of the Marine Hospital Service, a component under the larger health service. The titles and pay levels of the new medical corps corresponded to those in the Army and Navy.20 Fort Bayard Army Post Fort Bayard served as an Army post with a mission to protect settlers in mining districts and the interests of the United States in the region. Those interests and the military role were influenced by the Indian Removal Act that had been passed which provided legal justification for the removal of indigenous tribes.

The soldiers stationed at the southern New Mexico fort were primarily Buffalo Soldiers and their mission was to participate in the Apache wars. Military use of the Fort Bayard site began on August 21, when the site was occupied by Lt. James M. Kerr, commander of Company B, U.S. Colored Infantry. The establishment of a fort contributed to an ongoing campaign to subdue the Indian hostility towards settlers in southwestern New Mexico, lands that had been traditionally used by the Apache. In the Fort Bayard Military Reservation was officially established by Executive Order and included a thirteen-square mile parcel that encompassed the fort and extended to the north. The fort was named after Captain George D.

Bayard who had served with the 4th Cavalry along the frontier as a junior officer, and who had been mortally wounded at Fredericksburg, Virginia, in after having obtained the rank of brigadier general of volunteers.21 By the stagecoach routes and local roads passed near the fort, which helped to stimulate more settlement in the area around Fort Bayard. Although the fort was actively working against Indian movements, Apache raids continued into the late But, by the raids had been subdued and it became apparent that the era of the western frontier, at least from the Army s perspective, had come to an end. U.S. Army Tuberculosis Sanatorium Establishing an Army Medical Department Sanatorium The Fort Bayard Army post was finally scheduled for closing in However, while the 9th U.S.

Cavalry garrison was withdrawing, a hospital unit was moving onto the site: the War Department had authorized the Surgeon General to establish a military sanatorium at Fort Bayard. The Surgeon General, Brigadier General George M. Strenberg, had requested Fort Bayard as a site for the treatment of ex-servicemen who were suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis because, as a former bacteriologist, he determined that the conditions there were best suited to such a use. The nationwide analysis of Army forts showed that Fort Bayard had the 20 accessed 21 David Kammer, Fort Bayard Historic District, National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, July 7, Section 8, Pages FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 11) driest climate and the most amount of sun shine [sic] of any Army Post within the United States and that temperatures in the area were uniform. 22 This new sanatorium was to be operated by the Army, which was separate from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Marine Hospital Service. Army surgeon, Major Daniel M. Appel, established the medical facility at Fort Bayard, which was the first military sanatorium dedicated to the treatment of Army officers and enlisted men suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. Additionally, the sanatorium was also charged with providing care and treatment for discharged soldiers who were entitled to the benefits provided by the U.S.

Soldiers Home in Washington, Fort Bayard was chosen by Strenberg because the climate and elevation of the southern New Mexico post was ideal for the treatment of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by the tubercle bacillus, which once introduced into a susceptible body causes the formation of overgrowths in the lungs, and potentially other parts of the body. These overgrowths first choke the surrounding tissue, which causes it to degenerate leaving holes in the tissue. The body systems attack the tubercle bacillus and the bacilli releases toxins to protect itself; it is these toxins that destroy tissue and weaken the body. A healthy body can carry the bacillus, but as soon as there is an illness or other event that causes a weakness, tuberculosis can ensue.

The disease is contagious to those who are susceptible, however, it can be destroyed. In the late nineteenth century, living conditions (such as poorly ventilated rooms, dust, overheating, overcrowding, and stress) and disease (such as measles, whooping-cough, influenza, and typhoid fever) contributed to the spread of tuberculosis. While the disease can be transferred from a cough, with the proper precautions and a clean environment one could avoid being infected: doctors and nurses at sanatoria rarely contracted tuberculosis.24 The key to surviving tuberculosis was to treat it as early as possible; if treated before the lungs or other organs were compromised, a patient could make a full recovery.

The disease would often begin with a dry cough or a cough with expectorant, and then graduate to a cough with blood. Even a cough with blood could be considered an early stage of the disease; if one sought treatment at the first signs of such a cough, full recovery could be obtained. At the time, the primary treatments for the disease were good food and life in the open air. At a sanatorium a patient could receive: regulation of rest and exercise based on temperature, circulation, strength, body-weight and lung condition; suitable diet; hygiene; quinine, arsenic, and hypophosphates; and living in the open-air. The development of these treatments began in the mid-1800s. In Dr.

Alexander Spengler discovered the health advantages of Davos on the Landwasser River in Switzerland, and after that many sought treatment in Swiss alpine resorts where the thin air of the high altitude required people to breathe deeply and the cool air aided in circulation. Places with high altitude, cool air, hot sun, absence of dust, and little wind were the best for recovery. In 22 Robert M. Utley, United States Department of the Interior, National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, Theme XV Western Expansion (Military and Indian Affairs), Fort Bayard, (National Park Service, Washington Forbes to A.A. Jones, June 13, and Memorandum as to conditions at Fort Bayard, October 3, both in Folder Excelsior Springs, MO to Ft. Logan, Ark. , Box 46 of 63, Subject RG 15, NARA.

23 Kammer, Fort Bayard Historic District, Section 8, Page 29. 24 Frederick Rufenacht Walters, The Open-Air Sanatorium Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, (New York: William Wood & Company, pp. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 12) early treatment of tuberculosis, many thought that if those with the disease traveled to an alpine heath resort at to feet above sea level, their recovery would be automatic.

Those who could not travel afar, looked for similar conditions near home and the medical profession began to realize that just being at altitude might help mild cases, but that more care was needed for those with more complex cases.25 By the late doctors determined that although one might recover from tuberculosis at home, it was better for those suffering from the disease to seek treatment at a sanatorium. First and foremost, sanatoria were able to keep a surgically clean environment (including keeping furniture clean and dust free, which was difficult in a home environment).

Additionally, sanatoria were quiet environments, the buildings were constructed to encourage cross- and hyper- ventilation (air supply was almost as clean as outdoor air), diet could be controlled, and staff could manage progressive physical training for patients.26 The public health issue of tuberculosis coincided with the development of modern architecture. In French architect Emile Tr lat demonstrated that the there was a lower rate of infection for the urban working class who had been moved to new hygienic buildings from older, dark, dusty, crowded quarters. He called for more social housing to improve conditions for the working classes that were associated with industrialization, while concurrently American and European architects were exploring the use of concrete and steel.

Both were materials that could aid in a more hygienic built environment. As specialist institutions to treat tuberculosis and the modern architectural movements developed, sanatoria moved past just providing facilities at the right altitude and environment, good food, rest, and gentle exercise into developing architecture that would facilitate open air treatment. This included deep verandas, balconies, covered corridors, and garden shelters all of which were furnished with reclining couches.

The placement of windows, doors, and furniture was also important to the open air concepts.27 As they were closing Fort Bayard as an active Army post, the War Department recognized Strenberg s assessment that the New Mexico fort had the climatic environment necessary for the care of the tuberculosis patient. The post already had a hospital, buildings with verandas, and the infrastructure needed to develop a sanatorium, and as such it was a good candidate for converting the post into an Army Medical Department facility. However, when Major Appel arrived at Fort Bayard to establish the sanatorium, he found that all of the buildings, as well as the water and sewer systems, very much dilapidated. He began a program of repair to create the facility he needed to care for patients.

He quickly converted the old brick hospital to serve as a tuberculosis infirmary for those who were bed-ridden. He was successful and by March when Appel turned the sanatorium over to Colonel Comegys, his sanatorium had treated over six hundred patients.28 25 Walters, Open-Air Sanatorium, pp. 26 Walters, Open-Air Sanatorium, pp. 27 Margaret Campbell, What Tuberculosis did for Modernism: The Influence of a Curative Environment on Modernist Design and Architecture, Medical History, p. Walters, Open-Air Sanatorium, pp. 28 During the same period, Fort Stanton, New Mexico was converted to a U.S. Treasury Department, Marine Hospital Service facility; Kammer, Fort Bayard Historic District, Section 8, Pages FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 13) U.S.

Public Health Service at Fort Bayard Colonel Comegys became commander of Fort Bayard in At this time, the post remained under Army control, but for a short period the sanatorium became a Marine Hospital under the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Marine Hospital Service. Over the next decade, Fort Bayard underwent substantial change and infrastructure improvement. Then a decade later, in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Marine Hospital Service became just the the U.S. Public Health Service. The change in name did not alter Fort Bayard; it continued to operate for soldiers and veterans with tuberculosis.29 As the U.S. entered World War I, Congress established a new system of benefits for veterans.

The new program included disability compensation and vocational rehabilitation and insurance for service personnel, as well as veterans. World War I was the first fully mechanized war and with the modern weaponry, soldiers were exposed to new disabling injuries caused by mustard gas and other chemicals. The resulting wounds from the modern chemical warfare required specialized care for those who returned home. Tuberculosis and neuro-psychiatric hospitals were opened to accommodate U.S. veterans with respiratory or mental health problems. Many of the hospitals and medical centers that continue to be open today began as National Home, Public Health Service, or Veterans Bureau hospitals.

As World War I ended, the surgeon general was planning on two national hospitals for the treatment of veterans with tuberculosis. Although the hospital at Asheville, North Carolina, had already been determined to be one of them, Fort Bayard was in competition with Denver to serve as the other. The Silver City Chamber of Commerce met and reported: [The veterans] are entitled to the very best that the nation affords, and that, to the tubercular, means the opportunity to regain his health in southern New Mexico. 30 However, the surgeon general was also considering whether it would cost less to care for the soldiers in Denver. As part of the decision- making process, the U.S. Public Health Service had visited the southern New Mexico post to survey the existing hospital facility.

It had been this trip that alarmed the citizens of the area and caused a meeting of the chamber. Although the community was uncertain about what it would mean to have Fort Bayard outside of Army control, the residents of Silver City were sure that the loss of the post would have a negative impact on their economy. Concurrently, John Tomba, who was in charge of the New Mexico health department, was visiting Washington, to discern what a recent $10 million plan for the national public health service would mean for New Mexico.31 He returned to the state assured that New Mexico would receive funding for one hospital.

There were four sites in the state that were being considered for the hospital: Hot Springs Hotel at Las Vegas (which would require construction of new buildings); Camp Cody (high winds and dust storms were seen as a detriment even though the extant buildings were of value); Fort Stanton (was to be abandoned by the Army); and Fort Bayard (the Army was already operating a tuberculosis facility there and was willing to turn it over to the public health service).32 29 Andre Sobocinski, United States Navy information from email correspondence and accessed 30 Denver Trying to Steal Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, April 18, Vol. 37 No. 27. 31 The plan did not allow for the purchase of new sites, but would allow for updating of existing sites.

32 Denver Trying to Steal Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, April 18, Vol. 37 No. 27. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 14) While the U.S. Public Health Service was analyzing the data, the Silver City Chamber of Commerce wrote to members of Congress asking them to keep Fort Bayard open as a tuberculosis hospital noting that those who know the favorable climatic conditions which prevail in this section are most strongly opposed to sacrificing the least faction of it for a few cents a day saving in the cost of maintenance.

33 The chamber heard back almost immediately from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas congressional representatives that these states would oppose moving the hospital from Fort Bayard and that they would use their influence to ensure that appropriations for the facility would pass. Major McKeon, a past commanding officer from Fort Stanton, also made an unofficial visit to Fort Bayard to determine whether it was a suitable site for the U.S. Public Health Service, particularly comparing it to Camp Cody and Fort Stanton for use as a Bureau of War Risk Insurance sanitarium. Although he could not say whether a bid to keep Fort Bayard open was tenable, it seemed highly likely.34 But the U.S. Public Health Service did not agree.

They were looking for a site that was closer to an urban area, which would be easier to service and maintain; as a result, in the fall of it appeared certain that Fort Bayard was to be abandoned. The nine hundred patients that were being cared for at the fort were to be transferred to Hospital No. 21 in Colorado. The Silver City Enterprise was adamant that the Denver building was a political folly that had been constructed on a cold and wind-swept plain and that moving the veteran patients from the ideal climate for the treatment of tuberculosis at Fort Bayard was a [violation of] the feelings of every loyal American. 35 Not only would Silver City lose a valuable resource, the local paper argued that the veterans would lose out as well.

Although those in Silver City were unwavering about keeping the tuberculosis hospital at Fort Bayard, their outrage and concern held little sway with authorities. Regardless of the local sentiment, patients were eventually transferred to Hospital No. 21 in Denver new arrivals at Fort Bayard dwindled and plans for new permanent buildings were dropped. However, as those in Silver City predicted, the health progress of the Fort Bayard patients who had been transferred to Colorado slowed. This resulted in the patients asking to be returned to the hospital in southern New Mexico.

Around the same time, Holm Olaf Bursum, a New Mexico politician who had met with the surgeon general, sent a telegram to the Silver City Chamber of Commerce to relay that although the issue had been raised, the Army was not planning on turning over the hospital to the U.S. Public Health Service, but also that the southern New Mexico tuberculosis hospital would not be abandoned. Shortly thereafter, nearly three hundred new patients arrived at Fort Bayard. The influx of patients did not stop the locals fear that the Fort Bayard Army tuberculosis facility would be closed, and the debate continued on in the Silver City Enterprise into early U.S.

Public Health Service Site There had been a struggle since to keep Fort Bayard operational as a viable Army veteran tuberculosis hospital, and finally, in April of it was announced through a telegraph from 33 Fort Bayard Crisis Probably Averted, The Silver City Enterprise, April 25, Vol. 37 No. 28. 34 Fort Bayard Crisis Probably Averted, The Silver City Enterprise, November 21, Vol. 37 No. 28. 35 Ibid. 36 Bursum Sees Surgeon General, The Silver City Enterprise, December 19, Vol. 38 No. 10; Citizens To Protest Removal Of Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, January 9, Vol. 38 No. 13; and Future of Ft. Bayard Has Possibilities, The Silver City Enterprise, February 13, Vol. 38 No. 18. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 15) Senator A.A.

Jones to the Silver City Chamber of Commerce that Fort Bayard had been saved. The tuberculosis sanatorium was to be transferred from the War Department to U.S. Public Health Service for beneficiaries of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance (World War I veterans), and this was to be effective on June 15, Although the property was being transferred, the War Department reserved the right to reoccupy Fort Bayard at any time in case of an emergency, and any alterations and modifications to the buildings that were of a permanent nature were to be approved by the War Department before they were completed. Fort Bayard would no longer be an Army installation; it was to become an operational U.S.

Public Health Service facility by July 1, At the time of transfer, there were approximately one thousand beds available for patients, and no alterations or repairs were immediately made to the property. After the transfer had been made, the local newspaper predicted that there would be a much greater expansion of the hospital under the new agency than there had been under the Army. Additionally, the newspaper also predicted that the hospital would be able to conduct business with the locals in a more straightforward manner than it had under Army regulations.38 By May, the officers at the post were planning the Army s move from Fort Bayard and patients from the Camp Cody hospital at Deming were being moved north to Fort Bayard.

Although the community around Silver City remained concerned about the change, the Silver City Enterprise, which had been optimistic about the change, noted that the U.S. Public Health Service was responsible for soldiers who had been injured during World War I. The agency was planning for a capacity of to patients at Fort Bayard with the possibility of constructing new buildings. Additionally, the new agency would use civilian labor at the hospital, and thus those living in the county would find employment, including vocational workers and members of the Red Cross.

Although the hospital was tasked with the care of soldiers and sailors, the local community was hoping that over time the hospital patients would include civil servants and general members of the public.39 As the military at the post was preparing to move, on May 27, the businesses in Silver City closed for the day and all attended a carnival and banquet at Fort Bayard to say farewell to the Army. The Army anticipated that up to four thousand people would attend the event, but attendance reached five thousand.40 Clearly all were sad to see their Army friends leave Grant County. During the day there was a band concert, athletic events on the parade ground, picnics, evening events in the dining halls, and a vaudeville program.

In the program for the day the Army described, it is with deep regret that the Army says farewell to Fort Bayard, and the innumerable friends in the vicinity. 41 The Army was on its way out, but the U.S. Public Health 37 Darlene Richardson, Veterans Administration email correspondence, 38 United States Public Health Service, Annual Report of the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service of the United States for the Fiscal Year (Government Printing Office, Washington, p. and Public Health To Get Fort Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, April 2, Vol. 38 No. 25. 39 The Silver City Enterprise: State Of Bayard Is Still In The Balance, May 7, Vol. 38 No. 30, and To Get Bayard June May 14, Vol. 38 No. 31. 40 Stores Will Close For Bayard Farewell, The Silver City Enterprise, May 21, Vol. 38 No.

32. 41 People At Bayard Farewell, The Silver City Enterprise, May 28, Vol. 38 No. 33. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 16) Service was on its way in, and with it came many changes to the original design of the military tuberculosis hospital. Major H.E. Whitledge, the new commanding officer under the U.S. Public Health Service, arrived at Fort Bayard on June 8, and began preparations for his work as the Army continued to wind down their operation. At that time, the facility was virtually deserted most patients had been transferred to Hospital No. 21 at Denver. However, those who had been sent to Fort Bayard under the Bureau of War Risk Insurance continued to be cared for at the southern New Mexico facility.

By June 15, the hospital was running again and new staff and nurses were coming in from Deming and other locations around Grant County. By November, the old Army hospital was filled to capacity. Now that there was a new agency in charge, Fort Bayard had its own newsletter, and local jurisdiction now applied when there were legal matters at the former military reservation. Even so, rumors abounded that the Army was going to return and take over Fort Bayard. During this anxious time for local residents, officer Whitledge was promoted to Lt. Col. and he continued to plan improvements for the facility. During November, the hospital paid in benefits, payroll was and subsistence at the hospital amounted to It had become the largest U.S.

Public Health Service tuberculosis hospital in the country.42 With this new activity, the local residents of the area believed that history was righting itself: the last round of federal funding for a tuberculosis hospital had gone to building Hospital No. 21 in Colorado, instead of Fort Bayard, even though at the time the Army had determined that southern New Mexico had the better climate and situation for a tuberculosis facility. However, there had not been Silver City or Grant County representation as the decision was being made. Four years later, the Grant County Chamber of Commerce was much more assertive and had made itself and the excellent conditions at Fort Bayard known to members of Congress.

These advocates underscored the local conditions that aided in the cure of tuberculosis and the necessity for funding to ensure the success of the hospital. In a letter to Senator A.A. Jones Murray of Silver City, officials wrote: Failure to make further provisions for Fort Bayard in Sundry Civil bill will be looked upon as decidedly unjust to this loyal state and county. Understand new hospital contemplated at Tucson, and enlargement planned at Whipple Barracks. Neither so deserving nor so good for ex-service tuberculars as Fort Bayard. The thousand men now there need more room, and a proper provision for enlargement would care for them and another large number better and cheaper than to erect new hospitals in places not so favorable to that treatment.

It is not only unfair, but economically wasteful to fail to use the present development at Fort Bayard as basis for a greater institution.43 On March 4, under the Sundry Civil Act, which was a continuation of Section 2 of Public Law was appropriated for alterations of Hospital No. 55 at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. The government acknowledged that it was necessary to increase the capacity of the hospital, but additionally, that repairs to the existing infrastructure were critical. In particular, it 42 The Silver City Enterprise: Fort Bayard Now In Throes of Change, May 28, Vol. 38 No. 33; Now Holds Big Army Hospital, June 18, Vol. 38 No. 36; Ft. Bayard Is Now Filled to Capacity, November 5, Vol. 39 No. 4; and Bayard To Be Made Larger, December 31, Vol. 39 No. 12.

43 Fort Bayard Gets The Silver City Enterprise, February 11, Vol. 39 No. 18. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 17) was noted that the buildings required new roofing, additional square footage for a dental laboratory, and upgrades to the boiler.44 Two months later, additional detail was provided regarding the hospital plant at Fort Bayard. At that time, the hospital included 460 beds in permanent buildings and 540 in Army type temporary structures, with only sixty pieces of furniture falling in the category of good infirmary beds (Figure 2).

The electric system was overloaded it had been designed for 400 beds, rather than the is was serving; the sewage system was at 50 percent capacity, but engineers anticipated it would need to be enlarged; there were several under-sized heating units and a central plant with full capacity was desired; and there was a general shortage of housing for staff. The Treasury Department planned to increase the size of the facility. It was going to raise the Fort Bayard capacity to beds, with the eventual removal of temporary beds after a few years, leaving the final hospital capacity at seven hundred beds.

The recommended funding to develop a new infirmary and repair buildings at the facility would raise the previously appropriated amount to This higher level of funding led to questions about the original March 21 appropriation. On June 11, a Treasury Department memorandum outlined the act and stated that because the facility was government owned, was used by the U.S. Public Health Service at the time of the passing of Public Law and that the funds were necessary economically to adapt [the facility] to the uses and purposes [as stated in the act] that Fort Bayard should be eligible for the additional funds. The Secretary of the Treasury apparently agreed with the assessment and approved the expenditures a few short days later an announcement was published in a morning paper.

Reading this good news, New Mexico Senator A.A. Jones wrote to Andrew W. Mellon at the Treasury Department to request detailed information about the funding of improvements at Fort Bayard. The Senator wanted details he could pass on to the tense and hopeful residents of the Silver City area.46 By the end of June, specific plans had been set in motion. The Surgeon General had provided information about Fort Bayard to the Treasury Department, Supervising Architect. Fort Bayard was to be a permanent facility of the U.S. Public Health Service, called Hospital No. 55, to be used for the treatment of tuberculosis.

