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Now open for private and public paranormal investigations click on above pages for details or text us at 423-633-6246
Now open for private and public paranormal investigations click on above pages for details or text us at 423-633-6246
Situated at the junction of Tennessee, Clinch, and Emory rivers, a location vital to both white settlers and Native Americans in the early years of Tennessee State history. Settlers gained control of the area through three treaties with the Cherokee Indians, and later Hiwassee purchase. Harriman was founded as a Temperance Town in 1889 by temperance movement activists led by New York-born minister and plant manager Frederick Gates. Seeking a land venture that could attract industrial and economic development while avoiding the vice-driven pitfalls of late 19th century company towns, Gates and fellow prohibitionists chartered the East Tennessee Land Company in May 1889. The property the hospital is situated on once was home to Cumberland Hotel, which burned having casualties, First National Bank, Pitton Hotel, Tennessee Land and Trust (bankrupt), a General Store and Attorney Office, roller rink which was later torn down for the hospital expansion. Harriman has had its share of tragedies with mass building fires, floods and tornados, and even at one point went completely bankrupt.
The first ever open house at Harriman General Hospital was July 23rd 1939, with over 1,000 guests in attendance. This 2 story brick construction in its major portion with the kitchen and "colored ward" section occupying a 1 story portion at the rear. On each end of the building is a large airy ward containing 8 beds with wards for "colored" patients located in the rear. Lining the downstairs hall are the office, emergency room, doctors' lounging quarters, and bath, and utility rooms, together with the dining room, nurses' showers, and the superintendents quarters. On the right end of the building, upstairs is the surgical dept with minor and major OR's with adjoining rooms for surgical and linen sterilization. Patient rooms were also located on the second floor.
(credit from The Harriman Record)
As the community began to grow it didn't take long to realize the community outgrew its newly opened hospital. Just a few short years after its opening the hospital began to expand. As pictured above a new surgical wing was added. Complete with X-ray, surgical lounge, sterilization room and offices. Fun fact, green tiles were used in operating rooms to aid the surgeon with precious seconds which could be the difference of life and death as their eyes adjust when looking away from the patient on brighter colored walls. The hospital began at 275 linear feet to stretching a whole city block by the 70's. Growing not only in size, technology also became apparent at the hospital. Newly added ICU, maternity ward, and day surgery allowed for the hospital to diagnose and treat most any illness accurately and correctly.
One of the most active and legendary locations in The Historic Harriman Hospital was known as A3.A3 served as the ICU and the cardiac care unit. Added on sometime in the 70's this area has a legendary nurse named Joanna. While Joanna worked many tireless long hours at the hospital, she called this her second home. A sudden heart attack took her life at an early age , she promised her co-workers after death she would pay visits to her once beloved second home. Even after death there are reports of Joanna still marking her rounds and overseeing patients.
In the early 90's Harriman Hospital gets a new addition. This beautiful 4 story addition gave the hospital a new lease on life as a new emergency ward was built, state of the art operating rooms were built on the second floor, with patient rooms on the 3rd and later ICU and step down on the 4th. Not long after the opening of this addition it has been said by many people around town and many health care workers odd things began to happen, including figures standing in windows and hallways, kids seen walking about the area and even items moving with no one present.
Closing in 2013 the hospital sat vacant, becoming a victim to the elements. Purchased in the spring of 2022 by the same people who saved OSPH from destruction, they decided to take on the daunting task of fixing it for preservation and investigations. A new beginning for Roane County's historic hospital has begun. A new name Old Historic Harriman Hospital and new owners ensures this location will remain an iconic location in Harriman. Harriman Hospital's new lease on life includes Hollywood shows being filmed on location, daytime and night time investigations, and community events.