The Podcast: Sanitarium Insanity (Part 1)
Sanitarium Insanity Part 1
Dr. Clarence Threlkeld of Bellingham’s “Sanitarium Baths”
Show Notes
In part one of our two-part series on sanitariums in Bellingham, we introduce the local branch of the Kellogg’s Battle Creek Sanitarium, later known straightforwardly as the “Sanitarium Baths.”
We get into the whys and wherefore of sanitariums and discuss many of the interesting treatments they offered.
We trace the Sanitarium baths over forty years of business offering various treatments, including sweatin’ out the toxins in lightbulb-filled cabinets.
(In part two we’ll leap over to Fairhaven’s “Yoghurt Sanitarium” for more wacky mystical medical mayhem.)
Listen
You can listen to the episode at …
Gallery of old ads for the Sanitarium Baths
Photos of the 2 locations of the Sanitarium Baths in Bellingham
Ads depicting Electric Light Bath Cabinets
Ad for Battle Creek Electric Light Bath Cabinets
Ad for (Universal) Electric Light Bath Cabinet
Further Exploration
Kelloggs and Battle Creek:
Battle Creek Sanitarium Wikipedia Article
Greg Dougherty. Dr. John Kellogg Invented Cereal. Some of His Other Wellness Ideas Were Much Weirder. (History.com)
Podcasts about Kellogg and all the Weirdness:
A short Spotify playlist here
Sawbones episode: John Kellogg's Odd Prescription
Missed in History episode: John Harvey Kellogg
Behind the Bastards episode(s): Kellogg The Great American Cum Doctor
Or Find and Watch (or read the book)
Road To Wellville (1994) Trailer
Other References:
Old ads and articles from the Bellingham Herald archives as found on newspapers.com, as well as city directories and census records.
James C. Whorton, Drugless Healing in the 1920s: The Therapeutic Cult of Sanipractic (J-Stor)
Radithor (Radium Medicine)
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) by Metallica 🤟
We also discuss the Sanitarium Baths on our
Downtown Gore and Lore Tours!
We want to thank Devin Champlin and the late, great, Lucas Hicks for the use of the ol’ Gallus Brothers tune “Too Bad West Coast Blues.” You can find that tune and more on bandcamp and you can find Devin at Champlin Guitars in Bellingham! <3 <3 <3
In this episode we discuss the early history of Bellingham’s historic Hotel Leo, aka the Leopold Hotel. From its earliest days as the Byron House through its take-over and expansion under PNW beer baron Leopold Schmidt. And since it’s spooky season, we include stories about some “potential ghosts” that might be wandering the halls…