Sanatoriums were specialized hospitals for treatments of specific illnesses. During 1907-1960 tuberculosis was rampant which created the sanatorium era to house those with the illness. Opening in 1907 as NJs only state owned and operating tuberculosis sanatorium in Glen Gardner, known at the time as The Glen Gardner Sanatorium. Initially the hospital was expected to handle 500 cases annually; however, it turned into more. By 1929 the facility had treated more than 10,000 people. The original plan of the hospital was to stop the disease in its developing stage and release the patient in a condition where they were able to care for themselves after getting instruction from the hospital. Furthermore, when the institution opened they planned to only treat patients that were curable; however, by the 1920s they began treating all cases. In 1921 there were more buildings added to the grounds and by 1929 there were even more structures added to the campus.
By the 1940s and 50s the new development of drugs and the idea of not wanting to be isolated began to change popularity for sanatoriums. In 1950 the sanatorium's mission was expanded from only tuberculosis to all chest diseases and the facility's name was changed to The New Jersey Hospital for Chest Diseases. By the 1990s the remaining sanatorium population were elderly; therefore, many hospitals turned into geriatric facilities. By 1977, the hospital was converted into a state-sponsored nursing home for geriatrics, and renamed The Garret W. Hagedorn Gero-Psychiatric Hospital, Hagedorn for short.
In 2011, New Jersey governor Chris Christie announced that the whole campus would shut down as part of an effort to save money leaving many of the buildings left to sit vacant and decay. Although the administration, west and east ward buildings are still kept up to some extent. Eventually the children's unit and employee building were demolished and Veterans Haven North, a long-term drug and alcohol treatment facility for homeless veterans, was built on the site. The original school house building that was once used to teach Hagedorn patients in has been incorporated into the the Veterans Haven North site. The rest of the Hagedorn buildings sit vacant unused as of 2024.
Infirmary Building, Back then ---2020
Infirmary Building Balconies, Before --- 2020
In the Middle is Where the Original Balconies Are Shown
Inside the Old Infirmary (abandoned in 1977)
Administration Building, 2020
West Wards C & D
State Police Building, Before --- 2020
Medical Director House/Training Center, Before --- 2020
Osmun House, Before --- 2020
