Asiel Cottage
Courtesy of Noreen Oslander
Address: Trudeau Sanatorium
Year built: 1920
Architect: Scopes and Feustmann
Other information:
The Modern Hospital, Volume XVI, January to June, Inclusive, Chicago: The Modern Hospital Publishing Co., Inc., 1921
Trudeau Sanatorium Constructs Ideal Cottages
By Scopes and Feustmann, Architects, Saranac Lake, N. Y.
[…]
The construction of this cottage [Asiel] was begun during the fall of 1916 and the total contract price, as entered into at that time, amounted to a little less than $8,000.00. To reproduce this structure today, it would be necessary to add at least 100 per cent to the cost. It was for this reason among others, that the director's of the Trudeau Sanatorium decided that the four room cottage had ceased to be an economical type, not only on account of the initial outlay per bed, but because the cost of the upkeep (each one of these cottages has a separate heating apparatus) had reached a point disproportionate to the number of persons housed. It was therefore determined that future cottages ought to contain more patients, even if it were necessary to resort to a two-story structure to accomplish this purpose.
The opportunity to inaugurate this new housing policy presented itself during the summer of 1919, when, under the terms of the will of the late Edward P. Kerbs of New York, the sanatorium came into possession of a considerable sum of money. About four-fifths of this sum was to be expended for the erection of two buildings to house patients, the size of the structures not being stipulated. The architects were thereupon instructed to prepare studies for two-story cottages, containing about ten patients' rooms. After a number of sketches had been made, a type was adopted which is shown in Fig. 2 and 3; these two cottages are now in course of erection. The plan embodies the salient features of the Asiel Cottage, and indeed of practically all of the cottages erected at Trudeau during the past eighteen years. Every room, even those of secondary importance, receives direct light and air. The corridors are sufficiently lighted and aired by means of a large window on the stair landing. The sleeping porches are quite private, as the entrance porch is to be used for lounging or day-rest only. It should also be pointed out that these new units have been designed to do something more than to provide housing for ambulant patients, for it is intended that they should supplement the functions of the present twelve-bed infirmary, when the increase in the number of patients at the sanatorium makes such a step necessary. A nurse's room, with bath and sleeping porch, has been provided on the first floor; there is also a small pantry near the entrance, where trays can be made up and special diets prepared, so that patients, who are not able to go to the main dining room for their meals, may be adequately cared for in these cottages. An annunciator system will be installed with push buttons in all patients' bath and toilet rooms.
Advantage is taken of the fact that these cottages are placed fairly close to each other (fifty-five feet being the least distance between them) to install for the two cottages one hot water heating plant, and one heater and tank for domestic hot water. These heating units are placed in a high cellar under patient's room No. 3 in cottage No. 1 which occupies lower ground than cottage No. 2. The necessary flow and return pipes, also circulating pipes between the cottages, will be placed in insulated conduits about four feet below grade. It is confidently expected that this method will materially decrease the amount of attendance required for heating purposes.
The construction of the Kerbs Cottages is about the same as has been employed for practically all of the four patient cottages at Trudeau during the past years. The foundation and underpinning are of rubble masonry, the superstructure of frame, with outer walls veneered with brick. This mode of enclosing has been found to be less expensive than solid brick walls, while the insulating quality of the combination of brick and frame has been found to be higher. The roofs are double and will be covered with slate. The interiors are to be treated simply, and the domestic character of the various rooms will be carried out as far as can be consistently done with this type of housing.
In as much as it has not been possible to contract for all portions of the work, the exact cost of these new units has not yet been ascertained, but it is believed that it will amount to about $29,000.00 for each cottage, exclusive of furnishings.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 5, 1936
Reception Given Countess
Countess de la Riviere who has been visiting her husband Count Albert Maurice Georges Garnay de la Riviere, at Kerbs cottage, Trudeau, was the guest of honor at a reception given by their many friends last Friday evening. Among those present were: Dr. Donald R. Sparkman, Dr. W. J. Keefe, James Holahan, Hobert Ackeman, Senor Jose Guerra, David X. Cohen, Edward A. O'Hare, George Maulmiester, Edward Hedden Worthington, Jr., Geheimrat Wilhhelm Mosandl, Eugene Menga, and Charles E. Iliff.
Comments
2013-04-11 17:19:17 I was a patient in one of the Kerbs cottages in the early 1950's. Some of the fellow-patients were Larry Doyle famous baseball player, a Mr. Mott, Clem Kalischer, photographer. My physician was Dr. Meade. After release I worked with Dr. Giles measuring lung areas of GE workers. George Inglessis
[email protected] —96.235.150.27
