My sister, Elsa, told me of your web site. I am the middle sister of the DIK girls. It was easy to recall the Years we lived in Perrysburg at J.N.Adam Hospital. I was delighted to learn about the preservation of that historic site. Elsa and I made an automobile trip to the area in the 90's and commented how the hospital had changed.
I attended school in Gowanda both in the 8th grade and high school. It was a very dramatic period in our country as WWII began and at one time the Nazi swastika was raised over the sanatorium. A day later it was removed. I joined the Civil Air Patrol and learned how to fly. The patients were very excited to see me in uniform.
How well I remember the beautifully manicured drive from the outstanding gates all the way to the administration building. The lawn was weed free, the trees were elegantly trimmed and, of course, the pavement was always in excellent condition.
None of my classmates were allowed to visit me because their parents felt tuberculosis was "in the air". I, too, enjoyed the beautiful trees and the majestic surrounding landscape of the hospital, as well as, the wonderful fruits, strawberries, blackberries and currants which grew wild.
Adjacent to Bldg. "B", where we lived, was a tall wooden slide built for the ambulatory children and their friends to enjoy in the winter. They could take their sled or toboggan to the top and slide down to the large apron of snow covered lawn.
If you would like to know more about the internal layout of the administration building or anything else I shall be more than happy to help you.
I feel it is very important to preserve J. N. Adam Hospital as it is an important piece of Medical history, in light of how far we have advanced. Because of my childhood experience, watching my father, Dr. Dik, in the hospital and learning how tuberculosis is transmitted, I was later able to help work on the oral medication which has enabled patients to be ambulatory in society and not be confined to hospital bed rest.
Florence Dik Stromberg, Wildwood, Missouri
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