The Little-Known History of New Mexico's Cloudcroft Baby Sanatorium

The Cloudcroft Baby Sanatorium, established in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in 1903 by Dr. Branch Craige, stands as a testament to early 20th-century healthcare innovation, especially in pediatric medicine

In the early 1900s, a doctor had an ingenious idea - he brought his ailing young child to the fresh mountain air in New Mexico's Sacramento Mountains. To his delight, his baby made a miraculous recovery. Dr. Branch Craige realized he was onto something big - these high-altitude climates could have immense therapeutic potential, especially for children suffering from respiratory illnesses.

Enthused, the doctor convinced local resort owners to construct a pediatric sanatorium catering to sick infants and children in 1911, adjacent to the newly built second Cloudcroft Lodge resort hotel. This marked the origins of the pioneering Cloudcroft Baby Sanatorium.

The sanatorium consisted of a spacious two-story wooden building equipped with the latest ventilation systems, a large outdoor porch, and a playground. With a 50-bed capacity and round-the-clock care from nurses and physicians, the facility prioritized balancing medical treatment with wholesome nutrition, outdoor mountain air exposure, and opportunities for education through reading lessons and play.

At the time, various respiratory illnesses like tuberculosis posed severe health threats, especially for vulnerable children. The cooler climate of the Sacramento Mountains, at 8,600 feet elevation, was believed to relieve symptoms and boost recovery. The sanatorium quickly demonstrated tremendous success, facilitating the improvement and survival of many young occupants.

Additionally, the railway company heavily promoted the idea of Cloudcroft as a natural paradise, a “roof garden” for health respites. This brought in tourists and visitors, economically benefiting the town. The sanatorium also received steady philanthropic community support, like from the Ladies’ Benevolent Association, founded by Jewish philanthropist Olga Bernstein Kohlberg. Such donations and charity enabled the institution’s treatment and accommodation expenses.

With its state-of-the-art amenities, round-the-clock professional care, and holistic treatments accounting for diet, fresh air exposure, playtime, and education, the Cloudcroft Baby Sanatorium represented a pioneering health institution catering to infants and young children. This was long before “wellness resorts” became popular.

As a testament to its utility, the sanatorium remained integral to the local Cloudcroft community for decades. Its legacy and influence inspired increased innovation in fields like pediatric respiratory medicine. Nurses and volunteer groups from El Paso were vital to its operations and services.

However, with medical advancement, especially in tuberculosis treatment, such specialized sanatoriums gradually became less essential by the 1930s. As their role diminished, the Cloudcroft Sanatorium adapted by expanding into general pediatric care before its eventual closure in 1934.

Today, while the original wooden building no longer exists, the legacy of the Cloudcroft Baby Sanatorium persists. It represents a pivotal, progressive health facility that saved and improved countless young lives during primitive medicine. Memorabilia and records preserved at local Cloudcroft museums ensure this critical medical history is not forgotten.

The sanatorium also had a lasting community influence - many local families have multi-generational connections to the facility as former patients, nurses, doctors, or donors.