Cragmor Sanatorium

Dr. Charles Fox Gardiner (1857-1947)

Dr. Gardiner, a prominent and well know doctor in Colorado Springs during the early 1900s, was hired as Cragmor’s interim director after the death of Dr. Solly in 1906. Gardiner was most known for this creation of the “Gardiner Sanitary Tent” which were used to make up the largest sanatorium in Colorado Springs known as Modern Woodmen of America. The tent created by Gardiner allowed patients to get ample sunlight and fresh air even when inside resting.

This was believed to have been what patients needed to “cure” tuberculosis. These tents were present on the Cragmor grounds as well, even before Gardiner was named acting director and main physician.

Doctor Gardiner’s love of the fresh air and ideas of its healing values, paved way for required fresh air and daily activities of Cragmor’s patients. Along with two other physicians and co-directors, Dr. Will Swan and Dr. Henry Hoagland, Cragmor was kept afloat and barely breaking even for the next four years.

 

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