In answer to the increased demand of more than a decade, for the establishment of a sanitarium in the dry, bracing climate of the Rockies, the Colorado Sanitarium was dedicated in July, 1896. Previously to its erection there had been founded, under the auspices of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, a sanitarium boarding home in the city of Boulder. This had drawn to the city a number who were interested in dietetic reform; and thus was formed the nucleus of the work which has grown to its present proportions.
GOLDRANG SANITARIUM, BOULDER
The situation of the Colorado Sanitarium is unique. Located on the backbone of the continental divide, it enjoys a climate of almost endless sunshine throughout the year, a climate, too, possessing remarkable dryness, and carrying with it the strongly tonic effect of a high, bracing altitude.
Boulder is the university town of the State, has seven thousand inhabitants, and is thirty miles from Denver, the metropolis of the Rocky Mountain region. The sanitarium is situated on the western border of the city, and is crowded close up against the foothills, so that while to the east and north stretches a beautiful, rolling plateau, dotted with thrifty farms and flourishing ranches, to the south and west the mountains rise in majestic grandeur, affording a variety of scenic beauty. A fifteen minutes’ walk from the sanitarium brings one to the center of the town in one direction, while in the opposite direction it brings one into the wildest solitude.
Connected with the main institution there are three cottages owned by the sanitarium, and for its needs the present summer two other cottages have been rented, making five cottages in all, in addition to the main building. Besides these the sanitarium now has a number of separate rooms in different parts of the city, and twelve or more tents.
The history of the Colorado Sanitarium from its inception to the present time has been varied and eventful, like that of all new enterprises. It has seen many dark hours, and has passed through many trying crises. While the patronage every summer has been fair, the winter seasons for the most part have been dull, and the patronage has gone down very low; hence it has taken every available resource during the summer months to meet the depression of business, and consequent increase of expense, during the winter months. These experiences of cloud and sunshine, however, were bravely met, and by the blessing of the Lord and the interposition of his providence, many apparent disasters and difficulties were overcome.
Beginning with the year 1901, the sanitarium seemed to enter upon a new era in its experience, and from that date there has been a steadily increasing patronage during both the summer and the winter season. Last winter fully sixty patients were members of the sanitarium family, as against not more than one half or one fourth of that number for previous winters.
As the influence of our work extends, we are pleased to note the fruit which is being borne as the result of the promulgation of the gospel truth for which it stands. We are receiving many letters from grateful patients, acknowledging, not alone to the sanitarium, but to the Lord, the benefits received physically and spiritually.
The present season bids fair to outrival all preceding ones. We had a full house, and our rush of summer patronage began fully one month earlier than last year; and at the present writing, July 14, there is not a single vacant room in the institution, and only two or three in any of its cottages. This increase of patronage emphasizes the necessity of increased facilities. This is particularly so as regards accommodations for tubercular patients. There has been a great prejudice during the last few years against free association on the part of the ordinary patients with those having tubercular trouble, and this has made absolutely necessary the separation of these two classes of patients in the Colorado Sanitarium, the tubercular patients at the present time occupying our cottages, and taking treatment in one of the cottages where treatment rooms have been improvised. These accommodations, however, are very unsatisfactory, and totally inadequate to meet the demands of the many patients who come to us desirous of better accommodations, and who are willing to pay for the same.
The workers in the Colorado Sanitarium are endeavoring to keep before their minds continually that the sanitarium work is one part of the great closing gospel work for the last days, and that the object of God in sending patients to the institution is not that the institution may receive financial support, nor even that the patients may be healed of their bodily infirmities alone, but above all, that they may be brought to a saving knowledge of the truth for these last days. For this purpose we are laboring, and we believe that the seed that is being sown in this way has borne fruit, and will bear fruit in the coming kingdom. Many rich experiences in gospel labor could be reported, and a number of experiences where souls have been converted and have found a knowledge of the Lord. For the growing influence of our work, and for all that the Lord is doing for us, we ascribe to him the glory.