The Surgeon General noted that the facility already could treat patients and that they were anticipating increasing this by At that time, the hospital at Fort Bayard had 746 staff: twenty-nine commissioned officers, three A.A. surgeons, two attending specialists, four A.A.D. surgeons, five administrative assistants, forty-eight clerks, two roentgenologists, two bacteriologists, twenty reconstructive aids, sixty-four nurses, seven dieticians, and 560 attendants. For the additional 250 beds, the U.S. Public Health Service anticipated increasing the staff by ninety-five: five commissioned officers, three A.A. surgeons, 44 Cumming, Surgeon General to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington Regarding Repairs and Alterations, April 13, National Archives, RG Box No.

Folder April July 45 William Charles White, Frank Billings, John G. Bowman, and George H. Kirby to The Honorable, The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington Hospitalization memo, May 16, National Archives, RG Box No. Folder April July 46 Charles W. Berry to Mr. Wheeler, Treasury Department, Public Health Service, Fort Bayard, New Mexico memo, June 11, and A.A. Jones, United States Senate, Committee on Finance to the Honorable Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington June 21, both in National Archives, RG Box No. Folder April July FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 18) two A.A.D. surgeons, four clerks, four reconstructive aids (two occupational therapy and two physical therapy), twenty-five nurses, two dieticians, and fifty attendants.

47 Staff increases, however, were not the only changes to be instituted at Fort Bayard, as the overall condition of the facilities was dilapidated. The fort had reached this state of disrepair as a result of heavy use, especially during World War I. At the beginning of the war, the buildings had been in good condition including: thirteen officers quarters, an administration building, a sixty patient ambulatory ward, a forty patient infirmary, heating plant, and support buildings (barracks, store houses, laundry, mess hall, barns, etc.) (Figures During the war, the capacity at the post hospital had been raised through providing temporary wood structures.

Because the new administrator of the site, the Treasury Department, planned for increased medical services, Treasury Department architects were assigned the task of assessing the facilities in detail.48 In June the Treasury Department requested from the War Department blue prints, negatives, and any other information about Fort Bayard s built environment. Two months later, in August, Wainwright, Assistant Secretary of War, forwarded quartermaster drawings and #65 (with 24 sheets), as well as Atlas #1 5, which included infrastructure layouts, buildings, farm buildings, and general drawings.49 With appropriations and the background data coming in, on June 29, the Treasury Department assigned Albert B.

McCulloch to serve as Superintendent of Construction for hospital upgrade projects at Fort Bayard. His annual salary began at His role on the project was to work with the Medical Officer in Charge at Fort Bayard on programmatic needs, but he answered to the Supervising Architect in Washington, He was supported on-site by a draftsman and later a mechanical engineer, Russell, who was sent to conduct an assessment of the engineering systems at Fort Bayard. The day after McCulloch was assigned as site superintendent to Fort Bayard, Moyle informed McCulloch that there were two allotments of funding for Fort Bayard from Hospital Facilities for War Patients under Public Law Allotment A was and was to be used for construction of a new 250-bed infirmary.

Allotment B, the remainder, was to be used to repair existing facilities. Eventually the field conditions and hospital requirements that affected the plan to update Fort Bayard as a U.S. Public Health Service facility would rise to over more than the original appropriation.50 When he was advising McCulloch about the project, Moyle also informed his site superintendent that he was sending representatives from the Office of the Supervising Architect in Washington, 47 Long, Surgeon Executive Officer, Public Health Service to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, June 24, Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. 48 Memorandum as to conditions at Fort Bayard, October 3, Folder Excelsior Springs, MO to Ft. Logan, Ark.

, Box 46 of 63, Subject RG 15, NARA , and Long to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, June 24, Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. 49 Wainwright to The Honorable, The Secretary of the Treasury, August 1, Folder Aug. Sept. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 50 James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervisory Architect to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction, Office of Supervising Architect, June 29, and Moyle to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction, Office of the Supervising Architect, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, U.S.P.H.S. Hospital SA-C, June 30, both in Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 19) to New Mexico and that he expected McCulloch to collaborate with them.51 He wanted McCulloch to prepare baseline information on: lighting, sewage, and heating. He also requested that the superintendent work with the representatives on: screens for existing buildings; roof conditions and recommendations; and screened porches for the Nurses Quarters, so the building could be adapted for the tuberculosis patients (Figure At the time, the Office of the Supervising Architect designed hospitals for veterans using standard plans. The plan to be used depended on the classification of illness: neuropsychiatric, tuberculosis, or general health issues. The tuberculosis hospitals included three types of hospital buildings: infirmary, semi-infirmary, and ambulant.

The infirmary (the subject of this study) housed those who were disabled by the disease. A veterans hospital complex generally included a single building for administration, an infirmary, and detached buildings for ambulant and semi- ambulant patients, as well as housing for medical officers, nurses, and attendants and support structures for laundry, storage, heating plants, and garages. In the standard plans for infirmaries, sunrooms and day rooms replaced the wrap around porches of earlier hospitals, the floor plan was generally in an H shape, and most infirmaries were two stories, although the larger complexes used three stories. The architecture typically included connecting corridors that were used to help patients move from their rooms to therapy, meals, and treatment.

These corridors usually included utility and mechanical services trenches, and were designed to be compatible with the architecture of the main building.53 As they were preparing to add an infirmary at Fort Bayard, the Treasury Department representative became aware that the existing War Department site plan was inadequate. First, the old site plan did not include information to properly determine the siting of a new building. Second, the new owners had spotted what they believed to be significant errors on the War Department site plan. Because he was worried about the accuracy of the plan, on July 18, Lt. Col. Whitledge sent a Western Union telegram to the Surgeon General to request authorization to hire a professional surveyor.

On July 21, a letter was sent to McCulloch authorized hiring a surveyor to obtain the required information. A few days later, Whitledge sent an additional request to the Surgeon General that an ambulatory mess be constructed in conjunction with the kitchen that was already being proposed for the new infirmary. At that time, Fort Bayard had two poorly equipped mess halls and Whitledge proposed one mess hall that could accommodate all the patients.54 Early in the design process the new infirmary was placed on the parade ground, planned for three stories, and included the requested kitchen/mess.

As the Treasury Department was initially considering the mess hall request, two sites were being deliberated for the new infirmary; 51 From correspondence, it seems that a few of the field staff for the Treasury Department had strong personalities and may have been less than inclusive in their work. 52 James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervisory Architect to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction, Office of Supervising Architect, June 29, and Moyle to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction, Office of the Supervising Architect, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, U.S.P.H.S. Hospital SA-C, June 30, both in Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. 53 Spurlock et al., Second Generation Hospitals, Section E, Pages 42, 50, 64, and 79.

54 Whitledge to Surgeon General, Cumming, telegram July 18, Moyle to A.B. McCulloch, July 21, and H.E. Whitledge to The Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, July 21, all in Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 20) Whitledge preferred what was called Site No.1, which could provide capacity for 650 patients in one building (patients were then being housed in five buildings: 15, 111 and 166 through He thought that the site would be perfect for a basement, because one side of the basement could be entered at grade, and this was important to Whitledge because he envisioned that the basement would house an ample supply store and commissary sales grade access would allow for ease of moving supplies into the building.

He also recommended constructing the kitchen/mess hall before beginning the infirmary, so that he could move those functions from the deteriorating buildings. Whitledge was hopeful that a change would happen quickly, regardless of whether the Veterans Bureau would only be upgrading existing obsolete mess facilities, or whether the kitchen/mess would only be constructed as part of the new hospital. His request was reiterated again in late August by the Surgeon General, Cumming, to the Treasury Department s Supervising Architect.55 While the kitchen/mess issue was being resolved, Albert B. McCulloch was working on the siting and the size/height of the infirmary.

Most standard plan infirmaries were only two stories and McCulloch was working to place the standard 2-story building at Fort Bayard. He did send a letter to the Supervising Architect with an enclosed plot plan that included the placement of a new 250-bed, 2-story infirmary at Fort Bayard, but noted that the infirmary could not be placed without encroaching upon the lawn constructing it on the original parade ground and that to meet the programmatic requirements the building needed to be three stories.56 He but noted that Whitledge, the Medical Officer in Charge, was very much opposed to a 3-story building.

Even so, McCulloch argued for the height and reported that constructing an infirmary that was only 2-stories would require moving the building site away from the original cantonment, because it would require substantially more land.57 The Supervising Architect must have agreed with McCulloch, because the final building was three stories and it was placed on the parade ground in the main cantonment. Once the overall siting and building size was determined, which occurred within four days of McCulloch s letter, James Wetmore, the Acting Supervising Architect, sent the mechanical engineer, Russell, to Fort Bayard.

Russell left his station at Fort Stanton for Fort Bayard to make an assessment of the facilities there and prepare an estimate for the construction of an infirmary, fixed equipment, electrical plant, storage plant, heating plant, and housing for employees. Russell was also tasked with assessing if this work could be completed within the available appropriation of If the work was to cost more than the available funding, he was to confer with McCulloch and Mr. Muldowney (a draftsman on-site) to develop an estimate.58 The first evaluation that Russell, McCulloch, and Muldowney completed was in August of and included condition of the existing buildings and the overall circumstances that would face 55 H.E. Whitledge to The Surgeon General, U.S.

Public Health Service, July 21, Folder April July Box No. RG NARA, and Cumming to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August, Folder Aug Sep [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 56 The correspondence is unclear as to whether this was Whitledge s preferred site, Site No. 1. 57 Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, July 22, Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. 58 James A. Wetmore to Russell, care of Superintendent McCulloch, July 26, James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, July 25, James A. Wetmore to Muldowney, Architectural Draftsman, Office of Supervising Architect, July 25, all in Folder April July Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 21) construction contractors due to the remote location.

The roofs for all buildings were in poor condition and there were not enough living quarters for staff. McCulloch was investigating locally available brick and cement blocks, either with or without stucco, for use in the construction of the new infirmary and Muldowney, his draftsman, developed a report on the soils testing taking place at the chosen infirmary site. The team reported that any future construction could not be done on the purchase and hire of local labor, as the remote location made housing/mess difficult and, additionally, the method would not allow for a warranty on the construction work completed.

As the team was evaluating the Fort Bayard site, the Surgeon General finally recommended that a new kitchen/mess hall be constructed before the new infirmary, as Whitledge had asked. Plans began to move forward for both the kitchen/mess and to remodel the existing single family officers quarters into two apartments to increase the available staff housing at the site.59 As improvements were being developed for Fort Bayard, the State of New Mexico was planning to construct a new road from Silver City to Santa Rita, and the new alignment was designed to cross hospital land. Constructing the new road would not only cross Fort Bayard, it would result in abandonment of the original road to the Bayard railroad station that the Army had used and the U.S.

Public Health Service was currently using as a supply route for the tuberculosis hospital (Figure 7). In discussions with E.S. Wheeler of the Bureau of Public Roads in the Department of Agriculture (in Albuquerque), Whitledge was able to obtain a new road design for Fort Bayard to connect with the new Silver City/Santa Rita route and maintain supply connectivity with the railroad. The new hospital road moved the entrance to Fort Bayard and was of a mile long that ran from the new state road to the heaviest delivery point inside hospital grounds. The new road was originally designed to have 12 macadam with asphalt penetration, an 18 wide seal coat, grades of no more than 5 percent, and a turning radius of no less than 100 .

The cost for the plans, specifications, and government estimate was and Whitledge requested an immediate voucher to ensure there would be no period without road access to the hospital site. However, the final road design ended up being 16 wide concrete, similar to the construction of the new state highway road. McCulloch also noted that all the roads at Fort Bayard were in poor repair and that when they were finally updated, it would likely cost to repair those roads.60 Muldowney submitted an August 9, inspection report regarding the overall planning for the new infirmary at Fort Bayard. He reported that the site was the best to be had both from an administrative and architectural viewpoint although some changes were required (he was not clear as to whether this was the original Site No.

1 mentioned previously). The changes included razing and moving Army buildings, and moving functions from one building to another in order 59 Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington, Re: Department letter SA-C, dated June 30, U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, July 22, and Cummings letter from Surgeon General to the Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington August 29, both in Folder April July Box No. RG NARA; H.E. Whitledge to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 6, Albert B. McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 6, and Muldowney to The Supervising Architect, telegram August 8, all in Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 60 H.E.

Whitledge to The Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Road Improvements, August 16, Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA, and McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, October 7, Folder Oct. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 22) to make room for the new infirmary and its support structures. Towards this end, he recommended moving framed quarters buildings to the west; removing the adobe baggage storage (Building 23) and including baggage storage in the new infirmary structure; retaining the old oil house (Building 57) as quarters, for which it was already being used; and moving the brick commissary and retail store (Buildings 24 and respectively) to the rear of the site.

If the latter two buildings could not be moved, he recommended that they tear them down and house the functions in Building 182 (the corral) and move the horses to another location. He also worked with Whitledge on the infirmary and kitchen/mess plans and reported to the Treasury Department that the Medical Officer in Charge was requesting a 600-seat dining room, which would remove the separate mess halls from the existing open-air wards, and free up space in those buildings for patients Muldowney reported that this would exceed the budget. Whitledge also had a number of other ideas that were rejected by Muldowney. These included increasing laboratory space, adding a dispensary on the first floor, and installing a suite of operation rooms on the second floor.

He reported that this was excessive, as the existing laboratory building included a 21 x 29 lab, a suite of rooms for fluoroscopic and X-ray analysis, and office space. He also noted that eye, nose, and throat clinic was located in Building 18 and that it had more square footage than was being planned in the new building, and that the existing dental clinic included eight chairs. Muldowney argued that most of Whitledge s requests should be rejected because they would not fit within the appropriated funds.61 While rejecting most of the Medical Officer in Charge requests, Muldowney and McCulloch continued to develop the baseline information they had been sent to collect.

They reported to the Supervising Architect in Washington, that they had difficulty in obtaining estimate figures because of Fort Bayard s remote location. The men noted that although local labor would be inexpensive, the great distances materials would have to travel would drive their cost as high as materials in large east coast cities.

Ultimately, the two men estimated that as it had been planned, the new infirmary with fixed equipment would cost and that the electric plant, sewage, central heating plant, and forty houses for employees would run an additional Since this was well over the appropriated for the project, they recommended removing the new administration building and the basement of the west wing, for a total infirmary cost of provide the forty houses, alterations to three quarters buildings, and provide a new dental clinic for a total of and then develop a new estimate for mechanical and utility work, which would have to be funded from a new source.62 Although all were on site at the same time, Muldowney sent his report in before Mr.

Russell s report on the mechanical and utility requirements was completed and he noted that Russell was working slowly oddly enough, Russell s report was received by the Supervising Architect only hours after Muldowney s assessment. In any case, the Russell report included an assessment of water supply, sewer lines and septic tank, electricity, heating, refrigeration, and telephone. His mechanical and utility evaluation noted that the existing water supply consisted of four wells that could provide approximately gallons per day and that gallons came from 61 McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, October 7, Folder Oct. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA, and Muldowney to The Acting Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 9, Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA.

62 Ibid. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 23) mountain springs 6-8 miles distant through gravity feed. The spring water went into a gallon, elevated steel tank that then flowed into a gallon wood tank at grade, which then flowed into smaller tanks at lower elevations, resulting in a gallon capacity. All other tanks were kept full with well water by pumps at the powerhouse. Russell determined that the only work necessary for water supply for the new infirmary was to connect the building to the existing tanks. He inspected the fire protection system, as well, and found it lacking. The main lines were 4 and he noted that they should be at least 8 and should use the existing trenches, because there was rock below grade.

He also recommended additional fire hydrants and a closed circuit electrical fire alarm (to replace calling on the telephone).63 Russell noted that the sewer lines were terra cotta, and that many were clogged with tree roots. He also noted that the septic tanks were gallons which could hold a five hour flow, but that it was not adequate and the system had not been properly operated. He recommended adding three new sludge chambers, overhauling siphons, relaying terra cotta pipes within the contact beds, and adding new material to the filtration beds.64 Coal was used at the site to produce energy for electricity, refrigeration, and heat. Each year Fort Bayard used tons of coal, which was dumped at Bayard Station and then hauled to the site.

The electrical power plant included two tubular brickset boilers and two generators driven by a Fleming-Harrisburg piston valve engine. Russell noted that the power plant was running twenty-four hours each day and that some of the practices to keep power and water at the hospital were wasteful. He suggested that a new plant should be designed to operate at a high efficiency. He recommended extending the engine room and installing volt generators (one 100 and one 150 KVA) to be driven by high grade, high speed direct connected engines. He also recommended removal of one of the existing boilers, and replacing it with a 150 water tube boiler with a chain grate (with the eventual replacement of all boilers with tube boilers if there were funds, he preferred changing all out at once).

There was also an oil engine, but Russell recommended that Hospital No. 55 be run on coal powered steam, rather than mixing plant types.65 The heating at Fort Bayard included several small plants and one building referred to as the central heating plant, which was south of the parade ground and had been constructed in The plant heated twenty-nine buildings, with heat traveling through lines on poles and returning to the plant underground via vacuum. The plant included two 72 by 18 tubular brickset boilers. The total load on the boilers was sf. Russell recommended an extension of Building 180 to house two similarly sized boilers for the new infirmary. He reported that it would be best to leave the multiple heating plants in place, rather than to construct a new central heating plant.

He thought that in ten years, when the plants would require replacement, that a central heating plant should be considered. A few weeks later, following up on Russell s boiler recommendations and 63 Russell to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 9, Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 64 Ibid. 65 Ibid. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 24) in an effort to reduce cost, Assistant Secretary Eliot Wadsworth requested two boilers from Fitzsimmons General Hospital be delivered to Albert McCulloch at Fort Bayard.66 Fort Bayard had two 20-ton compressors that operated engines to provide refrigeration, the brine tank was too small for the existing requirements, and large refrigerators were being used.

Additionally, ice was being brought to the site from Silver City. Russell recommended using smaller refrigerators in the open air mess, bird cage mess, annex 3 mess, ambulant mess, commissary store, and the dairy. Russell suggested that using more small machines rather than a few large machines would save the facility 57 tons of ice per month during the summer. He also estimated that it cost to make a ton of ice at Fort Bayard and per ton to bring it to the site. In addition to the refrigeration needs, he investigated the cold storage. All supplies were purchased in large amounts (a train car load or more), due to the remote location and the requirement to have the ability to produce food for around people. Additionally, beef was slaughtered on site.

He recommended a room adjacent to the meat refrigerator for butchering, and that walls should be lined with cork board and plaster to provide insulation.67 Additionally, he ordered a new telephone switchboard to remove party lines, a single telephone line that was shared by multiple users, and allow for new capacity for the infirmary. His final numbers for the required utility work at Fort Bayard were for the infirmary, for other items that required upgrade at the site, and for fire protection.68 The grand total of required funds to meet all the recommendations of McCulloch, Muldowney, and Russell was which was more than Congress had originally appropriated for Hospital No. 55. Although the project was more than originally anticipated, the Treasury Department moved forward.

With the site and infrastructure assessments complete, McCulloch continued to plan the building. He had been investigating the use of local brick or concrete blocks, then expanded his search to brick and clay tile from other areas, including Los Angeles, CA and Athens, Texas. He reported that the cost was high, as the product would have to be shipped to the remote location. He noted in a letter to the Supervising Architect at the Treasury Department that local mining buildings were constructed of concrete frame with hollow tile infill, and that it must be an economical choice and may be suitable for the new infirmary building. And, as materials were being discussed, he began new soils test pits at the site.

Seven pits were dug, no subsurface water was noted and the seven samples revealed, in order: loam, sandy clay, clay, decomposed granite, and solid granite. McCulloch determined that any of the stratas below the loam and made ground [would] make a fine foundation. 69 As site planning continued in September, there were additional requests from Whitledge to add and upgrade housing, as well as continued discussion among the Treasury Department design 66 Russell to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 9, Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA, and Eliot Wadsworth to Fuller, August 29, Folder Aug. Sep. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 67 Russell to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 9, Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 68 Ibid.

69 McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 22, and McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 18, both in Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 25) team about which buildings to remove in order to create room for the infirmary. The discussions now included removing Buildings 23 (baggage storage), 24 (commissary store house: for vegetables and canned goods), and 302 (commissary: for groceries, meat, and refrigerated goods). Additionally, the station was having difficulty with flies, as the horse stables were located near the existing infirmary (the nurses corral held twenty horses and it was close to the building).

The architect recommended a stable for sixty horses that would be constructed well away from the hospital complex. There were fifty-four horses and mules at Fort Bayard that were kept in Building alternately referred to as the corral or pasture. Mr. Muldowney had visited the station and planned on moving the commissary functions to Building 182 (the corral), as it was only partially used as stable and solidly-constructed of hollow clay tile. Ultimately, James Wetmore, the Supervising Architect, determined that Building 23 would continue to be used for baggage storage until the new infirmary was constructed. The baggage would then be moved to the new building, and Building 23 razed.

The fates of Buildings 24, and 27 depended on costs for moving the structures and the final space planning for the commissary, store, and stables.70 As the plans were moving forward, Whitledge was transferred and a new Medical Officer in Charge, Dr. Donald L. Rose, came on board. Concurrently, the U.S. Public Health Service was developing much more extensive plans for the site than originally envisioned. On September 23, McCulloch was directed to work with Dr. Rose and develop new strategies in order to plan for a special appropriation that would support the needs beyond the infirmary group at Fort Bayard.

