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Sanitarium Nurse's Training School, took charge. It was soon seen as desirable to secure the services of a physician familiar with Sanitarium methods. As a result, Dr. Benjamin B. Kinne arrived here December 5, 1905 to assume responsibilities for the operation. Kinne had studied four years at the Sanitarium in Battle Creek, and had been the assistant physician at the Pennsylvania Sanitarium in Philadelphia. At this time, the entire building on East Main Street was being used. Kinne quickly realized the East Main Street location was no longer suitable for Sanitarium operations. In July, 1906, he purchased the large house at 10 Benton Avenue from the estate of John J. Huyler. The building was remodeled and opened for use. Shortly after Kinne's arrival, the name was changed to Middletown Sanitarium. The name continued when operations moved to Benton Avenue.
The building at 10 Benton Avenue could accommodate about ten patients. As business grew, more space was needed. In 1910, 12 Benton Avenue was purchased and converted to an annex. A ten room addition was built at the rear of the main building in 1914. At this time, an X-ray department and surgery were added for surgical and maternity cases. Then, in the fall of 1920, the former Charles G. Dilihome at 11 Benton Avenue was purchased and converted to the Sanitarium's hospital department which housed the operating room, surgical, and maternity departments. The main building and annex underwent extensive remodeling in 1923. An ambulance service, begun about 1925, continued for many years. Modernizations continued over the years. In 1928, property on Grant Street was purchased for a central heating plant and nurse's dormitory. A new third floor was built on the hospital department building (11 Benton) in 1936 and the operating room moved there from the second floor.
Dr. Kinne died October 5, 1944 at age 67. The family continued the operation. In 1959 the New York State Department of Social Welfare decided the Sanitariums wooden buildings were a fire hazard, and "requested" improvements which would cost over $1 million. Since this was not possible, the Sanitarium, or "San", as it was popularly known, was closed in 1961.
The main building at 10-12 Benton was torn down in 1963 and a medical office building erected on the site. The hospital department at 11 Benton was purchased by Polak's Frutal Works (PFW) in February, 1965, and demolished in mid-July 1965. The site has been a vacant lot for 23 years.
ELIZABETH A. HORTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Elizabeth Ann Radeker Horton, wife of Middletown industrialist Webb Horton, had on several occasions, spoken to her son Eugene of her desire to build a modern hospital to serve the community. After Mrs. Horton's death in 1916, Eugene Horton provided funds in his will to build a hospital in memory of his