HOSPITAL STAY?

Old photo of the Idaho Tuberculosis Hospital in Gooding

The TB Hospital today is the "Get Inn" Bed and Breakfast

Last fall Harry and I attended a fund-raising auction. One of the items that we took home was a large gift basket. In the basket was a gift certificate for a stay at the "Get Inn" in Gooding, Idaho, a town that is about 45 minutes from home. The "Get Inn" bed and breakfast hotel has an interesting history. In 1920 the building was erected to serve as the dormitory for the Gooding College founded in 1917. The college served students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree until 1938. Because the Methodist Church had provided substantial funds to keep the school going, the buildings were donated to the church when the school closed.

In 1941 the Methodist Church gave the building to the state of Idaho for the development of a tuberculosis hospital, however, shortages of equipment and personnel during World War II delayed the opening of the hospital until May 1947. The hospital was in operation until 1976. After the building was abandoned, Idaho State legislators have wondered what to do with the building and there have been unsuccessful attempts to have the building demolished. Recently the building was purchased by Gary Hannon, who refurbished a small section of the historic building to house guests at the "Get Inn". He offers eight guestrooms, which had previously served as the nurses' dorms when the Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital was in operation.

Rumors abound that the hotel is haunted by its residents of the past. I was not aware of that before our overnight stay, and it is a good thing. Even though I don't believe in ghosts, Harry and I encountered odd things when we were at the "Get Inn". The hotel is interesting, but certainly not fancy. There are no private bathrooms, but two shared bathrooms at the end of the hall. We were the hotel's only guests on Sunday night, so there was no one else using the facilities. Yet often when one of us went to the end of the hall to use the bathroom, one or both of the doors would be locked. Doors that we left ajar, mysteriously closed.

While staying in Gooding, we checked out the Little City of Rocks.