The directive included: forty cottages for officers; quarters for Mexican employees; a hopper and coal trestle; gallon fuel storage tank; six water lines for fire mains; completion of underground telephone and electrical system, including switchboard; ambulatory mess and kitchen; hog pens and slaughterhouse; water tank for laundry; fire alarm system; permanent road; remodeling of abandoned wards for use as housing; and barns/yards for sixty calves.71 The funding for this work was received and the Fort Bayard site was enhanced. As McCulloch was planning on further developing the site to support the influx of personnel and patients that would occur once the infirmary was complete, the government provided a notice for proposals to the Silver City Enterprise.

The September 28 announcement in the paper was for the construction of the three buildings known as the infirmary group, and the extensions to heating, power, and refrigeration plants. The mechanical equipment for the building was bid separately and the announcement was delivered to the Enterprise on October 9, 70 Albert B. McCulloch, letter from Superintendent of Construction to the Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington Corral and Stables in Vicinity of New Infirmary, September 14, James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, September 22, both in Folder Aug. Sep. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 71 James A. Wetmore, letter from Acting Supervising Architect to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent, Public Health Service Hospital Fort Bayard, New Mexico, September 23, Folder Aug. Sep.

[1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 72 Weston, memo from Treasury Department, Washington to Enterprise , Silver City, New Mexico, construction of infirmary group, except mechanical equipment, and extensions for heating, power and refrigeration plants, September 28, Folder Aug Sep [1 of 2], Box No. RG , and John S. Mills, memo from Treasury Department, Washington to Enterprise , Silver City, New Mexico, construction of the mechanical FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 26) The announcement noted that the original bid date for the infirmary group was set for October 26. However, there was a delay in sending plan sets to Fort Bayard (October 11) and from there out to bidders.

As such, on October 13 McCulloch requested an extension to November 10 or 15 in order to ensure accurate bids with close figures from the prime contractors subcontractors. He also recommended providing the contractor with at least 10 months to complete construction of the sf steel and poured concrete building. In the meantime, plans went out to contractors, and they began to write letters and telegram the Supervising Architect in Washington to requested extensions. An extension was granted, but only until October 31. In an effort to accommodate those in the west, the contractor bids could be delivered to Washington or Fort Bayard, but all received bids were to be opened at the same time.73 Three bids were received by the bid date: R.E.

McKee of El Paso, Texas; William Simpson Company of Los Angeles, California; and Buchannan of El Paso, Texas. The bid was separated into five parts if the cost went over budget, it would be easier to accept some items rather than have to reject the entire bid: 1) Construction of kitchen/mess, Wing A, connecting corridor, removal of Buildings 7, 38, 48, 49, and 58, and a driveway to the building. 2) Construction of Wing B , connecting corridor, remainder of driveway. 3) Moving Buildings 24 and 302 to new locations. 4) Construction of extension to the central heating plant. 5) Construction of extension to power and refrigeration plant.74 McKee was the low bid with a total cost for all five items of and this was documented and awarded on November 5.

Four days later an alternate to reduce the cost by through using 4 terra cotta tile instead of 4 gypsum for the driveways was approved, taking the total bid down to The time allotted for completion of the new infirmary group was seven months.75 In the meantime, the Veterans Bureau was working to obtain the two boilers from Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver (Hospital No. 21) that were to be installed in the new Fort Bayard infirmary. Even though the equipment was being provided at no cost, the quartermaster at the Denver hospital requested to cover the cost for loading and transfer of the boilers to southern New Mexico.

The extra cost was approved by the superintendent of the mechanical engineering division in Washington, The reuse of these boilers eventually resulted in a credit equipment of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Fort Bayard New Mexico, October 7, Folder Oct. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 73 McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, October 13, and James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, October 19, both in Folder Oct. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 74 Edward Clifford to R.E. McKee, November 9, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 75 Treasury Department, Office of Supervisory Architect memo to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Proposals for the Construction of the Infirmary Group of Buildings at the U.S. Hospital at Ft.

Bayard, and Extension to the Heating, Power and Refrigerating Plant at the Station, approved by Edward Clifford, November 5, and Treasury Department, Office of Supervisory Architect memo to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Supplemental Recommendation in Proposals for Infirmary Group, Extension to the Central Heating Plant and Power and Refrigerating Plant, approved by Edward Clifford, November 5, both in Folder Oct. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 27) from the contractor selected to install the mechanical equipment at the infirmary and kitchen/mess.76 As transfer of the boilers was being discussed, the work to screen-in porches on the Nurses Quarters was nearing completion and the work began on the new infirmary. The contract with R.E.

McKee was signed on November 9, but actual construction operations at Fort Bayard began on November 28, Work was scheduled to be completed by June 9, or McKee would be charged liquidated damages. Prior to the initiation of work, R.E. McKee requested five extra days. Although the contract had been let on November 9, the contractor was not notified until November 14. On November 30, James A. Wetmore informed R.E. McKee that he could not provide such an extension.77 It turns out that although the infirmary building contractor selection was earlier than the mechanical, both were sent letters of acceptance on the same day. The mechanical equipment contract bids were received on November 3, and the award letter was sent to S. Faith Co., Inc.

on November 14, The mechanical contract was let for for all equipment (except elevators and electric light fixtures) for Wings A and B, and the kitchen/mess. The mechanical work was to be completed within 200 days.78 James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervisory Architect for the Treasury Department forwarded 19 structural drawings to R.E.

McKee on November 16, The drawing set was an amplification of the contract drawings in respect to details of the reinforcing members of the concrete construction of the Infirmary, Kitchen, and Mess Hall ; in the letter accompanying the drawings he required shop drawings that would detail the content of the newly delivered drawings.79 These drawings changed the following: 1) diameter dowels at the head of three doors from 6 on center to 18 on center; 2) column sizes to match beam sizes; 3) revision of stair hangers; 4) spacing of rods for penthouse to agree with the schedule on another drawing; and 5) correcting dimensions for centerline of certain columns. The kitchen/mess only required that last item for one column.80 A week later R.E. McKee sent a telegram to James A.

Wetmore notifying him of his structural analysis of the drawings and the structural concrete design. He said he did not want to criticize the designers, but that he had analyzed the design for the steel reinforcing of the concrete slab for the kitchen/mess and determined that it was in accordance with standard practice, yet by his calculations the design of the steel reinforcing for Wings A and B in slabs numbered 1, 3, 4, and 76 McCulloch telegram to Supervising Architect, with note from Superintendent of Mining Engineering Division, November 10, Folder Nov. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA, and S. Faith Company, Inc. to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, November 19, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 77 Albert B. McCulloch, Form Treasury Department, U.S.P.H.S.

Construction Infirmary, etc. at Hospital, Fort Bayard, , R.E. McKee to James A. Wetmore, U.S.P.H.S. Hospital No. 55, Ft. Bayard, November 23, James A. Wetmore to R.E. McKee, November 30, all in Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA 78 Edward Clifford to S. Faith Company, Inc., November 14, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 79 James A. Wetmore to R.E. McKee, November 16, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 80 James A. Wetmore to Superintendent of Construction, November 16, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 28) 9 was neither in accordance with standard practice nor with the design of the kitchen/mess.

McKee requested that the Supervising Architect check the design and provide advice on the matter as he was anxious to secure best and satisfactory ultimate results. 81 The next day, James A. Wetmore sent a reply to McKee stating that the contractors moment factor design slabs supported four sides not in agreement and that the joint committee (presumably staff in the Treasury Department) agreed that the formulae that had been accepted for buildings in New York, Washington, and other cities (where the typical design had been installed and tested) were satisfactory. He reported that the design had been rechecked and that it was satisfactory. He further let it be known that the kitchen/mess had been intentionally designed with a greater live load than the infirmary wings.

Although it is likely he still did not understand the underlying engineering, McKee sent a reply that he would work with the design, that he appreciated the recheck, and he noted it was better sure than sorry. 82 Unfortunately, neither party realized the lack of understanding on the part of McKee and the site supervisor, McCulloch, of how the structural system was actually designed to work. While McKee thought that the slab was subdivided into sections that were supported on four sides, the slab had been engineered to behave as one long rectangle running across the support below. As long as the reinforcing bars were set into the concrete exactly as noted on the drawings, the slab would function as engineered.

Ultimately, due to the actual on-site placement of the rebar, the slab ended up malfunctioning as McKee had envisioned. This misunderstanding would result in substantial structural issues down the road. With the structural issue seemingly settled, the project moved forward and Elliott at the Custom House in El Paso, Texas was assigned to serve as inspector of the structural steel that was being provided by the El Paso Bridge & Iron Co. However, the fabrication was completed by Stupp Bros. Bridge & Iron Co. in St. Louis, Missouri and then shipped to El Paso Bridge & Iron Co. for installation at Fort Bayard. Once the Treasury Department was informed of this, the Supervising Architect reassigned the steel inspection to Frank L. Moore from Kansas City, Missouri. And, on January 24, Mr.

Moore approved the steel, with some revisions for two columns and noted that the steel was shipping out that day.83 As construction was beginning, the National Tuberculosis Association expressed concerns that the available funding was not enough to actually carry out the necessary improvements. At the same time, the U.S. Public Health Service realized that the fire protection system, which had not originally been included in the design for the infirmary, might be included in the project. The agency argued that it was important to the infirmary and that they had analyzed the funding to see if they could cover the cost. The appropriated amount was from which the agency 81 R.E. McKee telegram to James A. Wetmore, November 23, Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 82 James A. Wetmore to R.E.

McKee, November 22, and R.E. McKee telegram to James A. Wetmore, November 25, both in Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 83 James A. Wetmore to Elliott, December 10, James A. Wetmore to R.E. McKee, December 10, W.E. Robertson to R.E. McKee, December 14, all in Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; L.A. Simon to Moore, December 24, Folder Dec., Box No. RG NARA; and Frank L. Moore to Supervising Architect, January 24, Jan. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 29) retained 3 percent to cover the costs of technical services. This left for construction costs. The contracted and proposed budget had been updated to: R.E. McKee, general construction: S.

Faith Company, mechanical: Elevators: $ Light fixtures: $ Septic tank: $ Contingencies: $ TOTAL This left a balance of which Edward Clifford, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department, requested of General Charles E. Sawyer of the Federal Board of Hospitalization, be used for fire protection. He also asked that there be additional funding for a fire alarm system, repairs to the sewage system, and a new coal dump. The superintendent of the mechanical engineering division reiterated an earlier memo from one Mr. Von Nerta that there was no funding available for a fire protection system for the new infirmary.

Ultimately, the addition of fire protection was not made during this original construction period.84 Concurrently in early December, the screening of the porches on the Nurses Quarters was completed by Johnson & Marke of Silver City and the Medical Officer in Charge requested changing the final location for Buildings 302 and 24. His request was approved by the Veterans Bureau. Also in December, McKee requested a number of substitutions because the specified products were difficult to obtain in the remote location. These included medical furnishings for the hospital, sputum techniques or hose cabinets, and redwood for sills and transom bars, as the redwood could be obtained immediately while the specified pine would have to come from a mill, requiring a waiting period.

The redwood was a superior material, but in order to meet his schedule, McKee planned to supply the material at no additional cost. He also had a difficult time finding a source for the birch that was specified for the wardrobes, and requested the use of southern gum, which was also a hardwood and fit within the design specifications.85 As substitutions were being approved, the foundation was poured and C.E. Johnson, the Treasury Department Mining Engineer certified on December 22, that the lines of the building and the elevations of bottoms of trenches [were] in every respect as required by the drawings. 86 Although foundations were being laid, there were timing issues between S. Faith, Inc.

and McKee with regard to moving existing pipes that were on site, which would allow McKee to 84 H.A. Pattison to Consultants on Hospitalization, Treasury Department, November 29, and Kidner to Edward Clifford, January 6, Folder Jan. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA, and Edward Clifford to General Charles E. Sawyer, November 17, and McCulloch to Supervising Architect, November 22, both in Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 85 Townsend to Supervising Architect, December 2, and Supervising Architect, memo December 5, both in Folder Nov. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, December 17, and R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, December 22, both in Folder Dec.; Box No. RG NARA; and R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, January 20, Folder Jan. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA.

86 C.E. Johnson to Albert B. McCulloch, December 22, Folder Dec., Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 30) move forward with his additional site work. But, it was resolved and by the end of the month the footings were in place for Wings A and B, and the walls were being formed.87 VA Hospital Hospital projects for the Veterans Bureau had originally begun in under Public Law 65- These projects had been overseen by the Consultants on Hospitalization and the Treasury Department. Most were originally planned as tuberculosis and neuropsychiatric hospitals with a number at former Army posts. The Army posts, just as occurred at Fort Bayard, had been adapted for hospital use through remodeling and constructing new facilities. In their final report to the U.S.

Treasury Department, the Consultants on Hospitalization s standardized plans had included plans for tuberculosis buildings in both warm and cold climates. By the U.S. Public Health Service was operating thirteen tuberculosis hospitals for veterans and these were transferred to the Veterans Bureau under President Harding s Executive Order.

The hospitals included (in the order of how long they were open: six were less than ten years and six were more than forty): Greenville, South Carolina Camp Kearney, California New Haven, Connecticut Alexandria, Louisiana Tucson, Arizona Tacoma, Washington Dawson Springs, Kentucky Fort Bayard, New Mexico Las Animas, Colorado Oteen, North Carolina present) Lake City, Florida present) Walla Walla, Washington present) Prescott, Arizona present).88 Congress passed an Act to Establish a Veterans Bureau in President Harding signed Executive Order (associated with the Act), which transferred sixty-seven U.S. Public Health Service hospitals (nine of which were under construction, funded by the Treasury Department) to the newly formed Veterans Bureau.

Fort Bayard was one of the sixty-seven facilities that were to be transferred to the new agency on May 1, The site became known as the Veterans Bureau Hospital Reservation, Fort Bayard, NM acres) and the hospital was touted as the world s largest hospital structure for the treatment of tuberculosis exclusively. 89 87 Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, December 22, and Albert B. McCulloch, Progress Report for the Month of December both in Folder Dec., Box No. RG NARA. 88 Spurlock, et al., Second Generation Hospitals, pp. Section E, Pages and Section F, Pages 89 Harding, Warren G.

Executive Order Department of State, April 29, Fort Bayard must have been seen as substantially complete, as it was on the list of completed hospitals, rather than those under construction; FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 31) After the transfer from the Treasury Department, the Veterans Bureau constructed eight more tuberculosis hospitals, which all remained in operation for 40 years or more: Rutland, Massachusetts Tuskegee, Alabama (1923-present); Legion, Texas (1923-present); Tupper Lake, New York Castle Point, New York (1924-present); Livermore, California (1925-present); Aspinwall, Pennsylvania (1925-present); and San Fernando, California By mid-1922, when the transfer to the Veterans Bureau had been completed, nearly tuberculosis patients were being treated in the thirteen original medical facilities, and the agency planned to care for of the patients at the New Mexico facility. When the Fort Bayard hospital had been completed, 41 percent of veteran patients had been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

And then by the number of veterans with tuberculosis declined to 9 percent. Although the treatment and care of patients had improved, it was not until the early that actual cures for tuberculosis were discovered.90 When the hospital was being planned at Fort Bayard, there had been three different federal agencies that were administering benefits for veterans: the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The first consolidation of federal programs took place when Congress combined all World War I Veterans programs including the Bureau of War Risk Insurance and the Rehabilitation Division of the Federal Board for Vocational Education to create the Veterans Bureau. At that time, U.S.

Public Health Service Veterans hospitals were transferred to the bureau, and an ambitious hospital construction program for World War I Veterans commenced. Although a new construction program was beginning for the Veterans Bureau, the Fort Bayard infirmary was already under construction. The Silver City Enterprise, which followed the changes at Fort Bayard, printed an article by Colonel Charles R. Forbes, who had been appointed director of the Veterans Bureau. In the article, the leader of the nascent veterans agency noted all that had been done on behalf of veterans since the end of World War I and during the short existence of the Veterans Bureau. He discussed claims, insurance, vocational training, and medical services.

He reported that veterans had been hospitalized in the Veterans Bureau system since the war and that were tubercular, were neuropsychiatric, and were undergoing treatment in general hospitals. He also noted that since the creation of the bureau, veterans had undergone examination and veterans had received hospital treatment. He said, There is nothing this government will not do for the men who fought in the World war and I am proud of the accomplishments of the Veterans Bureau. 91 Although the infirmary building was still under construction, it had changed hands and based on Forbes words there were high hopes for the service of veterans under the bureau. To keep the project moving forward to meet the goals of the new agency, R.E.

McKee had submitted stucco samples which were a light grey with a yellow tinge made with white and Portland cement and yellow ochre, and a lighter grey with a cream tinge that was made from only white cement and yellow ochre coloring. R.E. McKee wrote in his submittal that he was planning on beginning to Dinneen, Deed Without Warranty, 1 July pp. and Kammer, Fort Bayard Historic District, Section 7, page 10. 90 Spurlock, et al., Second Generation Hospitals, pp. Section F, Pages and pp. Section E, Pages 91 What Is Being Done By Veterans Bureau For Ex-Service Men, The Silver City Enterprise, March 3, Vol. 40 No. 21. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 32) apply stucco shortly after sending in the samples.

However, by the end of the month, McKee had just completed the basements for both wings, erected forms for pouring columns between the first and second floors on the wings. The contractor began excavation for the kitchen/mess after the basements for the wings were set and the concrete was beginning to rise above the first floor. S. Faith, Inc. and R.E. McKee crews apparently were now working well together to ensure the minimization of construction conflicts, which allowed the project to continue smoothly. R.E.

McKee had over five hundred men in his employ to erect the building within the tight government schedule, as the project moved into February the basements were complete and the concrete work on Wing A was at 48 percent and on Wing B was at 26 percent.92 As the building was rising, the Treasury Department sent a request for proposal announcement for installation of elevators at the Fort Bayard hospital to the Enterprise on February 7, for publication between February 8 and 23. Within weeks, on February 28, bids were received for the elevator and the work was awarded on March 7 to the Kimball Bros. of Council Bluffs, Iowa for Also in March, the light fixture contract was let to The Kayline Co.

of Cleveland, Ohio for As the government was soliciting for the elevators, the plumbing for Wings A and B was virtually complete, heating was a little more than 50 percent complete, electrical was in process, and refrigeration was at about 10 percent. At this time, the foundation for the kitchen/mess had been placed, and the central heating and power plants were 79 percent and 65 percent complete, respectively.93 The project was moving at a fast pace and appeared to be on schedule. Col. Edward Clifford, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, visited Fort Bayard during a February tour of government hospital sites. During his visit, there was a discussion of constructing cottages and bungalows so staff and their families could live on site.

The estimated cost reported by the Enterprise was and Col. Clifford reported that Fort Bayard would be the biggest thing of its kind in the world. 94 Apparently the trip and site inspection were a success. R.E. McKee wrote to Mr. Clifford after the visit, I hope I am not presuming too much when I address you as friend, but believe me sincerely when I say I honor myself by placing you in that class, whose members are rare indeed in modern times with sincere appreciation of you remembering me on your return and hoping to have you in our midst again at an early date 95 Although the site visit had gone well, and apparently McKee and Clifford had become friendly, there were about to be issues with the craftsmanship of the construction.

On March 6, James Wetmore, Acting Supervisory Architect sent a letter to Albert McCulloch, Construction Superintendent at Fort Bayard asserting that it had been reported that the concrete was not curing properly. Apparently there had been too much water content and rapid evaporation, which led to cracks; he requested of the superintendent to check where the wire (reinforcing bars) was 92 R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, January 19, and McAllister to Supervisor of Architecture, January 21, both in Folder Jan. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 93 Treasury Department, Bids of Proposals for Two Electric Passenger Elevators and One Food Lift, February 28, and Bid Acceptance, Two Electric Passenger Elevators for Infirmary and One Food Lift, All Electric, March 7, both in Folder Feb.

[1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; and Treasury Department to Silver City Enterprise, February 7, Luther E. Jenner to Supervising Architect, February 15, and Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, February 16, all in Folder Feb. [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 94 Treasury Official Favors Ft. Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, February 10, Vol. 40 No. 18. 95 R.E. McKee to Edward Clifford, February 27, Folder Feb. [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 33) located, how many cracks and where, age of concrete when inspected and the age it had been when the forms were removed. He wanted to collect the data so they could assess the issue and ensure the new pours would not have the same issues.

The next day, Edward Clifford sent a letter to McCulloch to direct McKee to load the first floor slab of Wing A at certain columns with a distributed load of thirty-five tons in different areas over a few days and leave the loading for twenty-four hours. Then McCulloch was to measure and photograph the deflections and telegram the results to Washington McCulloch sent a telegram on March 7 noting that deep by 1 long checks occurred on the surface of the concrete, at the center of a slab immediately after pouring. The crew immediately grouted the cracks while the concrete was green.

He also noted that: 1) first floor was poured on January 16 and forms removed on the [eleven days]; 2) second floor was poured January 30 and the forms removed March 2 [three days]; 3) third floor was poured February 11 and the forms removed March 4 [twenty-two days]. The pours and form removal times were not consistent. Even so, on March McCulloch wrote to the Supervising Architect and argued that concrete at Fort Bayard set up more slowly than in other geographic locations, the steel and concrete were placed according to specifications, and that the slabs would probably do well in deflection with a few more weeks of cure time. He determined that the concrete would harden and noted that the buildings would compare favorably with any elsewhere of similar design.

