Farewell to Knoxville's Veterans Hospital campus ...

Demolition has begun this fall on what once was the campus of the Knoxville Veterans Administration Medical Center, 39 buildings of various shapes and sizes on 153 college campus-like acres on the west side of Chariton's neighbor just up the road to the north.

I've been driving (or riding) past, through and around that campus all my life and got to thinking years ago, once returned from Vietnam, that this wouldn't be a bad place to spend my dotage should such reasoning powers that I once possessed become "dethroned" --- the Knoxville center's purpose always had been primarily psychiatric.

The hospital opened in 1920 to care for men scarred mentally by World War I on a repurposed campus leased from the state. The federal government purchased the site in 1922 and expanded the hospital during the next two decades (the newest patient buildings were constructed in 1944). At peak, more than 1,600 patient beds were available.

But the shift in treatment away from institutionally based programs led to decreased use, buildings were mothballed and closed and finally, during late 2009, the final patients were moved from Knoxville after its programs had been incorporated into those of the Des Moines Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Then followed 10 years of frustration for Knoxville and Marion County. Finally, during January of 2020, ownership was acquired by the city and county, but by this time little could be done other than develop a plan for demolition of obsolete and critically deteriorated structures --- what's happening now --- and redevelopment of the site.

Here are a few paragraphs from Chariton newspapers of the 1920s related to the Knoxville hospital, beginning with a report from The Leader of May 31, 1927, that provides an overview from that year:

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United States Veterans hospital No. 57, located at Knoxville, has 540 inmates, veterans of the Spanish-Amercan and world war, mostly with dethroned reason. The hospital was established in 1920, the government taking over what was formerly the Iowa industrial home for the blind and afterwards the state inebriate asylum. The government has expened $2 million in the erection of suitable buildings and improving the premises. Dr. H.G. Clarke is in charge. The grounds contain 310 acres and present a view more like a college campus. A large farm is operated --- cattle, hogs and chickens are raised and tended by the patients and the vast lawn is also cared for by them.

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This paragraph, from The Leader of Jan. 23, 1923, provides a bit more site history. The Iowa Board of Control had been organized during 1898 to manage state institutions.

J.H. Streif, chairman of the board of control, gave out some interesting data relative to what was at one time the state inebriate hospital at Knoxville. He says that up to 1918 the state was appropriating biennially an average of $96,000 for the Knoxville hospital, exclusive of buildings and improvements. With the advent of prohibition the need for the institution grew smaller, until in January, 1920, only 11 patients occupied the spacious building. In June, the unused plant was rented to the government for a war veterans' hospital. Recently the former hospital site and buildings were sold outright to the government for $200,000. Six buildings and 320 acres of land were included in the deal. In 1918 the hospital, then under state control, had 109 alcoholics under supervision. The institution was originally built for an industrial home for the blind. Since the establishment of a government hospital for the care of disabled veterans of the world war, contracts have been let for the erection of 16 additional buildings. 

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Finally, here's an article from The Leader of Nov. 14, 1922, illustrating how Chariton's American Legion Auxiliary had responded to the new hospital that had opened practically next-door. It probably should be noted that the Knoxville hospital was closed to visitors, other than family, during its early years. The idea behind that operating philosophy was that visitors would embarrass the patients.

Still in the service of country, the local unit of the American Legion Auxiliary is in the midst of a program of helpfulness and assistance for the benefit of the patients of the U.S. Veterans Hospital at Knoxville. The patients at Knoxville are, many of them, broken down in body and mind, still fighting battles and living in the war time horrors. It is to these men that the local Auxiliary is at the present time sending birthday boxes, magazines, phonographs, records and such that their lot in the government institution may be just a little easier.

A birthday box for each month in the year is made up by the local unit. These boxes represent a value from $2 to $2.50. A "jam closet" has also been started from which stores will go to the men whose appetite for sweets and delicacies are in these days not often satisfied. In this connection it is announced by the ladies that all jams and jellies to be contributed to the "closet" should be brought to the Legion  home before Monday evening, November 20, the evening for the regular meeting.

Needed articles of clothing for the hospital boys are being made at sewing meetings which are held regularly. The next meeting for this work is announced for next Thursday afternoon, Nov. 16, at the home of Mrs. Lowe on North Main Street.