Plans continue for Cresson Sanatorium Reunion

By Justin Eger of Mainline Newspapers

As a significant piece of Cresson’s history, the tuberculosis sanatorium on the top of the mountain has many stories surrounding it. Some came from those who worked there, others from patients who spent weeks, months, or years recuperating at the state-run facility. Over the last two years, Chuck Felton has dedicated part of his retirement to collecting those stories, adding them to a website organized as a tribute to "The San." Himself a one-time patient at the Sanatorium, Felton’s recollections formed the basis of the site, but it soon became much more than his own personal memories, instead becoming a full-blown tribute to a major part of Cresson’s past, one that many people from throughout the area have added to since first learning about Felton and his mission.

The year 2013 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Cresson Sanatorium, and while that date is significant, no less so is the ability to share the stories surviving from the San right now. With that in mind, many patients, staff, and families of those who knew the San will descend on Cresson in the coming months, celebrating the significant history of the facility with a reunion of sorts, bringing Felton and all those with stories like his together in celebration of their shared pasts.

The Cresson Sanatorium Reunion will be held on August 6 and August 7, with plans for an evening dinner on Saturday and a Sunday luncheon. Both events will be held at the Cresson American Legion’s Admiral Peary room, though an additional part of the reunion will take place at Union Cemetery, where many victims of TB were buried following their passing at the sanatorium. At the cemetery, attendees are welcome to take part in a memorial service remembering those who suffered from TB, with a wreath to be placed by the survivors. At the dinner on the preceding evening, attendees will be invited to share their stories during an open microphone portion of the event. All of the August events will be filmed, as WQED is planning to construct a 30-minute documentary of the sanatorium which will include information provided during the reunion.

While some people have already signed up to attend the reunion, tickets are now available to the general public, and will remain so until July 25. Tickets, which are prepay and non-refundable, will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, as seating at the events is limited. Tickets for the Saturday buffet dinner are $25 per person and $15 per person for the Sunday luncheon. Checks can be made payable to Cresson San Reunion, and may be mailed to Dave Huber 521 East Sample Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931 to reserve tickets. For a ticket order form and detailed information about the reunion is available at http://www.feltondesignanddata.com/cressontbsanatoriumremembered 

where visitors can also review the information and stories collected by Felton over the last two years.