97 Robert Maddox, the senior surgeon in charge of maintenance at Fort Bayard, wrote to the Supervising Architect on March 18, to request that a mechanical engineer be detailed to the site to inspect the mechanical equipment. His concept was that the engineer could aid in economizing operations and maintenance of the equipment, and the Treasury Department agreed. A Mr. Jenner was sent to inspect the mechanical equipment. While the project continued to move forward, the Treasury Department was concerned about the schedule. On March 20, Edward Clifford sent a telegram to R.E.

McKee telling the contractor that it was imperative that the building be completed on time and requesting information about the workforce, materials, and steps that were being taken to ensure the schedule was met.98 Although they were concerned about the schedule, the Treasury Department was requesting floor plan changes. By April, the agency was planning to develop a laboratory in the basement of Wing A and a telegram was sent to McCulloch to omit all basement walls north of columns 28 and 44 in order to allow for a larger room.99 However, McCulloch informed the Supervising Architect that the walls were already in place and plastered, so they could not be omitted from the project.

Although this was the case, the Treasury Department in Washington, pursued the idea, and even though there was no funding to develop the laboratory, the Supervising Architect drew sketches and forwarded them to McCulloch to discuss with the Medical Officer 96 James A. Wetmore to McCulloch, March 6, and Edward Clifford to A.B. McCulloch, March 7, both in Folder March, Box No. RG NARA. 97 A.B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, March 7, and Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, March 20, both in Folder March, Box No. RG NARA. 98 Robert D. Maddox to Supervising Architect, March 18, and Edward Clifford telegram to R.E. McKee, March 20, both in Folder March, Box No. RG NARA. 99 It seems that this request originated with the Medical Officer in Charge.

McCulloch was opposed to the idea, but the surgeon went directly to the Treasury Department to request the laboratory. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 34) in Charge. Although there was no funding, a month later the Treasury Department architects continued to design a laboratory that would use station labor to complete the laboratory and furnishings and provide the twelve sinks that were required. McCulloch noted that changes to the partitions should be completed through the construction contract and that final lighting should be coordinated with that contractor. Planning for a laboratory in Wing A continued, until Dr. Leverton became the Medical Officer in Charge. At that time, McCulloch sent a letter to the Supervising Architect noting that Dr.

Leverton was planning for a new surgical ward in that area of the building, and that the new laboratory should be postponed until the surgery was completed.100 Col. H.E. Whitledge had been detached from duty at the hospital in May of which followed the Veterans Bureau policy of moving commanders from isolated locations after two years of service. Dr. Leverton (a colonel and veteran of World War I, discharged in was then installed as the commander. He had received a commission as a surgeon in the Reserve Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and began his service under Col. Whitledge in at Fort Bayard. In June of he became the executive officer for Hospital No. 55, so when Whitledge was detached, Dr. Leverton was promoted to commander of the hospital. As Dr.

Leverton was arriving, Wing A was percent complete, Wing B was 75 percent, the kitchen/mess was 86 percent, the connecting corridors were 80 percent, and all other work in the R.E. McKee contract (power plant, central heating, ramp, and moving of buildings) was 100 percent complete. A June 13, telegram was sent to James A. Wetmore by Mr. Jenner, the mechanical inspector, that all contract requirements with regard to the mechanical work of S. Faith, Co. had been met and that the work should be accepted and final payment made. The same month, the Enterprise announced that dedication ceremonies for the new building would take place on June 17.

The original date was set for the day after Memorial Day, but the superintendent of construction, McCulloch, informed the planners that the building would not be ready by that date. A joint committee from Fort Bayard and Silver City Chamber of Commerce worked together on the event for June and invited members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and chamber; commanding officer; Colonel Forbes of the Veterans Bureau; Colonel Clifford of the Treasury Department; Senator A.A. Jones; Senator H.O. Bursum; and Governor Meechum.101 Governor Meechum did attend and he gave the final speech stating that he was proud that this great institution, erected in the climate best fitted to give the man with tuberculosis a chance to recovery was located in the state of New Mexico. 102 Allyn A.

Packard submitted a final report on the construction of the Fort Bayard Hospital, Infirmary Group on June 16, in which he reported, The general character of the work, 100 McCulloch to Supervising Architect, April 1, Edward Clifford to McCulloch, April 1, and James A. Wetmore to Superintendent of Construction, April 12, all in Folder April May [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; McCulloch to Supervising Architect, May 23, Folder April May [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; and McCulloch to Supervising Architect, July 31, Folder June July [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 101 Fort Bayard, Percentage of Completion of Various Units, May 1, Infirmary Group, Etc. May 1, Folder April May [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; Jenner telegram to Wetmore, June 13, Folder June July [2 of 2], Box No.

RG NARA; and Dedicate New Building at Fort Bayard June 17, The Silver City Enterprise, May 19, Vol. 40 No. 32. 102 Dedicate Splendid New Building, The Silver City Enterprise, June 23, Vol. 40 No. 37. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 35) both as regards materials and installation, is in my opinion above the average standard, and in view of the short time consumed in connection with the contract the excellency of the work is more commendable. 103 He did, however, note some issues with the top coating of the concrete floors. In July, Edward Clifford wrote to McCulloch to commend his work to ensure the project was completed in a timely manner with good results.

104 Little did any involved know, but five months later there would be serious structural issues with the floors of the infirmary wings that would reveal that the top coating was just the tip of the iceberg. The newly constructed infirmary group at Fort Bayard was dedicated on June 17, The El Paso Times touted the new facility as the World s Most Modern Soldier Hospital. 105 Reverton, the Surgeon in Temporary Charge, wrote to Edward Clifford that the ceremony had been well-attended and that he believed that as a result of the day s program, a more friendly feeling exists toward the Hospital among the citizens of this vicinity. 106 Although the building was ready to be occupied, the elevators had not yet been installed, so patients were not moved in.

The elevators were not ready until July 26, Once the building was complete and patients moved in, the staff began to notice items that could make the facility more comfortable. Dr. Leverton wrote to McCulloch on July 22, to request installation of awnings for the windows, because the sun in the mornings and evenings was going to make an uncomfortable condition. McCulloch forwarded the request to the Supervising Architect, with the stipulation that awnings were not needed for the solarium or the large rooms on the north side of the wings. As he sought to improve the building for patients, Leverton also wanted to improve farming to supply the patients with the best diet that would support their treatment.

In the fall of the Treasury Department worked with the Veterans Bureau to develop a farm colony for Hospital No. 55. The farm colony was to include a horse barn, dairy barn, calf barn, milk house and abattoir, and a pig house and farrowing pen.108 Now that the infirmary was occupied and adjustments were being made, Dr. Leverton was reminded by the Veterans Bureau that the role of the Second Generation Veterans Hospitals was to provide care and rehabilitation so veterans could quickly return to their communities as productive citizens occupational and recreational therapy were seen as an important element in the recovery of veterans with tuberculosis. These therapies were offered at veterans hospitals and most campuses contained within a recreation/auditorium building.

According to the United States Veterans Bureau Medical Bulletin: 103 Ally A. Packard to Supervising Architect, June 16, Folder June July [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 104 He did state that the contract was 12 days over schedule. Even so, liquidated damages had not been applied because the building could be occupied on June 9, as originally planned the items that were outstanding were deemed minor; Edward Clifford to A.B. McCulloch, July 25, Folder June July [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 105 El Paso Times, Sunday, June 18, p. 23, Folder June July [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 106 Leverton to Edward Clifford, June 19, Folder June July [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 107 Kimball Bros. Co. telegram to J.A. Wetmore, July 26, Folder June July [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA.

108 Leverton to McCulloch, July 20, Folder June July [1 of 2]. Box No. RG NARA, and Acting Supervising Architect to U.S. Veterans Bureau, October 24, Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 36) It has been suggested that occupational therapy is that form of treatment which includes any occupation, mental or physical definitely prescribed, and guided for the distinct purpose of contributing to and hastening recovery from disease or injury, and of assisting in the social and institutional adjustment of individuals requiring long and indefinite periods of hospitalization The maximum benefits from occupational therapy may only be obtained when occupations are prescribed by medical authorities upon the basis of the therapeutic indications incident to the mental and physical condition, needs, interests, aptitudes, abilities, previous training, and experience of the patient.

109 The majority of the rehabilitation therapy took the form of vocational training and work programs on Veterans Bureau hospital campuses. Vocational training took many forms, from shops on the hospital s grounds (e.g., printing, shoe repair, automotive repair, and carpentry) to classes that included typing, bookkeeping, and stenography. Occupational therapy included work on campus grounds, such as participating in activities in a hospital greenhouse, painting, grounds keeping, or conducting minor repairs at the facility.

Farming was also considered therapeutic, since many of the patients lived in rural areas, and raising crops, gardens, and livestock was viewed as a possible vocation or secondary form of income for the patient.110 In fact, as Leverton was getting the hospital up and running at Fort Bayard, the assistant director of the Veterans Bureau sent a letter to him requesting that the hospital give careful consideration to occupational therapy with regard to the Hospital Sub-Division Circular No. 32- A.

While tuberculosis patients needed absolute rest of body and mind, the Veterans Bureau argued that there was an important balance between gaining the physical and mental rest, and ensuring that once patients were healed enough and were ambulatory that they became involved with therapy that would lead to self-improvement. In his letter, Assistant Director Robert U. Patterson requested that Leverton provide the Veterans Bureau with a list of needs for the hospital to put a program into effect. He also noted that it was a goal that no patient who can not [sic] read or write should be allowed, unless he is mentally incompetent, to leave a Veterans Bureau hospital without an earnest effort being made to overcome this illiteracy. 111 This letter had arrived in November.

A few days later, as the staff at Fort Bayard were considering occupational therapy additions to the hospital, the steam system was turned on in the new infirmary group. On November 14, exactly one year from the date that McKee had been notified that he had won the project, Goodwin (superintendent at Hospital No. 55) wrote to the Supervising Architect in Washington to let him know that the concrete floors of the infirmary s first, second, and third floors were deflecting from one to two inches, lintels above doors were out of alignment, folding doors were out of alignment and getting caught on the uneven floor, and there were cracks in the floor that ran parallel and on each side of the concrete girders (Figure 8).

He reported that the Medical Officer in Charge and those using the building were much worked up and concerned about the safety of the building. Mr. Goodwin determined that the building was safe, but that the wards were unsightly and the situation should be corrected. George Von Nerta, Supervising Architect, then wrote to McCulloch asking 109 Spurlock, et al., Second Generation Hospitals, Section E, Page 19. 110 Spurlock, et al., Second Generation Hospitals, Section E, Pages 111 Robert U. Patterson to Medical Officer in Charge, U.S. Veterans Hospital No. 55, November 6, Folder Excelsior Springs, MO to Ft. Logan, Ark. , Box 46 of 63, Subject RG 15, NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 37) him to comment on the situation, whether he had seen any signs of the deflection before he left the project, and what he believed the contributing causes were.112 Shortly thereafter, James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect, sent Brooks, Superintendent of the Structural Division, to Fort Bayard to investigate the extensive deflection of the floor slabs of the infirmary wings. A week later, Brooks met McKee on site and in early December Goodwin was using wood from Fort Bayard stock to develop temporary shoring for the slabs. Shortly thereafter, George Von Nerta wrote to McKee to request that the contractor submit a statement as to what had gone wrong.

In the meantime, Brooks was cutting into the concrete which greatly disturbed the patients and hospital staff so he might see what the issue was. His photographs reveal that the steel rebar was near the lower surface of the concrete, which would indeed reduce the tensile strength and result in deflection. If it had actually been placed correctly before pouring, it had sunk through the overly wet concrete before the concrete had cured.113 In mid-December, Brooks provided a report on the concrete slabs in the infirmary wings of Hospital No. 55. He had spent over a week at the facility investigating the structural issues. He reported that the beams and girders had no cracking, but that almost every slab between them was deflecting, with a maximum of 1 deflection at the largest spans.

On the interior, this condition was most visible at the long transom bars over the doors to the wards. There were tension cracks at of the slab s distance from the supports, which he noted meant that the slab that had been designed to act as a continuous unit over multiple supports from one end of the wing to the other was actually serving as multiple units that individually bore on the four sides where they were supported (as McKee had originally thought the structure was designed). Brooks reported that there were several conditions that contributed to the issue: the placement of rebar; the quality of the concrete; and the fast-track construction schedule may not have allowed for attention to detail.114 Mr.

Brooks did recall the correspondence from the previous year in which McKee had questioned the Treasury Department about the structural design. However, while Brooks acknowledged that the steel rebar design of the wings was actually at the lowest limit consistent with safety that there was also deflection in the kitchen/mess slab, which had been over designed. He ascertained that the issue was more about the placement of the steel rebar inside the slab, rather than the quantity of reinforcing throughout the slab. During his site visit, Brooks put in place shoring and jacks in the basement to test whether the slabs could safely be raised. The tests worked well for the second and third floors, but resulted in cracking on the first floor.

Brooks determined that the slab deflection could be raised with undue cracking if steel beams 112 Goodwin to Supervising Architect, November 14, and George Von Nerta to A.B. McCulloch, November 22, both in Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 113 James A. Wetmore to Brooks, November 23, Brooks to Supervising Architect, November 28, Goodwin to Medical Officer in Charge, December 4, George O. Von Nerta to R.E. McKee, December 4, Brooks to Supervising Architect, December 6, photograph attached, all in Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 114 Books to Acting Supervising Architect, December 13, pp. Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 38) were attached to the concrete girders on the underside of the concrete slab, which would provide additional support and alleviate the deflection.115 The day after the test report, Goodwin sent a telegram to the Treasury Department stating that the Medical Officer in Charge was alarmed that more slabs were deflecting and that he was planning to taking matter up with the Veterans Bureau. The same day that telegram arrived Von Nerta sent a memo to the Supervising Architect stating that there were defects throughout the slab construction and that the slabs had deflected for two primary reasons: 1) dislocation of the negative reinforcing bars; and 2) inferior concrete.

He recommended requiring the contractor to make structural repairs, fixing partitions, and refinishing floors that had been damaged during the deflection; advising the Veterans Bureau and asking them to vacate the wings immediately; sending a section of the slab to the Bureau of Standards to figure out why the concrete was inferior; have McCulloch respond to the situation; and since a new hospital was being constructed with virtually identical detailing, with McCulloch serving as the construction superintendent, to provide more rebar, make the contractor aware that exact placement was critical, and to have inspectors on site to make sure the rebar was installed correctly.

On December 15, Edward Clifford wrote to the Veterans Bureau to request that the infirmary wings at Fort Bayard be vacated.116 The concrete slab sample was forwarded to the Bureau of Standards by James A. Wetmore and he requested that if the sample was found inferior that they evaluate these contributing factors: 1) rapid evaporation due to climate and altitude; 2) possible frost during curing; 3) the quality of the components, in particular the sand.

Concurrently, he wrote to Albert McCulloch to let him know that the nature of the concrete would be investigated by the Bureau of Standards, but that he wanted a full explanation as to why the reinforcing bars deviated from the design, and if they were originally placed in the correct position, what precautions had been taken by the contractor and McCulloch to ensure that they would stay in place during the concrete pour. Additionally, they were sending an engineer to monitor the concrete pour at McCulloch s current site, Chelsea Hospital.117 The same day Edward Clifford sent a telegram to R.E. McKee stating that the concrete was inferior and that the reinforcing bars had not been placed correctly, and furthermore that the responsibility for the slab deflection rested with McKee.

Apparently McKee responded that the deflection was because the design was inadequate, as he had previously pointed out, but Clifford responded that the design was adequate, as it was used in many other buildings, but that the placement of the reinforcing had been three to four inches lower than called out on the plans. A meeting was arranged with McKee for January 3, in Washington to discuss the matter, and because the contractor had aired his opinion on the structural issues to the local newspapers, 115 Books to Acting Supervising Architect, December 13, pp. Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 116 Goodwin telegram to Wetmore, December 14, Books to Acting Supervising Architect, December 13, George O.

Von Nerta memo to Acting Supervising Architect, December 14, and Edward Clifford to U.S. Veterans Bureau, December 15, all in Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 117 James A. Wetmore to Bureau of Standards, December 15, and James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, December 15, both in August Folder October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 39) Hudspeth a Texas representative from the House of Representatives weighed in on the discussion.118 At the end of the infirmary wings of the new hospital building were closed.

The December 29, Silver City Enterprise reported that three hundred patients at the infirmary had to be moved because the floors were sagging and the walls were cracking.119 It was so severe that plaster was falling from the walls, doors were not hanging properly, the glass in transoms and windows was breaking, and one nurse reported that she stubbed her toe on the warped concrete floor. The Treasury Department and other officials were not sure whether the cause was poor construction, the materials, or subsurface conditions. The Enterprise reported that the building was constructed from a standard plan and that many surmised that concrete buildings, a fairly new technology, [were] never successful.

Many argued that concrete buildings did not do well in arid environments, and others blamed the Chino mines for the constant blasting there.120 While the theories about the structural failure abounded, the leadership at the facility worked to assure the community that all was okay. Dr. Leverton noted: It is regretted that many people have the impression that the new infirmary building has been condemned. The facts are that it has became [sic] necessary to make rather extensive alterations in each of the wings. Because of the noise necessarily involved, it was deemed advisable to remove the patients, temporarily.121 While the infirmary had been cleared, the kitchen/mess hall continued to be used. And the U.S.

Treasury Department sent Brooks, superintendent of construction, to inspect the issue. A follow-up meeting in Washington was to take place with Assistant Secretary E.C. Clifford in early January of and contractor, Robert E. McKee was to be at that meeting.122 In January, Forbes, Director of Hospital No. 55, wrote the Supervising Architect that he had removed the patients from the infirmary wings, but that the move left the patients in less comfort and created more administration issues for the hospital.

As such, he requested notice on how long the structural repairs would take.123 Concurrently, McKee was meeting with staff in Washington, and all were discussing whether there was an insufficiency in the design or if the vibrations caused by mine blasting within three miles had caused the issue. During the discussions, it was documented that the Schuster method was used to develop the structural reinforcing, and it was noted that although many engineers at the time did not agree with the method, municipalities such as New York and Washington, were using the method without issue. And, the hospital at Oteen had been constructed using the exact same detailing and did not result in deflection.

The slabs had been designed for a 40 psf live load and Von Nerta estimated 118 Edward Clifford telegram to R.E. McKee, December 15, and Clifford to R.E. McKee, December 16, both in Folder August October [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA; Hudspeth to Edward Clifford, January 3, in Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 119 The Enterprise referred to the wings as the Whitledge infirmary, but we were unable to find any other reference to this name in our research. 120 Given the language in the Texas representative s letter, it is highly likely that these statements came from Robert McKee. 121 New Building Is Abandoned, The Silver City Enterprise, December 29, Vol. 41 No. 12. 122 Ibid.

123 Forbes to Supervising Architect, January 8, on January 18, James Wetmore let the Veterans Bureau know that they could not state definitively when patients could return to the infirmary James A. Wetmore to U.S. Veterans Bureau, January 19, both in Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 40) that the actual live load at Fort Bayard was around 5 He reported that although McKee argued that the design had resulted in the deflection, it was actually the placement of the rebar near the bottom of the slab, rather than the top as specified. McKee argued that he and McCulloch had carefully monitored the installation and that he had cut into some slabs and determined that the rebar was in the correct location.

The Bureau of Standards had tested the concrete and found that it had the crushing strength of which they pointed out was about the strength it should have. During the meetings, McKee argued that he had used only approved materials, and had taken every precaution against freezing and water evaporating too quickly as the concrete cured. He also noted that the deflections did not occur until the mine blasting had started up again sometime after construction had been completed and that the vibrations could be felt in the building. The Treasury Department could not confirm whether this was an issue or not.

In any case, Von Nerta recommended that they could either move forward with a time and materials contract to McKee to correct the problem (estimated at or they could send members of the Supervising Architect s office to investigate placement of the rebar, quality of the concrete, and the effect blasting was having on the building. If the issue was caused by something out of the contractors control, the Treasury Department would issue a lump sum contract to McKee to effect the repairs. James A.

Wetmore would make the recommendation and Edward Clifford would approve it.124 Wetmore then established a committee of three to investigate the infirmary wings at Fort Bayard: Von Nerta, Brooks of the Office of the Supervising Architect, Structural Division, and the Supervising Superintendent, Richey. Clifford wrote to Goodwin, at Fort Bayard, to have him cut into three random floor slabs and locate every rebar, and to also cut holes near girders to measure the thickness of the concrete slab, all in preparation for the committee of three who were to arrive at Fort Bayard the following week and conduct three days of field investigation. As they arrived, the Veterans Bureau was telling the Treasury Department that they needed to hurry with the repair, because patients were suffering.

Von Nerta sent a telegram on January 20, to Edward Clifford stating that the investigation was more extensive than anticipated and that the shortest repair time would be three months. He specified that rushing the repairs would be dangerous, and that although the Veterans Bureau was saying that patients were at risk they seemed well provided for, and that the hospital was designed for patients and there were only 650 at the time.125 The committee reported to the Supervising Architect that all slabs had deflected, but that the kitchen/mess slabs had short spans, so no corrective measures were recommended there. The wing slab deflections were from 1 to 1 7/8 and the reinforcing bars averaged below the specified depth.

