Panic Hotel - Stull Cemetary

In the early 1900's, Louisville, Kentucky suffered the highest Tuberculosis death rate in the country. Because of the undeveloped swampland in Louisville, it had become a perfect breeding ground for the Tuberculosis bacteria.
In response to the need for a hospital to care for all the people that contracted the disease, a small, two story 40 bed hospital was built to house the patients in 1910. It was built away from the general public to keep others from contracting the disease. But soon afterwards, officials deemed the hospital too small, for the need for room became readily apparent as more people came down with TB. Land was donated for the site of a new hospital and construction began in 1924.

The hospital was finally opened in 1926. Many people came to Waverly Hills in hopes for treatment from the terrible disease, and some were fortunate enough to survive the disease and were able to reenter into society. For the others, that hospital was the last place they would ever see. Sadly, it's estimated that many tens of thousands died during that time. It's been estimated that, during the height of the epidemic, one patient was reported dead every hour. Ten thousand people were reported dead within the first three years of the hospitals existence.
At the time of the epidemic, treatment was primitive at best. They had not antibiotics, but only natural cures. The treatments usually included rest, fresh air, and sunshine. The health care providers sent the patients to do their time out in the solarium-like porch ways. This treatment was administered all year round, even during the cold winter months.
Many other treatments were utilized, but they weren't as nice, and were way more dangerous. Experimental treatments included surgically collapsing or inflating some of a patient's lung, in hopes it would heal. This surgery was called pneumothorax, and was found that a small percentage of patients survived. Doctors also preformed another type of surgery, which involved removing several ribs at a time so that the lungs could have enough room to heal.
Fortunately, for the sake of all the patients of tuberculosis, an antibiotic had been found by the 1950's, and the disease that plagued thousands of people was practically eradicated. Because of the new treatment, Waverly Hills was no longer needed, and was closed in 1961.

Several places throughout the building are now said to be the sites of hauntings. Room 502 is one of these locations at Waverly. It is believed that a nurse, Mary Hillenburg, was found hung from a light fixture in this room. The reason behind her death was that she became pregnant out of wedlock. It's also thought that a nurse leapt from the window. But of course, base on evidence that was found, the only Hillenburg that died in that area had been found to have passed on after the closing of the hospital.
The third floor of the building is the site of paranormal activity. It's said the ghost of a girl roams the halls of the floor, playing with a ball. Visitors to the hospital who have been on the third floor have simply heard the sounds of a ball bouncing on the floor.
One of the other odd things that happens at Waverly Hills is at the cafeteria. Many people have been able to smell the scent of warm food wafting from the cafeteria and kitchen. This is very strange since the cafeteria was closed back in 1982. Other things have been seen throught the hospital, including orbs, shadow people, and ectoplasm clouds.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

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