From National Archives, RG-185-G, Volume 20, Image 85 (edited).
pc265-02
pc265-02
Establishment of Palo Seco
The Palo Seco Leper Asylum was established on April 10, 1907. In 1904 the United States of America and the new Republic of Panama ratified the Panama Canal Treaty. By that treaty the United States became responsible for the public health of the Canal Zone, and to a certain extent the public health of Panama City and Colon. This responsibility had been sought by the United States in order to effectively combat the diseases of yellow fever and malaria which had contributed greatly to the failure of the French attempt to build the canal. The American doctors in 1904 discovered a group of 13 outcasts suffering from Hansen's disease (leprosy) were living precariously on a beach near Panama City. A financial arrangement was made with the Panamanian government, whereby the United States would provide for the housing, food and care of any Panamanian lepers in exchange for 75 cents a day per patient. The group was temporarily moved to Empire. Funds were allocated in 1905 and the Palo Seco facility was opened in 1907.
Palo Seco (the name means "Dry Stick" in Spanish) was an ocean-side 500 acre fruit farm about six miles from Panama City. The fruit farm was isolated, and initially access was only by boat (even though it was part of the mainland). In order to be more homelike, the facility was built like a Panamanian village. It had a plaza with a chapel one one side and the dwelling houses on the other side of the plaza. It was surrounded by trees, which also grew among the buildings.
The lepers were allowed to eat at a mess the food prepared for them or to draw their ration uncooked and do their own cooking. If they wished to do any farming, implements and seeds were provided. The produce was purchased by the facility for the use of the colony. Similarly, they were allowed to raise chickens.
The following excerpts are quoted from Dr. William Gorgas, writing in his book Sanitation In Panama in 1915:
"Another sanitary precaution that the Health Department determined upon was the segregation of lepers... We established a colony on a beautifully located peninsula running out into the bay of Panama, and almost as isolated as if were on an island. Here they could have gardens, chickens, fruit-trees, etc. The location is naturally one of the prettiest on the bay. We now have there some fifty lepers who are living contented and happy... Dr. Henry R. Carter devoted a great deal of time and attention to the establishment of this colony, and it was due to his painstaking personal care that the matter turned out so successfully."
Growth and Change
Over time as people heard good reports about Palo Seco, more people suffering from Hansen's disease came out of hiding and petitioned to join the colony. Around 1945 Palo Seco reached its peak of 127 patients, which included 10 Americans. In 1965 Palo Seco still had 100 patients of which 68 were men and 32 women. The Palo Seco facility was rebuilt in 1938 and 1945, and unfortunately lost that "village" atmosphere. Still it sounded pleasant. The facility built in 1945 was described as follows in the May 1969 issue of the Panama Canal Review:
"Palo Seco was a wind swept quadrangle of nine buildings consisting of living quarters for single patients, each with a room to himself, married patients' apartments, two churches and a building with a kitchen and two dining rooms, one for patients and one for employees. Next door was the administrative office, dental clinic, commissary and storerooms, a hospital to take care of those more seriously ill, and a clinic and treatment room. There was a laundry that could handle 200 pounds of laundry a day and a maintenance shop operated by patients. One of the most important components of the hospital was the recreation building where movies were shown and where patients hold dances and parties, play pool, and entertain friends."
The name of the facility also changed over the years. Palo Seco opened as the Palo Seco Leper Asylum in 1907. A few years later it was known as the Palo Seco Leper Colony In 1948 the name was changed to the Palo Seco Leprosarium. In 1964 the Palo Seco Leprosarium was renamed the Palo Seco Hospital. The Palo Seco Hospital was closed in 1972.
The buildings were used by Catholic nuns to house elderly poor displaced by Operation Just Cause from 1989 to 2000. From 2000 to date I've heard that Palo Seco is the residence of a group of expatriate Americans.
The Palo Seco Leper Asylum was established on April 10, 1907. In 1904 the United States of America and the new Republic of Panama ratified the Panama Canal Treaty. By that treaty the United States became responsible for the public health of the Canal Zone, and to a certain extent the public health of Panama City and Colon. This responsibility had been sought by the United States in order to effectively combat the diseases of yellow fever and malaria which had contributed greatly to the failure of the French attempt to build the canal. The American doctors in 1904 discovered a group of 13 outcasts suffering from Hansen's disease (leprosy) were living precariously on a beach near Panama City. A financial arrangement was made with the Panamanian government, whereby the United States would provide for the housing, food and care of any Panamanian lepers in exchange for 75 cents a day per patient. The group was temporarily moved to Empire. Funds were allocated in 1905 and the Palo Seco facility was opened in 1907.
Palo Seco (the name means "Dry Stick" in Spanish) was an ocean-side 500 acre fruit farm about six miles from Panama City. The fruit farm was isolated, and initially access was only by boat (even though it was part of the mainland). In order to be more homelike, the facility was built like a Panamanian village. It had a plaza with a chapel one one side and the dwelling houses on the other side of the plaza. It was surrounded by trees, which also grew among the buildings.
The lepers were allowed to eat at a mess the food prepared for them or to draw their ration uncooked and do their own cooking. If they wished to do any farming, implements and seeds were provided. The produce was purchased by the facility for the use of the colony. Similarly, they were allowed to raise chickens.
The following excerpts are quoted from Dr. William Gorgas, writing in his book Sanitation In Panama in 1915:
"Another sanitary precaution that the Health Department determined upon was the segregation of lepers... We established a colony on a beautifully located peninsula running out into the bay of Panama, and almost as isolated as if were on an island. Here they could have gardens, chickens, fruit-trees, etc. The location is naturally one of the prettiest on the bay. We now have there some fifty lepers who are living contented and happy... Dr. Henry R. Carter devoted a great deal of time and attention to the establishment of this colony, and it was due to his painstaking personal care that the matter turned out so successfully."
Growth and Change
Over time as people heard good reports about Palo Seco, more people suffering from Hansen's disease came out of hiding and petitioned to join the colony. Around 1945 Palo Seco reached its peak of 127 patients, which included 10 Americans. In 1965 Palo Seco still had 100 patients of which 68 were men and 32 women. The Palo Seco facility was rebuilt in 1938 and 1945, and unfortunately lost that "village" atmosphere. Still it sounded pleasant. The facility built in 1945 was described as follows in the May 1969 issue of the Panama Canal Review:
"Palo Seco was a wind swept quadrangle of nine buildings consisting of living quarters for single patients, each with a room to himself, married patients' apartments, two churches and a building with a kitchen and two dining rooms, one for patients and one for employees. Next door was the administrative office, dental clinic, commissary and storerooms, a hospital to take care of those more seriously ill, and a clinic and treatment room. There was a laundry that could handle 200 pounds of laundry a day and a maintenance shop operated by patients. One of the most important components of the hospital was the recreation building where movies were shown and where patients hold dances and parties, play pool, and entertain friends."
The name of the facility also changed over the years. Palo Seco opened as the Palo Seco Leper Asylum in 1907. A few years later it was known as the Palo Seco Leper Colony In 1948 the name was changed to the Palo Seco Leprosarium. In 1964 the Palo Seco Leprosarium was renamed the Palo Seco Hospital. The Palo Seco Hospital was closed in 1972.
The buildings were used by Catholic nuns to house elderly poor displaced by Operation Just Cause from 1989 to 2000. From 2000 to date I've heard that Palo Seco is the residence of a group of expatriate Americans.
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