Ultimately they determined that the deflection was not caused by one problem, 124 George O. Von Nerta memo to Supervising Architect, January 10, Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 125 James A. Wetmore to Brooks, January 13, Clifford to Goodwin, January 13, Von Nerta, Brooks, and Richey to Acting Supervising Architect, January 25, and Von Nerta to Clifford, January 20, all in Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 41) but that there was an unfortunate combination of circumstances that led to the issue and that McKee was only partially responsible.126 They reported that the design would have been okay, even though it was light, but that the compressed schedule, adverse climatic conditions, and lack of previous experience with this type of construction led to the eventual failure. No one during the construction process had appreciated the necessity for being exact in the placement of the reinforcing and the construction drawings were not clear enough on the placement of the chairs that hold the rebar in place.

Keeping the reinforcing bars in the exact vertical position specified was critical to the success of the concrete slab; however, in the field this was very difficult to accomplish, as to place the concrete required men to walk through it as the concrete was dumped and then levelled and troweled. Even if the bars were placed well, they likely moved during the installation process. And, it is more likely that the bars were place incorrectly since McKee did not fully understand the design nor the importance of placing the rebar properly.127 Additionally, the entire concrete frame was poured during diurnal swings in temperature from 13 to 65 degrees and all framework was done in just over six weeks.

Because of the lack of humidity, an extra wet mixture of concrete was used, the concrete was kept wet for days, and then the sand that had been laid on the surface to keep an even temperature as the concrete cured was removed and the surface dried rapidly leading to the cracks reported during construction. When the steam heating was turned on in the fall, the warmth caused an excessive final contraction of the concrete. If the rebar had been in the correct position, the concrete slab may have been able to carry the tension, but because it was lower than it should have been, the slab was overstressed and it deflected.

Finally, the committee of three noted that the blasts at the mine could not have contributed to the structural issues, although, because they were felt in the building, they may have exacerbated cracks and loosened plaster.128 In the end, because of the multiple reasons for the failure, the committee of three recommended that McKee be hired to complete the repairs for the he had quoted in January. After conducting the site investigation, the committee of three proceeded to El Paso to meet with McKee. Von Nerta recommended that Richey be detailed to Fort Bayard to oversee the structural repair to ensure proper judgement was applied.129 In April, the original deflected slabs at columns 28 and 44 had been raised and new steel set in place. After that crews began lifting one tier per day.

Five jacks were set under each panel, four at each corner and one in the center. The jacks were raised simultaneously , then Richey would inspect the result, and then they would be raised again, repeating until the panel was level. Once the panel was raised, wedges would be driven in between shoring on the upper 126 Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, pp. Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 127 Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, pp. Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 128 Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, pp. Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 129 Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, pp.

1 and 7, and Von Nerta to Acting Supervising Architect, January 25, Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, pp. 2- 4, both in Folder January April [2 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 42) floors until the entire system was level, then the new steel was put in place between the re- leveled concrete beams. Once the floors were level, the walls were to be replastered and the composition flooring was to be replaced. The structural repair was planned for completion in June, with Wing A ready to occupy again during May. Wing A structural repairs were complete on April 15, and the crews began working on Wing B. A week later Richey wrote to R.E.

McKee to tell him to put more crews on the plastering and reflooring of Wing A, so the hospital could reoccupy the space. And then on April 26, in less than one month, all structural repair was deemed complete (Figures 9 and While repair had been completed, McKee was having a difficult time obtaining plasterers to restore the wall surfaces. Most had moved to California where there was work, and work that paid much more than El Paso. Even though he was having difficulty finding workmen, McKee anticipated that all repairs would be final by the end of June. A few days later, McKee had six plasterers on his crew, but then one quit and another was laid up with illness.

He continued to communicate with the Treasury Department and Richey who was on site, so they would understand the reason for the delay. Finally by June 6, Wing A was ready to be reoccupied, five and a half months after it had been evacuated just a month and a half shy of how long it had originally taken to construct the building. On June 22, all repairs were accepted by Richey as complete.131 A few months after the building was reoccupied, Dr. Leverton was notified that he was to be transferred from Fort Bayard to Hospital No. 72 at Helena, Montana that August. Leverton had requested that particular hospital because he understood that the city would afford a better education for his children.

Additionally, the Montana facility had been changed from a general hospital to a tuberculosis facility, so his skill set would be particularly useful there. Col. Stanley was named to replace Dr. Leverton, but until Col. Stanley arrived, Dr. Brewer served as acting commander. Stanley s arrival was planned for October 1, he was moving from Tuskegee, Oklahoma, and he had previously served at hospitals at Palo Alto, California, and Prescott, Arizona.132 In November of under Col. Stanley s command, Fort Bayard became a permanent establishment. Prior to the announcement, there had been rumors that the site was one of the Veterans Bureau hospitals that was slated for an early retirement.

Of course, as soon as that rumor hit Silver City the Chamber of Commerce sprang into action and contacted those in charge in Washington, again stating that the climate in the area was the best in the country for the treatment of tuberculosis. The Enterprise noted that in soldiers were in hospitals and of those were being treated for tuberculosis. However, the paper also reported that by 130 Richey telegram to Supervising Architect, April 9, Richey to George O. Von Nerta, April 12, Richey to Supervising Architect, April 18, Richey to R.E. McKee, April 23, Richey telegram to Supervising Architect, April 26, and R.E. McKee telegram to James A. Wetmore, April 27, all in Folder January April [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 131 R.E.

McKee to Supervising Architect, May 29, Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, Richey to Supervising Architect, May 21, Richey to Leverton, June 6, and Richey to Leaverton [sic], June 22, all in Folder May December [1 of 2], Box No. RG NARA. 132 The Silver City Enterprise: Col. Leverton Leaves Fort Bayard, August 31, Vol. 41 No. 47, and New Commander in Charge at Ft. Bayard, October 12, Vol. 42 No. 1. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 43) there were with tuberculosis. The treatment was working and as a result the hospitals were only partially filled, which meant that a number of the tuberculosis hospitals would close.

Residents of Silver City were again worried that the decision would be political, rather than based on the proven benefits of the climatic conditions in the area. They argued that if the decision were based solely on treatment that Fort Bayard would not be closed solely based on merit. 133 Leadership at the hospital changed once again in August of Col. Stanley had been at Fort Bayard less than a year; he moved on to Algiers, Louisiana, and Dr. John C. Cornell, who previously had managed the District out of Denver, took command. By December, the new commander was looking to increase the water supply for Fort Bayard. There had been a drought in the area since and while the local springs provided gallons per day, and that met the hospital needs, it left the grounds without water.

In order to provide water for the landscaping, the new commander planned to construct dams to provide the necessary millions of gallons of supply. By June of a number of grounds improvements were taking place. This included new grass on the old parade ground and trees at the perimeter and along walls.134 While Dr. Cornell worked on the water supply, the Enterprise noted in early that the hospital was now over capacity. While it had originally been rated for patients, it later had been re- evaluated for only 450 and by January, the number at Hospital No. 55 was In order to accommodate the overflow, the staff quarters that had been constructed when the facility was rated for were now being used to house the additional patients.135 During the summer of Dr.

Cornell was planning improvements to meet the increase, including moving the surgical ward; consolidating the heating, lighting, and refrigeration plants into one building; providing two additional boilers; and converting the original power plant to a machine and repair shop. The plans also called for moving the horse barn and cow buildings (there were 109 Holstein cows at the dairy) farther from the infirmary and obtaining more modern equipment for the milk room. There were also plans for revamping the piggery. In addition to the buildings and animals, the commander planned a new Santa Fe rail spur to the central heating plant and warehouse area, south of the hospital building.

The idea of the spur was to provide a cost savings for truck transport and to eliminate ambulance service from Silver City and Bayard Station (the train would bring patients directly to the facility). The most visible changes in the plans for the Fort Bayard site were to add cottages for the employees and a new nurses quarters. Also, beautifying of the grounds was proposed by adding terraces, using the additional water source put in place by Dr. Cornell to support adding trees to Avenue D, as well as irrigating and adding trees to the cemetery.136 In the summer, Dr. A.J. Hoskins took over command of Hospital No. 55. He moved to Fort Bayard in July from the District in Denver.

Hoskins had been a member of the Army and 133 Bayard Permanent Hospital Bureau Officials Announce, The Silver City Enterprise, November 23, Vol. 42 No. 7. 134 The Silver City Enterprise: New Commander Here for Bayard Hospital, August 1, Vol. 42 No. 43; Will Increase and Fix Bayard Water Supply, December 5, Vol. 43 No. 9; and Half Million Dollar Improvements Planned For Fort Bayard Hospital, and Fort Bayard News, June 19, 135 Fort Bayard Hospital Now Has 475 patients, The Silver City Enterprise, January 23, Vol. 43 No. 16. 136 Half Million Dollar Improvements, The Silver City Enterprise, June 19, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 44) served in the war with Mexico. He was the surgeon for the 6th Cavalry under Pershing s expedition to capture Pancho Villa.

In fact, he had been a prisoner who had been scheduled for execution. Just before he was to be executed, the president of Mexico pulled him into a group of men to be exchanged for Mexican prisoners in Vera Cruz he ended up being the director of hospitals in Vera Cruz during the American occupation of that city. He later served as Consul to Mexico. During World War I, he served with the U.S. Navy to impede information that had the potential to travel through Spain. After the war, this active veteran served with the U.S. Public Health Service in Mexico, California, and Colorado.137 Fort Bayard was under new leadership and larger changes were about to take place. In December of Col. P.A.

Penington and officials from the Texas-Louisiana Power Company met in Fort Worth to sign a contract to provide Hospital No. 55 at Fort Bayard with electricity. In anticipation of the contract, the power company had begun improvements in Silver City installing an additional 600-horsepower, oil-burning De La Vergne engine in town (a representative from the manufacturer arrived with the engine to aid in the installation) and later adding another 1,200-horsepower unit. The Texas-Louisiana Power Company had purchased the local power plant in for and was adding in improvements to provide power to Central, Fort Bayard, and others in the area. As soon as the contract was signed, the power company began to install high-power transmission lines to Fort Bayard.

The Silver City Independent touted the project and reported that as a result, Silver City would have one of the most modern power plants in the Southwest. Fort Bayard had previously supplied its own power on site with what had become an obsolete coal power plant that ran on coal delivered via railroad; this new system would provide a more adequate and extensive service. The government and local community determined that the new, modern centralized system would provide a cost-savings for the hospital.138 As electricity was making its way to Fort Bayard, the leadership was undergoing yet another change. The Independent announced that Dr. Browne of Aberdeen Hospital No. 56 in St. Paul, Minnesota, would be the new commander at Fort Bayard in June of He was replacing Dr. A.J.

Hoskins who had been moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Browne had completed post- graduate work in London, and had previously served as commander at Hospital No. 36 in Boston and at a hospital in Lake City, Florida. That same month, the Fort Bayard commissary was closed. Since the original establishment of the fort there had been a commissary so those stationed there could purchase groceries. It was not made clear in the Independent why the commissary had been closed by the government, but from that point on, those at the facility would be required to obtain goods from local stores.139 Whether the new leadership at Hospital No.

55 made the change or it came from higher up, by the infirmary group had been renumbered from wings and kitchen/mess to Buildings and As the Veterans Bureau was getting ready to remodel the building, 137 Fort Bayard News, Silver City Enterprise, July, 10, 138 The Silver City Independent,: Contract Is Signed To Supply Fort Bayard With Electricity, December 14, Vol. XXXI, No. 50 ; Texas Louisiana Co. Planning To Supply Fort Bayard, November 20, Vol. XXXI, No. 47; and Silver City Power Plant Supplying Bayard-Central, March 1, Vol. XXXII, No. 9. 139 The Silver City Independent: New Commanding Office in Charge at Bayard Hospital, June 14, Vol. XXXII, No. 24, and Penington Sent to American Lake Veterans Hospital, July 5, Vol. XXXII, No. 27. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 45) Tripp, Chief of the Construction Division wrote to the Supervising Architect to be sure that all the structural repairs from were taken into account as the project moved forward.140 Fort Bayard and its new infirmary group had become well-established in its 6 years. The Enterprise noted that by the spring of the hospital had its own dairy with 440 Holsteins and a modern electric milk room with sterilizers, milk separating machines, and bottlers, as well as a poultry farm with electrically-lit chicken houses. Many of the original temporary buildings had been replaced with modern structures.

The newspaper noted that the hospital had 250 beds, an eye, ear, nose and throat clinic, x-ray laboratory, clinical laboratory, dental clinic, dispensary, physiotherapy department and occupational therapy department. The paper pointed out that before the hospital building made it possible to place this all under one roof, patients were shuttled between buildings. The new structure was more efficient and made it easier for doctors to conduct thorough examinations.141 Given all the features of the complex, life at Hospital No. 55 must have felt settled. Then in early the government began considering a new agency for veterans and once again, the hospital at Fort Bayard was endangered. General Frank T.

Hines of the Veterans Bureau had devised a program that included closing the hospital at Fort Bayard and constructing a larger hospital in Albuquerque. Hines program had been deferred by a subcommittee under the house committee overseeing legislation affecting World War veterans. Both the Grant County Chamber of Commerce and veterans at the fort vowed to partake in an intensive campaign to keep Fort Bayard open.

Indeed, the Grant County Chamber of Commerce had previously raised to support the fight against closing the hospital at Fort Bayard.142 Appearing before the subcommittee, General Hines let it be known that he planned to build a facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to support all the disabled veterans in the state and that the Fort Bayard facility would be turned back over to the Army. The Grant County Chamber of Commerce president, Sam W. Agee, communicated with Senators Sam O. Bratton, Bronson Cutting, and Congressman John Morrow and all ascertained that the plan was as Hines had proposed. The chamber opposed the idea and argued that the great majority of veterans at Fort Bayard would feel the same.

They also pointed out that the site had been altered to serve as a hospital; the barracks had been removed and replace by housing and that the new housing would not readily serve as Army barracks. Additionally, they believed that although General Hines had estimated for a new Albuquerque facility, based on the recent construction at Fort Bayard, they were sure it would take over $1 million to construct the hospital Hines was proposing.143 Although the community was concerned, Senator Bratton wrote to staff at Fort Bayard in June of stating that it would take a special act of Congress to actually move the veterans hospital 140 Tripp to Supervising Architect, May 29, National Archives, RG Box No. May December.

141 Open House At Veterans Hospital At Fort Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, May 11, Vol. 46, No. 32. 142 The Silver City Enterprise: Removal of Veterans Hospital, Fort Bayard Temporarily Halted, February 22, Vol. 47, No. 21, and More Than Thousand Dollars Subscribed to Fort Bayard Fund, February 7, Vol. 47, No. 18. 143 Veterans Bureau Chief Would Restore Fort Bayard To War Dept., The Silver City Enterprise, January 31, Vol. 47, No. 17. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 46) from its location at Fort Bayard.

The article in the Enterprise that reported this fact did not state whether this had something to do with the standing of the facility, a funding mechanism, or the influence of the chamber (although they did seem to lean toward the latter in the article); for whatever reason, the end result was that the veterans hospital would remain in southern New Mexico.144 Despite this reassurance, over the next few years the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Spanish War Veterans made resolutions to keep the tuberculosis hospital at Fort Bayard. Veterans Administration President Herbert Hoover signed Executive Order on July 21, and elevated the Veterans Bureau to a federal administration to consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans.

This new entity included the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and Pension Bureau (then under the Department of Interior) and it was named the Veterans Administration. Brigadier General Frank T. Hines, who had already directed the Veterans Bureau for the previous seven years, was named the first administrator of the Veterans Administration, a job he held until Concurrent with the establishment of the new agency, Fort Bayard was transferred to it and the oversight of General Hines. A few years later, in August of Fort Bayard received for repairs. The repairs primarily included paint, plaster, and roof repair on the old Officers Quarters (exterior only) and the cottages (interior and exterior).

The funds also included new shelving for the storage room at the hospital and a new metal ceiling in the hospital kitchen. The work was completed through a purchase order rather than a formal contract and was completed within ninety days.146 While Fort Bayard had just made repairs and the U.S. still supported the veterans and their care, by the country was in a depression and the economy act had just passed. As such, the Veterans Administration was looking to make cuts. At that time there were forty-eight veterans hospitals and patients, thirty-eight Veterans Administration regional offices, sixteen hospital regional offices (hospital/home combination), and nine veteran homes.

It was unclear under what categories the economies were going to be requested, but Fort Bayard had been asked to take in no new cases, except emergencies. Given the history of potential closure the community was alarmed, but Senator Bratton assured them there were no plans to close the hospital.147 Within a month and under the economy act, President Roosevelt announced a million cut in allowances for veterans. To achieve this, a plan had been drafted by Lewis Douglas (Budget Commissioner) and Frank S. Hines (Director of the Veterans Administration).

The result affected veterans of each war differently, put in place rules for non-service related injuries, established disability ratings with percentages of allowable costs, created 50 percent cuts for the dependents of veterans who were in wars prior to the world war, limited pensions, and allowed only 50 percent pension for those living outside the U.S. Tuberculosis was considered a presumptive 144 Vets Bureau Hospital Will Stay At Fort Bayard Says Senator Bratton, The Silver City Enterprise, June 20, Vol. 48, No. 38. 145 Darlene Richardson email correspondence, 146 Allotted Fort Bayard For Painting-Repairs, The Silver City Independent, August 14, Vol. XXXVII, No. 33. 147 Veterans Hospital Service Is Limited To Emergency Cases, The Silver City Independent, March 21, Vol. XXXVIII, No.

12. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 47) disease and it would be covered if it had been contracted within two years of the close of World War I. As soon as the cuts were announced there was an uproar and the veterans groups sprang into action to reduce them. Ultimately, the final cuts would be decided by Executive Order and the new goal for cuts was million.148 With all the cuts to the Veterans Administration, hospitals were also in the mix. Once again the local groups rallied to save Fort Bayard from the chopping block. Senator Bronson Cutting made a visit to the Grant County Chamber of Commerce where the fate of the hospital was discussed. During that meeting, local Judge Carl P.

Dunifon surmised that the Veterans Administration held hostility toward the site because of its isolation, and the expense of maintenance compared to other government hospitals. The Senator noted that the best way to keep the hospital opened was if the citizens of the area put pressure on the administration. A few weeks after this meeting, the Independent announced that Fort Bayard was going to be used as a domiciliary hospital for to veterans of all wars including Indian, Civil, and Spanish-American.

The local community believed that it was likely that Fort Stanton patients would be sent to Fort Bayard, the post-war construction would be able to accommodate the increase, and the hospital would require additional staff.149 Once the excitement of potential closure passed, the Veterans Administration announced in May of that there would be in improvements at Fort Bayard. This was to include a number of projects that had been previously approved: for the hospital building, including new utilities in the basement (at the time there were 220 patients and enough beds for 225 more); for street upgrades; a central heating plant; a central recreation hall for and remodeling and repair of the quarters. By that fall, the funds were in question.

The applications to be a patient at Fort Bayard went through Albuquerque, which made those in the Silver City area nervous; they suspected that the northern hospital was starving the southern hospital of potential patients and that this may have affected their application for funds. The Albuquerque hospital held a little over one hundred patients and the director had previously argued that the rumor of patients being diverted was untrue.150 The community continued to be concerned about the status of the hospital at Fort Bayard, when an addition was made to the site. In August of a bill was passed to establish a national cemetery at Fort Bayard. The land for the cemetery would pass from the Veterans Administration to the War Department.

Senator Cutting began the process, but passed away 148 The Silver City Independent: Cut In Veterans Allowances Is Made Saturday In Order Signed By The President, April 4, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 14, and How Roosevelt Compromise Law Affects World War And Veterans of Other Wars, June 20, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 25. 149 The Silver City Independent: Ft. Bayard s Fate Rest On Decision Of Veterans Bureau, July 4, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 28, and Expansion Of Fort Bayard To Follow New U.S. Program, The Silver City Independent, July 11, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 25. 150 The Silver City Enterprise: For Improvements At Fort Bayard Hospital, May 3, Vol. 53, No. 32; Plans For Ft. Bayard Recreation Building Forwarded to W.P.A., February 14, Vol. 53, No. 21; Ft. Bayard Paving Project Approved Work Authorized, January 3, Vol.

53, No. 15. It wasn t until that Fort Bayard received a new recreational building the building was funded by the WPA; Steyskal Announces New Fort Bayard Recreation Building, March 3, Vol. 57, No. 19; and Improvement Plan Ft. Bayard Veterans Hospital Beclouded, September 6, Vol. 53, No. 50. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 48) before the bill moved forward. Senator Hatch then took up the bill and proposed calling the cemetery the Bronson M. Cutting National Memorial Cemetery. 151 The Fort Bayard hospital dairy, which had operated since the post served the military, was closed in March of The first cows had been purchased from the Army in and in when the cows were transferred to the U.S. Public Health Service, there had been 469 in the herd.

By the mid-1930s, the hospital was able to purchase its dairy products more cheaply from local sources than managing an on-site dairy. In the herd began to be cut back and forty-eight cows were sold to residents in Grant County, and then most were sent to the facility in Chillicothe, Oklahoma.152 A few months after the herd was sold, minor site and building repairs were made at Fort Bayard. In May of was allocated for exterior and interior paint; relaying of water and sewage lines; and landscaping and extensions of walkways and drives. Improvements at Hospital No. 55 continued and in March of the Lea County Gas Company was given approval to construct natural gas lines to Fort Bayard. The pipeline was constructed so it could also serve the towns of Central and Bayard.

