BELLINGHISTORY with the GOOD TIME GIRLS

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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.)


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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)

Radium Medicine

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


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