The History of Weimar College
Known for both
its pure air and water, this beautiful region of the Sierra Neveda foothills developed its first tuberculosis hospital
in 1907 under Dr. Robert A. Peers in the nearby village of Colfax. Ten years later, five
counties made application on December 15, 1917, with the State of
California to build a Joint Sanatorium—originally intended to care for those who
were financially unable to secure the care provided in some private
institutions.
Buying a portion of Vintner George Giesendorfer’s vineyards, along with other land tracts totaling more than 1,000 acres, the counties began bringing their dream tuberculous hospital into shape. Within a year after the first building's foundation was laid, the opening for the facility with 125 beds drew thousands of on-lookers on November 19, 1919. Thirty years later, at its peak, the Weimar Joint Sanatorium housed 600 patients, had 300 employees, and was known as one of the best speciality hospitals in the nation.
Because part of the healing protocol was plenty of fresh air, the first wards had no insulation and only screens for the windows. Later, the “Glass House”—now the NEWSTART® Lodge—was the only building with window panes! According to former nurses, blankets were sometimes covered with canvas so they could shake off the occasional snow which blew in through the window spaces.
Patients ranged in age from six months to adults. There were children's wards, men's wards, and women's wards. At times, truckloads of children were brought from Sacramento to see their parents who were patients in the Weimar Sanatorium
One patient was a physician who later cared for others in the Sanatorium. Another was just out of high school, later recalling how he was “getting transfusions because I’d coughed up so much blood.” When he was able to get out of bed, he wandered to the campus radio station where “I learned to be a disk jockey.” Patients were able to listen to earphones at each bed. Eventually, there was a television in each ward.
Recovery from tuberculosis was a slow process. Although many patients stayed for years, the average stay by 1948 was eight months. One popular pastime which taught patients a trade was the monthly publication of The Fluoroscope. Resident reporters in each cottage supplied the news. Ceramics and leather craft classes also helped to pass the time for those with this tenacious disease.
Despite all efforts to make them well, more than 1500 patients at the sanitorium fell victim to the dreaded disease, and the Joint Sanatorium set aside acreage as a cemetery. The names of these patients are recorded in books secured in the Weimar Institute vault. Scarcely a week goes by but what a family member still stops by to visit the final resting place of family and friends.
Over time, the number of buildings on the campus increased. The distinctive white gate marked the entrance, and the grounds, maintained by 18 gardeners, were widely noted for their beauty. Prior to the construction of Interstate 80, many travelers along old Highway 40, when passing the Weimar Joint Sanatorium, thought they were seeing a botanical garden.
Through the years, treatment became more effective and new procedures were followed—even chemotherapy, causing the census of tuberculosis patients to dwindle. Beds began to fill with chest and pulmonary disease patients resulting in the 1957 name change to Weimar Chest Center. Three years later its name was again changed–to the final one: Weimar Medical Center—licensed and accredited as a general hospital.
State and county financial cuts in 1972 began to force a closure to the storied health center. Although individual owners attempted to keep the healthcare facility afloat, for a time only the hiking trails were available.
Then in 1975 Ed Daly, who headed World Airways, took an interest in the property for another kind of wellness center. On June 4 his first plane load of Vietnam refugees arrived and Weimar Medical Center became Hope Village.
With a comfortable capacity of 500 tuberculosis patients, the center now housed as many as 1500 Southeast Asians awaiting relocation. The 15 counties who owned the Weimar Center extended the lease on a month-to-month basis for the humanitarian effort managed by Food for the Hungry. The contract was in effect for about five months.
For a number of years, a group of people had been discussing God's ideal for health and education as expressed in Inspired Commentary on True Education. Then in the 1970's, through many prayers and miracles, too numerous to mention, this property was purchased. The concepts planned and the vision for a Health Center, College and Academy that was missionary minded, covering the all-round education of the mental, physical and spiritual being, took on reality.
First, in June 1978, the "Health Conditioning Center" was operational. Volunteers had re-roofed, repainted, rewired, and refurbished the aging buildings. Sacrificial and joyful giving by the board members and many, many others provided funds sufficient for the payments and renovations. One very happy patient coined the acronym NEWSTART, encompassing the 8 laws of Health, and the name change took place ...... NEWSTART® Lifestyle Center.
Weimar College opened September 25, 1978, with Dr Colin Standish as the Dean, bring together into one curriculum the vital elements of study, useful work and practical Christian witness. There were 65 students enrolled for that first semester. Although faculty were valued for their academic qualifications, they were chosen for their deep committment to the philosophy and programs developed at Weimar. Weimar Academy opened one year later.
Many years have passed, and as the arrow is shot from the bow; so students have gone out to their appointed tasks - bringing glory to God and finishing His work on this earth.