It was anticipated that this new energy source would provide a substantial savings in the operation of the hospital. The local gas company and government had been in a year of discussions and negotiations to get the project off the ground. The gas was tested at Fort Bayard and deemed operational in June. That fall, the hospital leadership changed. In October of Dr. A.G. Walker was named to replace Dodge as the manager of the hospital. He had previously been a surgeon at Fort Bayard and just prior to his transfer had served as the clinical director of the facility at Tucson, Arizona.153 As another improvement, a likely cost savings and practicality, some of the original land that was transferred from the War Department was transferred to other agencies.

On June 27, the Enterprise announced that on June the U.S. Forest Service, Gila National Forest had taken custody of much of the original Fort Bayard military reservation that had been created on April 19, According to the deed, acres were transferred to the Forest Service and 155 acres that were under the Bureau of Land Management were also transferred to the Forest Service at that time. The remaining 484 acres were retained by the Veterans Administration for the hospital complex, with 16 acres used for the veterans cemetery. The transfer included retainage of the water rights and protection of the water supply from the Cameron Creek watershed for Fort Bayard and Central.154 As changes were being made at Fort Bayard, the country had entered World War II and the view of U.S.

citizens was changing. In the inspector of the U.S. Immigration Service visited Fort Bayard. After his visit, there were rumors that Fort Bayard might be used as an internment camp for Japanese nationals and that if that were to happen, that veterans would be transferred to other hospitals. The Chamber of Commerce contacted Frank Hines to discuss the matter, and General Hines let them know that some land might be used by the Immigration Service should 151 Bill Introduced To Create National Cemetery, Ft. Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, August 2, Vol. 53, No. 45. 152 Government Closes Hospital Dairy, The Silver City Enterprise, March 25, Vol. 55, No. 27. 153 The Silver City Enterprise: Approval Given For Gas At Fort Bayard, March 10, Vol. 57, No.

20; Gas Turned On For Central and Bayard, June 23, Vol. 57, No. 35; and Name Dr. Walker Ft. Bayard Manager, October 13, Vol. 57, No. 51. 154 Military Reservation Under Forest Service, The Silver City Enterprise, June 27, Vol. 59, No. 36; Dinneen, Deed Without Warranty, 1 July FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 49) they need it, but that the facilities at Fort Bayard were to be used at full capacity. The statement did not really answer the concerns of the chamber, but at the time they believed that the government did not intend to replace the hospital with an internment site.

A few weeks later, the newspaper announced that the Mangas and Mimbres Civilian Conservation Corps camps were to be used as internment camps for the Japanese, and then in June, the dedication for the actual internment site in Lordsburg was announced.155 An internment site was not placed at Fort Bayard during the war and the war was not at its end, but in May of the Silver City Enterprise announced that the government was making plans to enlarge the Fort Bayard hospital in anticipation of returning war veterans. In June, Congressman Clinton P. Anderson substantiated the expansion of the hospital and assured those in Silver City that they were not in competition with the Albuquerque hospital.

The local American Legion continued to push for expansion of the Fort Bayard hospital well into They noted that after World War I there were patients at the facility and understood that although there would probably be less respiratory disease associated with World War II, there were many more men serving in the second war and the executive committee determined that this would cause the overall numbers of patients to be similar to the last war. The American Legion was able to enlist the support of Senator Dennis Chavez. And, although the Enterprise was reporting that the government was planning on expanding the hospital, there were rumors of the opposite as well residents of Silver City once again had suspicions that the hospital would close in a post war consolidation.

However, when the Senator checked on the status he was told that it would take a long time and much red tape, to close a veterans hospital, and because of this, the facility at Fort Bayard was safe.156 While those in Silver City continued to be concerned about the post-war status of Fort Bayard, there were changes occurring at the national level that would ultimately affect its administration. Congress passed the Servicemen s Readjustment Act in (popularly known as the GI Bill), which provided significant new benefits for returning veterans. The GI Bill placed the Veterans Administration second only to the War and Navy Departments in U.S. funding and personnel priorities.

Modernizing the agency for a new generation of military veterans was crucial, and replacement of the old guard World War I leadership became a necessity. In the Veterans Administration obtained a new director, Dr. Charles Griffith, who had served under the U.S. Public Health Service and Veterans Bureau. At the end of the war, Griffith oversaw the large influx of World War II veterans into the system, and along with General Hines, was one of the longest serving executives in the agency s history. Toward the end of World War II, the Veterans Administration had begun studies and research into more effective drug therapies for tuberculosis. By the end of the new drugs had been 155 The Silver City Enterprise: Fort Bayard Not To Be Internment Camp, February 6, Vol. 60, No.

16; Concentration Camps To Be Established, February 27, Vol. 60, No. 19; and To Dedicate Camp, June 11, Vol. 60, No. 34. 156 The Silver City Enterprise: Plans To Enlarge Ft. Bayard Hospital Get Solid Backing, May 18, Vol. 62, No. 29; American Legion Backs Expansion Of Fort Bayard, June 29, Vol. 62, No. 32; and Cong. Anderson Confirms Ft. Bayard Expansion Plans, June 6, Vol. 62, No. 36. Ft. Bayard Hospital Expansion Urged By American Legion, August 2, Vol. 63, No. 35; Ft. Bayard Hospital Expansion Supported By Senator Chavez, September 20, Vol. 63, No. 42; and Reassuring News About Ft. Bayard From Sen. Chavez, August 8, Vol. 63, No. 36. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 50) designed to treat tuberculosis, which affected the operation of the hospital at Fort Bayard.

The first new drug in combating tuberculosis was streptomycin, which helped but also had numerous side effects. While other drug treatments followed, it was not until when the most successful drug treatment, isoniazid, was put into use. The newly developed drugs required treatment over an extended period they only deterred the growth of the tuberculosis bacterium when it was active but in most cases the results were almost immediate. Although isoniazid and other drugs were being used to combat tuberculosis, it continued to be a major medical issue with the Veterans Administration. In the agency was operating 21 tuberculosis hospitals that cared for approximately patients. In addition, tuberculosis wards were located in Veterans Administration general medical and surgical hospitals.

This increase in the number of veteran tuberculosis patients in the mid-1950s has been attributed to the large increase in World War II and Korean War veterans who were eligible for health benefits. This influx of veterans required an increase in veterans hospitals and bed capacity. By the Veterans Administration was operating hospitals in 136 locations with a capacity of beds, and 13 percent of the beds were occupied by tuberculosis patients. Then, by the end of the fiscal year, the Veterans Administration was operating 170 hospitals with a capacity of beds. But, because of the new treatments, tuberculosis patient numbers were down and by the late only patients who could not adapt to life outside a sanatorium stayed for care.

This resulted in the closing of tuberculosis sanatoriums throughout the nation and by the early tuberculosis sanatoriums had nearly disappeared not only from the Veterans Administration, but from the American landscape.157 World War II had ended and there were new drug treatments for tuberculosis that limited the need for sanatorium/hospital care. In October of a month after Senator Chavez had again assured residents of the area that Fort Bayard would be kept open, it was announced in the Enterprise that the Veterans Administration was planning to close Hospital No. 55 when the new 250-bed hospital in Albuquerque was completed.

The Grant County Chamber of Commerce sprang into action to not only save their hospital, but to have it expanded.158 Senator Chavez stayed involved and he was assured by Clark M. Clifford, who was a special counsel to President Truman, Upon instruction of the President I have conferred at length with General Bradley regarding hospital at Fort Bayard. I am authorized by General Bradley to inform you that a re- investigation and re-survey of the Fort Bayard Hospital situation will be made and that no final decision on the matter will be reached until such re-survey is completed. 159 While the Veterans Administration carried out a survey, the members of the Chamber of Commerce spoke with their congressmen and Dr. A.J. Fuller, the manager at the hospital, about the conditions. Clinton P.

Anderson and Dennis Chavez had spoken with General Bradley and President Truman about the Fort Bayard hospital and they believed that there was a possibility would be made available for the expansion of the facility. Before that could happen though, the President ordered a complete new survey, and Senator Chavez suggested that the chamber contact 157 Spurlock, et al., Second Generation Hospitals, pp. Section E, pages 158 Plan To Abandon Ft. Bayard Hospital Vigorously Opposed, The Silver City Enterprise, October 31, Vol. 64, No. 48. 159 Ft. Bayard Action To Await Survey, The Silver City Enterprise, November 7, Vol. 64, No. 49. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 51) Fernandez, Lusk, and Hatch to request they put in a formal protest against the closing, which suggests that the hospital remained at risk.160 As the debate on the fate of Fort Bayard continued, a new acting manager was put in place at the hospital in January of His name was John C. Mertz and he arrived from the Veterans Administration office in Denver where he had served as chief of the inspection investigation division for Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. Prior to working for the Veterans Administration, he had been in the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Remington Arms Company (when war broke out), and was later connected with the Manhattan Project through E.I.

du Pont.161 All managers to this point had had medical backgrounds; Mertz s background, title with the Veterans Administration, and status as acting manager leads one to believe that he was there to administer change, whether the hospital was to stay or go. As the new manager came on board, engineers Boyer, C.A. Scoville, Smith, and O.C. Thompson of the Denver Regional Branch of the Veterans Administration began their survey of the Fort Bayard site. In May, as the celebration for the annual Hospital Day was announced, the Enterprise noted that there was a new and modern canteen, a new dental clinic, new chaplain s facilities, new recreation lounge, and a new veterans meeting room.

That same year drawings for alteration of the kitchen area had been approved by Veterans Administration Branch Office in Denver, Colorado.162 Although these updates had been made, it was reported in the August 7, Enterprise that the American Legion continued to take vigorous action to prevent the closing of Fort Bayard. The state commander of the American Legion was able to learn that there were no immediate plans to close the facility, but he could not determine the future once the new Albuquerque hospital opened. In addition to construction of the new hospital, Clinton P. Anderson noted that remoteness of Fort Bayard and the lack of recreational opportunities for the staff contributed to the continual discussions on closing the site.

In December, the Enterprise noted the numbers of patients for the Fort Bayard hospital: 160 patients with 5 on leave; 120 empty beds; 26 veterans waiting to be admitted; 26 who had been authorized for admission, but had not showed up; and 12 who came in for outpatient services.163 A few years later, in April of the Red Cross office at Fort Bayard was closed. Amid the protests, the Veterans Administration reported that while nine Red Cross offices at veterans hospitals were being closed and there were other protests, none was as virulent as the protests at Fort Bayard.

The locals argued that because of the remote location and that the nature of recovery for the tuberculosis patient required interaction with others, that the Red Cross was a critical component of the hospital and patient recovery. As with the closing of the hospital itself, 160 The Silver City Enterprise: Ft. Bayard Hospital Status Being Given Careful Study, November 21, Vol. 64, No. 51, and Re-Survey Ordered Of Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, November 28, Vol. 64, No. 52. 161 New Manager In Charge of Fort Bayard Hospital, The Silver City Enterprise, January 9, Vol. 65, No. 8. 162 The Silver City Enterprise: Engineers Making Fort Bayard Survey, January 16, Vol. 65, No. 7; Fort Bayard All Ready For Hospital Day, May 8, Vol. 65, No. 23. Veterans Administration, Hospital Building No.

architectural drawing, 5 December 163 The Silver City Enterprise: Fort Bayard Will Not Close Soon, VA Tells Briggs, September 4, Vol. 65, No. 40; Fort Bayard in No Immediate Danger, Says Anderson, April 22, Vol. 66, No. 20; and Ft. Bayard Hospital Reports 120 Empty Beds, December 11, Vol. 66, No. 2. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 52) the community rallied to protest the closing of the Red Cross office. By June, the American Red Cross announced that the office would not close, but rather it would be run by volunteers and a representative. Interestingly, the organization added that the original report had been erroneous.164 Vice-Admiral Boone visited the Fort Bayard hospital in December of Lowell C.

Like, the hospital manager for the previous three years, introduced the vice-admiral who was on a tour of the 154 hospitals under the Veterans Administration. During his visit Boone said, I will not commiserate you who live here in one of the more isolated portions of our nation. On the other hand I envy you who live in this lovely, beautiful county with its wholesome atmosphere. He also assured the group that the hospital would continue to be improved and broadened for the care of those with tuberculosis. But in reality, nationwide, caseloads continued to decrease as improved treatments for the disease were developed. In December of the Enterprise announced staff cuts at Fort Bayard, due to a declining work load. The hospital anticipated reducing the staff by twenty-three, but Dr.

Carter noted that although they were losing employees, the level of care per patient would not go down.165 A month later, in January of Dr. Carter and his employees made a presentation to the Grant County Chamber of Commerce at the Murray Hotel in downtown Silver City. James Fleener, head of personnel, presented his duties and reported that the hospital had 225 employees with a 40-hour week (with overtime if they stayed longer), and that in total the staff was paid per day. Then Rex Keeling, assistant manager, spoke about running the facility. He described that he thought of it as 1) a hospital, 2) a community, 3) a business. He said that they had 222 beds and that it was at 2/3 capacity with tuberculosis patients.

But, he noted the reality that the numbers of tuberculosis cases was decreasing as methods of treatment improved, and as such the hospital was turning more toward treating geriatrics. He reported that Fort Bayard itself was a community because the site had everything one could need, except a bank there were seventy- five families living there, a fire department, police department, school, chapel, post office, theater, and other support. Although he thought of Fort Bayard as a business last on his list, it was still a big business and it took a great deal of money to run the complex and, additionally, the hospital had to meet Veterans Administration standards.

He noted that the overall budget was million annually and that 90 percent of that was spent in Grant County: the food bill was telephone was and heating costs were per year.166 In retrospect, it seems that management at Fort Bayard was preparing the chamber for potential down-sizing at the hospital, as in August of Dr. Carter announced the further reduction of twelve employees: there had been 204 patients in and now they were down to The increase in home care for those with tuberculosis was also impacting the hospital; the manager had to reduce staff to meet his fiscal obligations, as he was only allowed to spend a certain 164 The Silver City Enterprise: Decision To Close Red Cross Office At Ft. Bayard Protested By Directors, April 14, Vol. 67, No.

19, and Fort Bayard s ARC Office Won t Close, June 23, Vol. 67, No. 29. 165 The Silver City Enterprise: Chief Medical Director, Vice-Admiral Boone, Official Visitor Here, December 10, Vol. 70, No. 1, and Fort Bayard Announces Reduction In Personnel; 23 Jobs Affected, December 16, Vol. 73, No. 3. 166 Ft. Bayard Hospital Spends Most Of Annual Budget In Grant County; Labor Alone Takes Million, The Silver City Enterprise, January 13, Vol. 73, No. 7. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 53) amount per patient. These changes effectively closed one ward of the facility. And, of course, there was outcry from the Grant County Chamber of Commerce and appeals were taken to Senators, Congressmen, and the Veterans Administration.

As the community was working to keep the hospital open at its previous level, Dr. Carter enumerated the parameters within which he was working to keep the hospital opened at that level: it would require 185 patients, with 80 of them being treated for tuberculosis. The total patient population had been at 172 for a number of months and with the success rate against tuberculosis, it did not seem that the number would go back up. However, the local group argued that even though there was a decline in tuberculosis patients, there was an increased need to care for disabled veterans from World War II and the Korean conflict.167 In response to the community outcry, later that month Governor Simms, Higley, Veterans Administration, and Dr.

Middleton, chief of Hospital Services, planned to arrive in Albuquerque and fly in a National Guard plane to join Dr. Charles H. Beasley, Area Medical Director for the Veterans Administration, at Fort Bayard. Beasley was planning on arriving at Fort Bayard from St. Louis before the chiefs to meet with Dr. Carter and representatives from the chamber to survey and discuss the hospital. Arriving earlier would allow him to be prepared to discuss the situation with the chiefs from the Veterans Administration. The meeting had been arranged by Senator Dennis Chavez, who wanted the top officials to make their own inspection of the hospital.

It was the hope that this meeting would not only stop the reductions that were occurring at the facility, but that it would encourage the leadership to invest and maximize the use of the 350-bed hospital. The group was also planning on visiting the hospitals at Albuquerque, Tucson, and Prescott, Arizona.168 As the group was preparing for the meeting, it was announced that Dr. Carter, who had been at the hospital for three years, was being replaced by Dr. Irving Eldredge, who was the chief medical officer at the facility in Bonham, Texas. He had served as a medical officer during the war, and had also served at Lubbock, Texas.

He assumed the position on November 1, On October 6, the Veterans Administration in Washington, announced that the ward at the hospital would not be closed and that the meeting with the governor and chiefs had been cancelled. The new plan was to maintain a patient load of 200 and expand to the 350-bed capacity.169 Dr. Kurtz became the new manager for the Fort Bayard hospital in January of He was transferred from the Albuquerque veterans hospital, had a medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and had been in private practice while teaching at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. On July 20, the official status of Fort Bayard finally changed from a tuberculosis hospital to that of a General Medical and Surgical Hospital.

This allowed the hospital to be available for treatment of all veterans, but retained the capability to treat those with tuberculosis. Under the new standing there were 60 beds for tuberculosis patients, 115 for 167 The Silver City Enterprise: Personnel Cut At Ft. Bayard, August 11, Vol. 72, No. 37, and Fort Bayard Hospital Curtailment Stirs Quick, Vigorous Opposition, September 1, Vol. 73, No. 40. 168 The Silver City Enterprise: VA Chiefs Will Inspect Hospital, September 22, Vol. 73, No. 43, and VA Conference Here Saturday, September 29, Vol. 73, No. 44. 169 The Silver City Enterprise: New Manager At Fort Bayard, September 29, Vol. 73, No. 44; Heads VA Hospital, November 10, Vol. 73, No. 50, and Hospital Ward Remains Open, October 6, Vol. 73, No. 45.

FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 54) general medical service, and 40 for surgical cases. Senator Clinton P. Anderson and Congressmen Joseph M. Montoya and Thomas G. Morris released statements approving of the change and supporting the expansion of the hospital.170 Less than a year later, Dr. Kurtz made a presentation to the Grant County Chamber of Commerce and described that the Fort Bayard Veterans Administration Hospital was one of the best in the nation and that there were ongoing improvements to medical equipment, expansion of facilities, and additions to medical and nursing staff to advance the care and treatment of patients.

He noted that the annual budget had risen to million and had been approved for for fiscal year Also during improvements to the water system were made to the loop from the water tank to the hospital to support the new emergency sprinkler system in the hospital and auditorium. The facility replaced feet of four and six-inch water main with eight-inch asbestos pipe and 675 feet of four-inch main with six inch pipe. The contract was for and it was awarded to the El Paso Mechanical Contractors, Inc. the Enterprise anticipated that the work would be complete by January 1, Glenn R.

Stevens, the Central Office Director of Engineering Service for the Department of Medicine and Surgery, visited Fort Bayard in During his visit he transferred the existing assistant chief engineer at Fort Bayard to a facility in Amarillo, Texas, but he also inspected the buildings, new medical equipment, including an sterilizer, and the ongoing installation of a new elevator. A few months later, Dr. Jerome Ritter was named the new director for Fort Bayard. Dr.

Ritter had received his degree from Yale University and had joined the Veterans Administration in He had also served in the Army during World War II and had served at numerous Veterans Administration hospitals with his last service at the hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.172 Along with the physical plant improvements, a pathologist was added to the staff at the hospital in which meant that tissue samples no longer had to be sent to Albuquerque and Denver for testing. It had been twenty-five years since the southern New Mexico hospital had its own pathologist.

Having such a doctor on staff meant that treatment for a patient could begin a full two weeks earlier than had been possible without a pathologist on site.173 After two years of running the hospital at Fort Bayard, in September of Dr. Ritter was transferred to the Martinez Veterans Administration Hospital in California. However, while his transfer was announced in the Enterprise, the newspaper noted that no one had been named to replace the doctor. Three weeks later the paper announced that Dr. Womack would be the new director of Hospital No. 55. He had previously served as the Chief of Surgical Service at 170 Robinson E. Adkins, Medical Care of Veterans, (Washington, Government Printing Office), p. The Silver City Enterprise: Dr.

Kurtz New Manager Bayard Hospital, January 15, Year, Number 5, and Veterans Hospital Becomes Medical Surgical Center, July 23, Year, Number 42. 171 The Silver City Enterprise: Fort Bayard Hospital Ranks High In Nation, May 26, Year, Number 34, and Water System Expansion At Fort Bayard, August 14, Year, Number 18. 172 The Silver City Enterprise: Inspection Of Fort Bayard By Chief Engineer, February 9, Year, Number 34, and New Director Fort Bayard Hospital Named, June 7, Year, Number 35. 173 Doctor Added To Ft. Bayard Hospital Staff, The Silver City Enterprise, July 11, Year, Number 41. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 55) Fort Bayard, after which he transferred to the Albuquerque hospital in where he had served as the Chief of Staff.174 Then, in January of a few short months after Dr. Womack was transferred, the Enterprise announced that Fort Bayard would be closing. All the chambers of commerce in the area, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Senators Clinton Anderson, Joseph Montoya, Congressmen Thomas Morris and Johnny Walker all joined in an effort the keep the facility open. However, while they had saved the veterans facility in the past, this time it was different. Fort Bayard was not being singled out, it was part of a group of Veterans Administration hospitals and regional offices that were to be closed by June 30.

The driver was a limit of total beds for the Veterans Administration, and new hospitals were being constructed that would put the agency over their allowed number. Leaders and residents in Grant County were clearly unhappy about the move. The hospital was worth $10 million and it spent about $2 million annually in the area. The County anticipated a major loss and impact on the local economy.175 A month later five New Mexico doctors conducted a survey of the hospital, as requested by New Mexico Congressmen. The doctors included: Dr. Thomas G Hoover of Tucumcari; Dr. Angus McKinnon of Lovelace Clinic in Albuquerque; Dean Reginald H. Fitz of the School of Medicine at the University of New Mexico; Dr. George Richardson of Roswell; and Dr. Carl W.

Gallenthien of Valmora, who had been a president of the American Medical Association. While the doctors were making their assessment, Senator Anderson worked with others in Congress to put forth a bill that would require the Veterans Administration to give at least six months notice and hearings in the local district before it could act on closing a facility.176 Senator Montoya published his opinion in his weekly newsletter that the Veterans Administration should not close the hospitals in the west, which was sparsely populated and had an increasing veteran need. And, while the Veterans Administration was proposing to move the Fort Bayard patients to Albuquerque, the Albuquerque hospital actually had a waiting list with 102 veterans on it.

He wondered how the 170 patients at Fort Bayard could possibly be accommodated there. He also pointed out that the Veterans Administration had cited obsolescence as a factor, yet it had spent over the previous five years to modernize the facility in fact, Albuquerque staff had been sent to Fort Bayard to tag equipment they might want at their facility, and a number of them had let the Fort Bayard staff know that the equipment there was more modern than at the Albuquerque hospital. To keep the hospital from closing, the Senator recommended raising the bed limit for the agency to which would allow Fort Bayard to stay open. In the meantime, he had supported a Joint Resolution that 174 The Silver City Enterprise: Dr.

Ritter Heads Veterans Hospital in California, September 3, Year, Number 49, and Dr. Womack New Fort Bayard Hospital Director, September 24, Year, Number 52. 175 The Silver City Enterprise: Mullin It Over, Bill Mullane, February 11, Year, Number 20, and Fort Bayard Hospital Closing Believed Definitely Decided By U.S. Veterans Administration, January 31, Year, Number 17. 176 The Silver City Enterprise: Outstanding New Mexico Doctors Make Survey Of Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, February 4, Year, Number 19, and Fort Bayard Closing Temporarily Halted, February 11, Year, Number 20. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 56) no previously approved funds for the Veterans Administration were to be allowed for the closing of existing facilities.177 While the New Mexico representatives did their part to save Fort Bayard, Thomas Foy, head of the Tri-State Veterans committee and a World War II veteran who had survived the Bataan death march and four years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, went to Washington, to address the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He said, We as veterans are not satisfied with the arbitrary answers we received from our Director of Veterans Affairs concerning the closing of our veterans [sic] facilities, We do not think our Congressmen are satisfied with the answers they have received, The Director is working for the Veteran.

It is true he is appointed by the President with approval of the Senate, It is therefore our thinking that he should consult with the Veterans Organizations and our Congressmen whenever such a drastic renovation of our Veterans Administration is taken.178 The Director of Veterans Affairs, William J. Driver, visited the Fort Bayard hospital in April. Although he was careful to not say anything, those that had toured with him ascertained that he had been impressed by the magnitude and quality of the facility. He was to prepare a report for the President. Additionally, the President had appointed a Special Committee to report and make recommendations for the closure (or not) of eleven Veterans Administration hospitals.

The Special Committee was scheduled to visit Fort Bayard on May 9, Then, later that week, the Enterprise reported that although the committee had recommended keeping five of the eleven hospitals open, it had recommended closing Fort Bayard. And, although Driver announced that the President had directed him to follow through on the recommendations, the next month Senator Anderson sent a telegraph to the Enterprise to let the paper know, The fight to keep Fort Bayard Veterans Administration Hospital open is not over, as far as I am concerned. 179 While Senator Anderson was committed to keeping a Veterans Administration hospital in southern New Mexico, the state began to consider an alternative.

In July of a ten person committee was formed to inspect the hospital and assess whether it could be used as a state facility. The committee had been established by Governor John M. Campbell. That same month it was announced that the Veterans Administration would indeed close the facility on August 9 and that in preparation for the closure, patients were being moved to Albuquerque. The agency also announced that the cemetery would be closed to new burials, but that water rights would be kept so the grounds could be watered (although it was unclear whether there would be staff to maintain the grounds). At that time, the state requested that the federal government keep the facility intact until plans could be completed for taking over the Fort Bayard site.

In late July, the 177 Mullin It Over, Bill Mullane, The Silver City Enterprise, February 11, Year, Number 20; This Is The Way It Is At Fort Bayard Veteran s Hospital, The Silver City Enterprise, February 18, Mullin It Over, Bill Mullane, The Silver City Enterprise, February 18, Year, Number 21. 178 Thomas Foy Makes Forceful Appeal For Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, The Silver City Enterprise, April 1, Year, Number 27.

179 The Silver City Enterprise: Driver Impressed By Magnitude Of Hospital, April 9, Year, Number 28; President s Group To Visit Hospital At Fort Bayard, May 6, Year, Number 32; President s Committee Recommends Closing Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, May 13, Year, Number 33; and President Orders Closing Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital; Five To Remain Open; Senator Anderson Says Fight Not Over, June 10, Year, Number 37. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 57) Enterprise reported that the New Mexico Department of Public Welfare would take over Fort Bayard land and facilities as a 300-bed state hospital for the elderly.

By August 12, the transfer of the veteran patients to Albuquerque, Tucson, and Big Springs in Texas was complete and the General Accounting Office was preparing the site for the state. Most of the Veterans Administration hospital employees had moved on: 150 accepted transfers, retired, and the remainder were hoping for employment with the new state hospital.180 Indeed, the state took control of the Fort Bayard hospital with an interim permit on September 1, The new administrator was Tom Shinas, who had served as the assistant administrator of St. Francis Catholic Hospital in Carlsbad, NM. The initial number of patients for the new state facility was to be By November, the hospital had 145 geriatric patients and 50 more were anticipated by the beginning of the year.

Many had been moved from a hospital in Las Vegas via National Guard planes. Now that the hospital was up and running as a state facility, Shinas was anticipating expanding to help crippled and retarded children as well as the elderly.181 Official ceremonies turning over the deed to the Fort Bayard site from the Veterans Administration to the State of New Mexico took place in June of The deed included a clause that the federal government would retain interest in the property for twenty years, but that after that the state would obtain full ownership. The deed, which included 468 acres and 55 buildings that had been valued at million, was handed to a representative of Governor Campbell by Sol Leson the Director of Surplus Properties Division of the U.S.

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The federal use of the site which had begun in was at an end, and at that time the new state hospital had 263 patients and the capacity for The state hospital continued operation for forty years until when the building was vacated and replaced with a newly constructed building across from the entrance to Fort Bayard. After the staff moved to the new hospital, the building remained vacant and became a target for vandalism. The state and community worked together to find a new use and solicited developers for the site. In the end, it was the considerable square footage and the remote location which had been an issue throughout its history that were the reasons a new use was not tenable.

After investigating alternatives, the state eventually made the decision to demolish the building. Part II. Architectural Information A. General statement The hospital was constructed of poured concrete and steel, with a flat built-up roof and parapets, stuccoed exterior, wood doors, wood divided lite casement windows (double hung in stairwells), 180 The Silver City Enterprise: Special Committee To Visit Ft. Bayard, July 9, Year, Number 41; Veterans Hospital To Close Aug. 9 and VA Will Close Cemetery At Fort Bayard, July 22, Year, Number 43; State To Take Over Ft. Bayard Hospital Sept. 1, July 29, Year, Number 44; and Fort Bayard Patients Are Transferred and State Prepares For Takeover Of Hospital, August 12, Year, Number 46. 181 The Silver City Enterprise: Manager Assumes Duties At Ft.

Bayard Hospital For State Welfare Department, September 2, Year, Number 49, and State Hospital At Fort Bayard Adding Patients, November 4, Year, Number 6. 182 State Receives Deed To Fort Bayard Hospital, The Silver City Enterprise, June 9, Year, Number 36. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 58) concrete sills, and a wood cornice attached to the parapet. The windows for the kitchen/mess had segmental arches. Cloth window awnings were added shortly after construction, and eventually the wood windows were replaced with steel casements and the cloth awnings were replaced with aluminum (exact date of these alterations is unknown). 1. Architectural character: The Fort Bayard hospital was designed in a modern architectural vocabulary.

It is representative of a time when architectural theorists were focused on structural honesty and a new architecture. At the end of World War I, Europeans were anxious for a fresh start and artistic and architectural movements were born of this desire. In de Stihl which focused on abstraction and the line was founded in the Netherlands by Theo van Doesburg, who worked with many artists including Piet Mondrian and Oud. Two years later Walter Gropius opened the Bauhaus in Weimar, Germany, where architects and artists explored new architecture. The Bauhaus goals were to create architecture for the workers and to reject anything that was considered bourgeois. The modernists considered design that was not bourgeois to be pure and they sought a pure architecture.

Regardless of the architectural or artistic movement, in general these movements were working toward a cleaner and more direct, yet profound, interpretation of the world. The result was a penchant for flat roofs, clean right angles, and expressed structure; there were to be no more cornices, overhanging eaves, false fronts, pilasters, entablatures, pediments, anthropomorphic features, spires, corbels or other grandiose architectural elements. The new architecture was simple, where the exterior expressed what was occurring on the interior and steel and concrete were the materials that created the modern expression.

Some of the leaders of the modernist movement, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe embraced surface texture, color, and precise geometrical shapes as the primary artistic expression in their architecture. The designs for U.S. Public Health Service hospitals were being developed as the nascent modern architectural movement was gaining momentum. Architects in the United States were responding to the European movements by including the modernist lexicon in the design of new buildings. For the U.S. Public Health Service, the new architecture provided a means for simplicity in design that would also address the need for open air sanatoriums for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Expressing the structure, maximizing glazing, and flat roofs with terraces worked well with the need for fresh air and large patient wards. The hospital at Fort Bayard represents a transition from architecture that expresses historical references to a modern architecture: it is constructed of concrete and steel and has flat roofs, clean right angles, and large areas of glazing between vertical structural elements, all of which represent modernism. But it also includes a wooden cornice, stucco bands, segmentally arched windows at the kitchen/mess, and the overall scale/proportions of a neoclassical building. It is the perfect blend of where United States government architecture had been and where it would go in the future.

The character-defining features of the building included: its massing, number of stories, H- shaped configuration, concrete construction with sand finish stucco, flat roof with parapets, wood cornice, large window openings, and divided light windows. 2. Condition of fabric: The building has been continuously vandalized since it was vacated. Doors, windows, and finishes are in fair to poor condition; however, the structure is in FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 59) good condition. The stucco is deteriorating, paint is peeling, a number of the window awnings are missing, and some window glazing is broken. B. Description of Exterior Fort Bayard Hospital, Infirmary Group is H-shaped and consists of two wings and a central kitchen/dining area that are connected by corridors.

The wings are three stories, plus a basement/ground floor, and the kitchen is two stories. The walls are stuccoed with a light yellow, almost cream color with a sand finish and the roof is flat, built up roofing with parapets. The wings have a wood, molded cornice with a stuccoed parapet extension with a rectangular cap. The north and south of each wing consists of three bays with steel fixed and casement windows filling the area between the columns between bays and spandrel panels between floors. Each window has a concrete sill and a transom panel above the window unit. The basement level consists of paired 6/6 windows in each bay.

The outside elevations of the long axis of each wing, beginning at the north, include: one bay that is the same as the north elevation; a bay that extends from the building 4 with individual 6/6 windows (staircase on the interior) and a door at the basement level; three bays that match the north elevation (ward on the interior); a series of nine 6/6 windows in a bay that extend from the building 8 , there is a door at the basement level on the second fenestration from the north; three bays that match the north elevation (ward on the interior); and one bay that extends from the building 4 with individual 6/6 windows (staircase on the interior), with a door at the basement level. The building then steps down to two stories and includes two individual 6/6 windows.

There are metal awnings over the large ward fenestrations, and sporadic awnings on the individual 6/6 windows. The original wood doors had been replaced over the years with hollow core metal.

The inside elevations of each wing, beginning at the north, include: one bay that is the same as the north elevation; a bay that extends from the building 4 with individual 6/6 windows; three bays that match the north elevation (ward on the interior); a bay that extends from the building 4 and includes three individual 6/6 windows; the connecting corridor; a bay that extends 3 feet and includes three individual 6/6 windows; a recess back to a bay that extends from the building 4 and includes three individual 6/6 windows; three bays that match the north elevation (ward on the interior); and one bay that extends from the building 4 with individual 6/6 windows. As with the outside elevation, the placement of the awnings is sporadic.

The west wing (Building 145 or Wing B) includes a two-story extension on the south end that was constructed in to serve as a surgery suite. It has a connector bay that is even with the exterior wall of the original building and includes two 6/6 windows. The addition walls then recesses back 8 and extends to the south with ten 6/6 windows. All second story windows have awnings, while the basement units do not. The south elevation includes large windows on the east and west at the second floor, and a central door with a fire escape. The basement windows are The parapet is 6 tall and the roof served as a sun porch. There is a metal cover with two columns that extends from the original building onto the roof.

The connecting corridors are two stories, consist of five bays, and include individual 6/6 windows on the first floor and tripartite steel windows with casements in the center of the outside FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 60) units. The windows have concrete sills, a band between floors, and a cap at the top of the parapet. There is a pair of wood doors in the central window on the north elevation of the east corridor (there originally was a stair leading to grade from this door). There is a ramp with concrete segmentally arched supports, leading from grade up into the connecting corridor at the central fenestration, which contains paired metal doors.

The kitchen/mess is two stories and it extends one bay to the north of the connecting corridor with 8/8 wood windows with concrete sills on the basement level, surmounted by a band and paired steel windows with a mullion and central casements, surmounted by a band at the parapet and a steel railing set inside the parapet. It extends seven bays to the south and rises approximately 10 above the roof of the connecting corridor. The windows are segmentally arched, with units and a four-pane arched transom. The windows are surmounted by the same molding and parapet band as the wings. On the north elevation there are seven, short, segmentally arched fenestration, six of which are boarded, but one shows the original window unit, which is a 10-pane unit (five on the bottom and five on top).

The basement level consists of 6/6 windows with paired metal doors. C. Description of Interior The interior has clean lines and a lack of ornamentation. The walls are painted concrete, the ceilings were originally painted concrete, but most have hung acoustical tile grids, and the floors are finished with composition tile and vinyl baseboard. The wings consist of double loaded halls with large day rooms that extend across the width of the north end, large ward rooms towards either end, and smaller rooms along the hallway. The doors onto the halls are metal. There are stairs at either end and in the middle. The structural repair columns and beams are visible throughout the day rooms, wards, and smaller rooms.

In order to effect the necessary structural repair, the columns were placed approximately into each room an awkward spacing, but it kept the floors from warping and provided structural stability. The wing halls have concrete beams running perpendicular to the hallway and were hidden above the hung ceiling. The wing halls are intersected by the connecting corridor, which leads to the kitchen/mess at the center of the building. The connecting corridor consists of primarily windows, with the same finishes as the wings. The kitchen/mess includes two large dining rooms on the east side and one large kitchen on the west. North of the connecting corridor there are smaller rooms. The basement includes the original refrigerators; meat delivery, processing, and storage; and numerous store rooms.

These all have the same finishes as the wings, except the large kitchen, which has a tin ceiling that was added after the building was constructed. D. Site Fort Bayard is at an elevation of feet and was established to protect a nearby copper mine at Santa Rita del Cobre, a mining camp at Pinos Altos, and Silver City (as well as settlers in the area). It is located on the eastern slope of the Pinos Altos Mountains, which includes a floodplain resulting from Cameron Creek flows. This flood plain was used by both the Army and the Veterans Bureau for farming. The creek also was dammed by the Army and the Veterans Bureau to augment the water supply for the site.

The west side of the site includes the Twin Sisters Creek (which runs parallel to Cameron Creek) that has been used for watering the nine- FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 61) hole golf course and cemetery. The historic district is bounded by the creeks on the east and west, the entrance gate at the south (where the original State Road 11 and U.S. 180 originally ran), and the hill at the north. The hospital complex lies at the center of the site. The parade ground is the dominant landscape feature, and the building that is the subject of this report lies on the southern half of the original parade ground. The original Army hospital was at the north end of the parade ground on a hill. The U.S.

Public Health Service Infirmary Group was constructed on the south end of the original Fort Bayard parade ground. Two sites were considered for the location of the new building; however, plans showing these locations were not found during research for this project. In any case, buildings were moved to create room for the complex, and the hospital was centrally located at the old Army post. This left half of the parade ground to serve as a lawn. The site is bounded by streets: the east and west streets run close to the building, while the north and south are set back. The dairy and other farm animals were located to the east of the complex, at the base of a hill. Gardens were located to the south of the dairy.

A veterans cemetery is located to the west of the complex (originally there was a golf course and a rifle butt adjacent to the cemetery land). All these outlying facilities were, and continue to be, accessed by roads that leads from the road running along the south of the parade ground/hospital site. Officers Row runs north/south at the west side of the hospital site, the Administration Building was at the north end of the parade ground, and the theater (and World War II temporary buildings) ran north/south along the east side of the hospital. To the south of the hospital were support buildings, such as the heating plant and storage. There were also a couple of residences along this south road. As the hospital was being constructed, the director requested additional housing for staff.

Housing for the unskilled staff was constructed south of the main complex along the entrance road, and housing for skilled staff was added near the original Officers Row. There were originally well-kept lawns and evergreens, with an alley along the main road; now the site has little grass and few of the trees remain. Part III. Sources of Information Adkins, Robinson E. Medical Care of Veterans, (Washington, Government Printing Office), Campbell, Margaret. What Tuberculosis did for Modernism: The Influence of a Curative Environment on Modernist Design and Architecture, Medical History magazine, Dinneen, Deed Without Warranty, 1 July pp.

Forbes, Annual Report of the Director United States Veterans Bureau: For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, reprint (London: Forgotten Books), Harding, Warren G. Executive Order Department of State, April 29, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 62) Hines, Frank T. U.S. Veterans Bureau. Regulations: United States Veterans Bureau, reprint from the collections of the University of California Libraries (San Bernardino, CA), accessed Kammer, David. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Fort Bayard Historic District, Section 8, Melzer, Richard. Sanatoriums of New Mexico (Charleston, Arcadia Publishing), Perez, Carabina A.

Correction to Deed Without Warranty Dated July 1, to the State of New Mexico, (Grant County: County Clerk), Richardson, Darlene, Veterans Administration email correspondence, Sobocinski, Andre, Information from email and accessed Spurlock, Trent, Karen E. Hudson, Dean Doerrfeld, Craig A. Potts.

National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form, United States Second Generation Veterans Hospitals, United States Public Health Service, Annual Report of the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service of the United States for the Fiscal Year (Government Printing Office, Washington, Utley, Robert M., United States Department of the Interior, National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, Theme XV Western Expansion (Military and Indian Affairs), Fort Bayard, (National Park Service, Washington Verville, Richard. War, Politics, and Philanthropy: The History of Rehabilitation Medicine (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, Inc.), Walters, Frederick Rufenacht.

The Open-Air or Sanatorium Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, (New York: William Wood & Company), Weber, Gustavus A. and Laurence F. Schmeckebier. The Veterans Administration: Its History, Activities and Organization, Institute for Government Research: Service Monographs of the United States Government No. 66, (Washington: The Brookings Institution), National Archives, Record Group 15 Subject Box 46 of 63, Folder Excelsior Springs, MO to Ft. Logan, Ark. Forbes to A.A. Jones, June 13, Memorandum as to conditions at Fort Bayard, October 3, Robert U. Patterson to Medical Officer in Charge, U.S. Veterans Hospital No. 55, November 6, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 63) National Archives, Record Group 90 Print Folders 1 6a, Box 1 of 45 (historic post cards) Temporary Army wards at Fort Bayard, circa Administration Building at Fort Bayard, circa Ambulatory wards at Fort Bayard, circa Infirmary at Fort Bayard, circa Nurses Quarters at Fort Bayard, circa Road to Fort Bayard hospital, circa National Archives, Record Group 121 Box No. Folder April July Cumming, Surgeon General to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington Regarding Repairs and Alterations, April 13, William Charles White, Frank Billings, John G. Bowman, and George H. Kirby to The Honorable, The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington Hospitalization memo, May 16, Charles W. Berry to Mr.

Wheeler, Treasury Department, Public Health Service, Fort Bayard, New Mexico memo, June 11, A.A. Jones, United States Senate, Committee on Finance to the Honorable Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington June 21, Long, Surgeon Executive Officer, Public Health Service to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, June 24, Long to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, June 24, A.W. Mellon to The Honorable, The Secretary of War, June 24, James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervisory Architect to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction, Office of Supervising Architect, June 29, Moyle to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent of Construction, Office of the Supervising Architect, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, U.S.P.H.S.

Hospital SA-C, June 30, Whitledge to Surgeon General, Cumming, telegram July 18, Moyle to A.B. McCulloch, July 21, H.E. Whitledge to The Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, July 21, H.E. Whitledge to The Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, July 21, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 64) Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, July 22, Folder April July James A. Wetmore to Russell, care of Superintendent McCulloch, July 26, James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, July 25, James A. Wetmore to Muldowney, Architectural Draftsman, Office of Supervising Architect, July 25, Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington, Re: Department letter SA-C, dated June 30, U.S.

Public Health Service Hospital, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, July 22, Cummings letter from Surgeon General to the Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington August 29, Box No. Folder Aug. Sep [1 of 2] Cumming to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August, James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, September 22, Eliot Wadsworth to Fuller, August 29, Weston, memo from Treasury Department, Washington to Enterprise , Silver City, New Mexico, construction of infirmary group, except mechanical equipment, and extensions for heating, power and refrigeration plants, September 28, Box No. Folder Aug. Sep [2 of 2] Wainwright to The Honorable, The Secretary of the Treasury, August 1, H.E. Whitledge to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 6, Albert B.

McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 6, Muldowney to The Supervising Architect, telegram August 8, H.E. Whitledge to The Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Road Improvements, August 16, Muldowney to The Acting Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 9, Folder Aug. Sep. [2 of 2]. Russell to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 9, McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 22, McCulloch to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, August 18, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 65) Albert B. McCulloch, letter from Superintendent of Construction to the Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, Washington Corral and Stables in Vicinity of New Infirmary, September 14, James A.

Wetmore, letter from Acting Supervising Architect to A.B. McCulloch, Superintendent, Public Health Service Hospital Fort Bayard, New Mexico, September 23, Box No. Folder Oct. [1 of 2] John S. Mills, memo from Treasury Department, Washington to Enterprise , Silver City, New Mexico, construction of the mechanical equipment of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Fort Bayard New Mexico, October 7, McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, October 13, James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, October 19, Treasury Department, Office of Supervisory Architect memo to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Proposals for the Construction of the Infirmary Group of Buildings at the U.S. Hospital at Ft.

Bayard, and Extension to the Heating, Power and Refrigerating Plant at the Station, approved by Edward Clifford, November 5, Treasury Department, Office of Supervisory Architect memo to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Supplemental Recommendation in Proposals for Infirmary Group, Extension to the Central Heating Plant and Power and Refrigerating Plant, approved by Edward Clifford, November 5, Box No. Folder Oct. [2 of 2] McCulloch to The Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, October 7, McCulloch telegram to Supervising Architect, with note from Superintendent of Mining Engineering Division, November 10, Folder Nov. [2 of 2]. S. Faith Company, Inc. to Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, November 19, Folder Nov. [1 of 2]. S. Faith Co., Inc.

to Office of Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, November 19, Folder Nov. [1 of 2]. Box No. Folder Nov. [1 of 2] Albert B. McCulloch, Form Treasury Department, U.S.P.H.S. Construction Infirmary, etc. at Hospital, Fort Bayard, R.E. McKee to James A. Wetmore, U.S.P.H.S. Hospital No. 55, Ft. Bayard, November 23, James A. Wetmore to R.E. McKee, November 30, Edward Clifford to S. Faith Company, Inc., November 14, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 66) James A. Wetmore to R.E. McKee, November 16, James A. Wetmore to Superintendent of Construction, November 16, R.E. McKee telegram to James A. Wetmore, November 23, James A. Wetmore to R.E. McKee, November 22, R.E. McKee telegram to James A. Wetmore, November 25, James A. Wetmore to Elliott, December 10, James A.

Wetmore to R.E. McKee, December 10, W.E. Robertson to R.E. McKee, December 14, Edward Clifford to General Charles E. Sawyer, November 17, McCulloch to Supervising Architect, November 22, H.A. Pattison to Consultants on Hospitalization, Treasury Department, November 29, Townsend to Supervising Architect, December 2, Supervising Architect, memo December 5, Edward Clifford to R.E. McKee, November 9, Box No. Folder Dec. L.A. Simon to Moore, December 24, R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, December 17, R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, December 22, C.E. Johnson to Albert B. McCulloch, December 22, Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, December 22, Albert B. McCulloch, Progress Report for the Month of December Box No. Folders Jan.

Kidner to Edward Clifford, January 6, Folder [1 of 2]. Frank L. Moore to Supervising Architect, January 24, Folder [2 of 2]. R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, January 20, Folder [2 of 2]. R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, January 19, Folder [2 of 2]. McAllister to Supervisor of Architecture, January 21, Folder [2 of 2]. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 67) Box No. Folders Feb. R.E. McKee to Edward Clifford, February 27, Folder [1 of 2]. Treasury Department, Bids of Proposals for Two Electric Passenger Elevators and One Food Lift, February 28, Folder [1 of 2]. Bid Acceptance, Two Electric Passenger Elevators for Infirmary and One Food Lift, All Electric, March 7, Folder [1 of 2]. Treasury Department to Silver City Enterprise, February 7, Folder [2 of 2]. Luther E.

Jenner to Supervising Architect, February 15, Folder [2 of 2]. Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, February 16, Folder [2 of 2]. Box No. Folder March James A. Wetmore to McCulloch, March 6, Edward Clifford to A.B. McCulloch, March 7, A.B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, March 7, Albert B. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, March 20, Robert D. Maddox to Supervising Architect, March 18, Edward Clifford telegram to R.E. McKee, March 20, Box No. Folders April May Fort Bayard, Percentage of Completion of Various Units, May 1, Infirmary Group, Etc. May 1, Folder [1 of 2]. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, May 23, Folder [1 of 2]. McCulloch to Supervising Architect, April 1, Folder [2 of 2]. Edward Clifford to McCulloch, April 1, Folder [2 of 2]. James A.

Wetmore to Superintendent of Construction, April 12, Folder [2 of 2]. Jenner telegram to Wetmore, June 13, Folder June July Folder [2 of 2]. Box No. Folders June July McCulloch to Supervising Architect, July 31, Folder [1 of 2]. El Paso Times, Sunday, June 18, p. 23, Folder [1 of 2]. Leverton to Edward Clifford, June 19, Folder [1 of 2]. Leverton to McCulloch, July 20, Folder [1 of 2]. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 68) Kimball Bros. Co. telegram to J.A. Wetmore, July 26, Folder [1 of 2]. Ally A. Packard to Supervising Architect, June 16, Folder [2 of 2]. Box No. Folder August October [1 of 2] Acting Supervising Architect to U.S. Veterans Bureau, October 24, Goodwin to Supervising Architect, November 14, George Von Nerta to A.B. McCulloch, November 22, James A.

Wetmore to Brooks, November 23, Brooks to Supervising Architect, November 28, Goodwin to Medical Officer in Charge, December 4, George O. Von Nerta to R.E. McKee, December 4, Brooks to Supervising Architect, December 6, photograph attached. Books to Acting Supervising Architect, December 13, pp. Books to Acting Supervising Architect, December 13, pp. Goodwin telegram to Wetmore, December 14, Books to Acting Supervising Architect, December 13, George O. Von Nerta memo to Acting Supervising Architect, December 14, Edward Clifford to U.S. Veterans Bureau, December 15, James A. Wetmore to Bureau of Standards, December 15, James A. Wetmore to A.B. McCulloch, December 15, Edward Clifford telegram to R.E. McKee, December 15, Clifford to R.E. McKee, December 16, Box No.

Folders January April [1 of 2] Richey telegram to Supervising Architect, April 9, Richey to George O. Von Nerta, April 12, Richey to Supervising Architect, April 18, Richey to R.E. McKee, April 23, Richey telegram to Supervising Architect, April 26, R.E. McKee telegram to James A. Wetmore, April 27, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 69) Box No. Folders January April [2 of 2] Hudspeth to Edward Clifford, January 3, Forbes to Supervising Architect, January 8, James A. Wetmore to U.S. Veterans Bureau, January 19, George O. Von Nerta memo to Supervising Architect, January 10, James A.

Wetmore to Brooks, January 13, Clifford to Goodwin, January 13, Von Nerta, Brooks, and Richey to Acting Supervising Architect, January 25, Von Nerta to Clifford, January 20, Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, Box No. Folder May December [1 of 2] R.E. McKee to Supervising Architect, May 29, Von Nerta, Brooks, Richey to Supervising Architect, January 25, Richey to Supervising Architect, May 21, Richey to Leverton, June 6, Richey to Leaverton [sic], June 22, Tripp to Supervising Architect, May 29, Silver City Enterprise Will Dedicate the New Hospital, June 16, Vol. 40 No. 36. Denver Trying to Steal Bayard, April 18, Vol. 37 No. 27. Fort Bayard Crisis Probably Averted, April 25, Vol. 37 No. 28. Fort Bayard Crisis Probably Averted, November 21, Vol. 37 No. 28.

Bursum Sees Surgeon General, December 19, Vol. 38 No. 10. Citizens To Protest Removal Of Bayard, January 9, Vol. 38 No. 13. Future of Ft. Bayard Has Possibilities, February 13, Vol. 38 No. 18. Public Health To Get Fort Bayard, April 2, Vol. 38 No. 25. State Of Bayard Is Still In The Balance, May 7, Vol. 38 No. 30. To Get Bayard June May 14, Vol. 38 No. 31. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 70) Stores Will Close For Bayard Farewell, May 21, Vol. 38 No. 32. People At Bayard Farewell, May 28, Vol. 38 No. 33. Fort Bayard Now In Throes of Change, May 28, Vol. 38 No. 33. Now Holds Big Army Hospital, June 18, Vol. 38 No. 36. Ft. Bayard Is Now Filled to Capacity, November 5, Vol. 39 No. 4. Bayard To Be Made Larger, December 31, Vol. 39 No. 12. Fort Bayard Gets February 11, Vol.

39 No. 18. What Is Being Done By Veterans Bureau For Ex-Service Men, March 3, Vol. 40 No. 21. Treasury Official Favors Ft. Bayard, February 10, Vol. 40 No. 18. Dedicate New Building at Fort Bayard June 17, May 19, Vol. 40 No. 32. Dedicate Splendid New Building, June 23, Vol. 40 No. 37. New Building Is Abandoned, December 29, Vol. 41 No. 12. New Building Is Abandoned, December 29, Vol. 41 No. 12. Col. Leverton Leaves Fort Bayard, August 31, Vol. 41 No. 47; New Commander in Charge at Ft. Bayard, October 12, Vol. 42 No. 1. Bayard Permanent Hospital Bureau Officials Announce, November 23, Vol. 42 No. 7. New Commander Here for Bayard Hospital, August 1, Vol. 42 No. 43. Will Increase and Fix Bayard Water Supply, December 5, Vol. 43 No. 9.

Half Million Dollar Improvements Planned For Fort Bayard Hospital, Fort Bayard News, June 19, Fort Bayard Hospital Now Has 475 patients, January 23, Vol. 43 No. 16. Half Million Dollar Improvements Planned For Fort Bayard Hospital, Fort Bayard News, June 19, Fort Bayard News, July, 10, Open House At Veterans Hospital At Fort Bayard, May 11, Vol. 46, No. 32. Removal of Veterans Hospital, Fort Bayard Temporarily Halted, February 22, Vol. 47, No. 21. More Than Thousand Dollars Subscribed to Fort Bayard Fund, February 7, Vol. 47, No. 18. Veterans Bureau Chief Would Restore Fort Bayard To War Dept., January 31, Vol. 47, No. 17. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 71) Vets Bureau Hospital Will Stay At Fort Bayard Says Senator Bratton, June 20, Vol. 48, No. 38.

For Improvements At Fort Bayard Hospital, May 3, Vol. 53, No. 32. Plans For Ft. Bayard Recreation Building Forwarded to W.P.A., February 14, Vol. 53, No. 21. Ft. Bayard Paving Project Approved Work Authorized, January 3, Vol. 53, No. 15. Steyskal Announces New Fort Bayard Recreation Building, March 3, Vol. 57, No. 19. Improvement Plan Ft. Bayard Veterans Hospital Beclouded, September 6, Vol. 53, No. 50. Bill Introduced To Create National Cemetery, Ft. Bayard, August 2, Vol. 53, No. 45. Government Closes Hospital Dairy, March 25, Vol. 55, No. 27. Approval Given For Gas At Fort Bayard, March 10, Vol. 57, No. 20. Gas Turned On For Central and Bayard, June 23, Vol. 57, No. 35. Name Dr. Walker Ft. Bayard Manager, October 13, Vol. 57, No. 51.

Military Reservation Under Forest Service, June 27, Vol. 59, No. 36. Fort Bayard Not To Be Internment Camp, February 6, Vol. 60, No. 16. Concentration Camps To Be Established, February 27, Vol. 60, No. 19; To Dedicate Camp, June 11, Vol. 60, No. 34. Plans To Enlarge Ft. Bayard Hospital Get Solid Backing, May 18, Vol. 62, No. 29. American Legion Backs Expansion Of Fort Bayard, June 29, Vol. 62, No. 32. Cong. Anderson Confirms Ft. Bayard Expansion Plans, June 6, Vol. 62, No. 36. Ft. Bayard Hospital Expansion Urged By American Legion, August 2, Vol. 63, No. 35. Ft. Bayard Hospital Expansion Supported By Senator Chavez, September 20, Vol. 63, No. 42. Reassuring News About Ft. Bayard From Sen. Chavez, August 8, Vol. 63, No. 36. Plan To Abandon Ft.

Bayard Hospital Vigorously Opposed, October 31, Vol. 64, No. 48. Ft. Bayard Action To Await Survey, November 7, Vol. 64, No. 49. Ft. Bayard Hospital Status Being Given Careful Study, November 21, Vol. 64, No. 51. Re-Survey Ordered Of Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, November 28, Vol. 64, No. 52. New Manager In Charge of Fort Bayard Hospital, January 9, Vol. 65, No. 8. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 72) Engineers Making Fort Bayard Survey, January 16, Vol. 65, No. 7. Fort Bayard All Ready For Hospital Day, May 8, Vol. 65, No. 23. Fort Bayard Will Not Close Soon, VA Tells Briggs, September 4, Vol. 65, No. 40; Fort Bayard in No Immediate Danger, Says Anderson, April 22, Vol. 66, No. 20. Ft. Bayard Hospital Reports 120 Empty Beds, December 11, Vol. 66, No. 2.

Decision To Close Red Cross Office At Ft. Bayard Protested By Directors, April 14, Vol. 67, No. 19. Fort Bayard s ARC Office Won t Close, June 23, Vol. 67, No. 29. Chief Medical Director, Vice-Admiral Boone, Official Visitor Here, December 10, Vol. 70, No. 1. Fort Bayard Announces Reduction In Personnel; 23 Jobs Affected, December 16, Vol. 73, No. 3. Ft. Bayard Hospital Spends Most Of Annual Budget In Grant County; Labor Alone Takes Million, January 13, Vol. 73, No. 7. Personnel Cut At Ft. Bayard, ugust 11, Vol. 72, No. 37. Fort Bayard Hospital Curtailment Stirs Quick, Vigorous Opposition, September 1, Vol. 73, No. 40. VA Chiefs Will Inspect Hospital, September 22, Vol. 73, No. 43; VA Conference Here Saturday, September 29, Vol. 73, No. 44. New Manager At Fort Bayard, September 29, Vol.

73, No. 44; Heads VA Hospital, November 10, Vol. 73, No. 50. Hospital Ward Remains Open, October 6, Vol. 73, No. 45. Dr. Kurtz New Manager Bayard Hospital, January 15, Year, Number 5; Veterans Hospital Becomes Medical Surgical Center, July 23, Year, Number 42. Fort Bayard Hospital Ranks High In Nation, May 26, Year, Number 34. Water System Expansion At Fort Bayard, August 14, Year, Number 18. Inspection Of Fort Bayard By Chief Engineer, February 9, Year, Number 34. New Director Fort Bayard Hospital Named, June 7, Year, Number 35. Doctor Added To Ft. Bayard Hospital Staff, July 11, Year, Number 41. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 73) Dr. Ritter Heads Veterans Hospital in California, September 3, Year, Number 49. Dr.

Womack New Fort Bayard Hospital Director, The Silver City Enterprise, September 24, Year, Number 52. Mullin It Over, Bill Mullane, February 11, Year, Number 20. Fort Bayard Hospital Closing Believed Definitely Decided By U.S. Veterans Administration, January 31, Year, Number 17. Outstanding New Mexico Doctors Make Survey Of Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, February 4, Year, Number 19. Fort Bayard Closing Temporarily Halted, February 11, Year, Number 20. Mullin It Over, Bill Mullane, February 11, Year, Number 20. This Is The Way It Is At Fort Bayard Veteran s Hospital, February 18, Mullin It Over, Bill Mullane, February 18, Year, Number 21. Thomas Foy Makes Forceful Appeal For Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, April 1, Year, Number 27.

Driver Impressed By Magnitude Of Hospital, April 9, Year, Number 28; President s Group TO Visit Hospital At Fort Bayard, The Silver City Enterprise, May 6, Year, Number 32. President s Committee Recommends Closing Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital, May 13, Year, Number 33. President Orders Closing Fort Bayard Veterans Hospital; Five To Remain Open; Senator Anderson Says Fight Not Over, June 10, Year, Number 37. Special Committee To Visit Ft. Bayard, July 9, Year, Number 41. Veterans Hospital To Close Aug. 9 and VA Will Close Cemetery At Fort Bayard, July 22, Year, Number 43. State To Take Over Ft. Bayard Hospital Sept. 1, July 29, Year, Number 44. Fort Bayard Patients Are Transferred and State Prepares For Takeover Of Hospital, August 12, Year, Number 46. Manager Assumes Duties At Ft.

Bayard Hospital For State Welfare Department, September 2, Year, Number 49. State Hospital At Fort Bayard Adding Patients, November 4, Year, Number 6. State Receives Deed To Fort Bayard Hospital, June 9, Year, Number 36. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 74) Silver City Independent Contract Is Signed To Supply Fort Bayard With Electricity, December 14, Vol. XXXI, No. 50. Texas Louisiana Co. Planning To Supply Fort Bayard, November 20, Vol. XXXI, No. 47. Silver City Power Plant Supplying Bayard-Central, March 1, Vol. XXXII, No. 9. New Commanding Office in Charge at Bayard Hospital, June 14, Vol. XXXII, No. 24. Penington Sent to American Lake Veterans Hospital, July 5, Vol. XXXII, No. 27. Allotted Fort Bayard For Painting-Repairs, August 14, Vol. XXXVII, No. 33.

Veterans Hospital Service Is Limited To Emergency Cases, March 21, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 12. Cut In Veterans Allowances Is Made Saturday In Order Signed By The President, April 4, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 14. How Roosevelt Compromise Law Affects World War And Veterans of Other Wars, The Silver City Independent, June 20, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 25. Ft. Bayard s Fate Rest On Decision Of Veterans Bureau, The Silver City Independent, July 4, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 28. Expansion Of Fort Bayard To Follow New U.S. Program, The Silver City Independent, July 11, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 25. State of New Mexico, Facility Management Division (Fort Bayard Maintenance Office) U.S. Public Health Service, construction drawings, Hospital No. 55, November 15, Reinforcing For Personnel Dining Room, U.S. Veterans Hospital No.

55, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, Sheet Number March 27, Miscellaneous Details, Veterans Administration Facility, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, Project Drawing number March 23, Veterans Administration, Hospital Building No. 5 December Hospital No. 55, Building No. Wing A , Fort Bayard, New Mexico, No. 2, As Built Hospital No. 55, Building No. Wing A , Fort Bayard, New Mexico, No. 3, As Built Hospital Building No. 55, Veterans Administration Hospital, Fort Bayard, New Mexico, January 23, revised through June 2, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No.

(page 75) Remodeling & Renovation for Conformance to the State of New Mexico Uniform Building Code Requirements, New Mexico Department of Public Health Licensing Regulations, Fort Bayard Hospital, Dysart & Mitcham, Sheets 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, Building August 23, Remodeling & Renovation for Conformance to the State of New Mexico Uniform Building Code Requirements, New Mexico Department of Public Health Licensing Regulations, Fort Bayard Hospital, Building November 15, Fire Protection Systems, Buildings Fort Bayard State Hospital, Bayard, New Mexico, Eddy and Hidalgo Cottages, Fort Stanton Hospital & Training School for Department of Hospitals and Institutions, State of New Mexico, Allison Engineering, Inc, Sheet 1 of 2, November 6, Correction of Plant Deficiencies, Wards One through Six, Ft.

Bayard Medical Center, Property Control Division, Department of Finance and Administration, State of New Mexico, Harris and Associates, Architects, June 26, Fort Bayard Medical Center, Patient Area Remodel, Ft. Bayard, New Mexico, Project No. Gregory T. Hicks & Associated, October Statewide Repairs-Southern Region, Fort Bayard Hospital Improvements, Sheet A.20, Gamelsky Benton Architects, September 2, FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 76) ILLUSTRATED

Appendix

Figure 1. Photo circa showing site components and infirmary names. Source: Fort Bayard Historical Society. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 77) Figure 2. Temporary Army wards at Fort Bayard, circa Source: National Archives, RG 90. Figure 3. Administration Building at Fort Bayard, circa Source: National Archives, RG 90. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 78) Figure 4. Ambulatory wards at Fort Bayard, circa Source: National Archives, RG 90. Figure 5. Infirmary at Fort Bayard, circa Source: National Archives, RG 90. FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 79) Figure 6. Nurses Quarters at Fort Bayard, circa Source: National Archives, RG 90. Figure 7. Road to Fort Bayard hospital, circa Source: National Archives, RG 90.

FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 80) Figure 8. Photograph of structural issue, before repair. Source: National Archives, RG 121 Figure 9. Photograph of structural repair, after. Source: National Archives, RG 121 FORT BAYARD HOSPITAL, INFIRMARY GROUP HABS No. (page 81) Figure 10. Typical structure column and beam repair in The repair resulted in awkward columns throughout the hospital wards. Source: Karen Van Citters