Tulare County Biographies

THE FENWICK SANITARIUM

Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


     In this era of advanced surgery and scientific treatment of disease, the 
sanitarium properly equipped and conducted is an absolute necessity in any city. 
Visalia possesses in the Fenwick Sanitarium, conducted and owned by Miss D. V. 
Fenwick, an institution affording every facility in emergency and surgical cases 
and a quiet retreat for persons desiring a restful environment in which to 
regain health. Miss Fenwick, who was graduated from the Los Angeles county and 
city hospitals in 1902, and from the Children�s hospital in San Francisco, is 
experienced in her chosen line. Patients in her care are allowed choice of 
physicians and leading physicians and surgeons practice in and recommend the 
institution. This sanitarium is ideally located on Mineral King avenue, far 
enough from the city to insure quiet and pure atmosphere. Fresh fruit from 
orchards surrounding the building, vegetables from the sanitarium garden, butter 
and milk and cream from Miss Fenwick�s own dairy and eggs from her poultry yard 
add much to the efficiency of the institution. The place has recently been 
remodeled and improved, and the building is one of the best appointed of its 
kind in central California. A new operating room, completely equipped, has been 
added and every modern aid to surgery is supplied; two trained nurses are 
regularly employed and others as they are required, and the sanitarium is equal 
to the accommodation of fourteen patients. The various railroads of this section 
patronize it, which is in itself a splendid recommendation. 
 
     The history of this institution dates from 1902, when it was established, 
in a small way, on South Court street, by its present owner and manager, who 
deserves great credit for the enterprise and perseverance which she has employed 
in maintaining and building it up. Miss Fenwick is a native daughter of Tulare 
county. Her parents, P. L. and Sarah (Jones) Fenwick, who were born in Illinois, 
came overland to California in the early �50s. For a time they stopped in Fresno 
county, then came to Tulare county, where her father became a farmer and 
cattle-raiser and operated extensively near Orosi and in Antelope valley until 
January 15, 1911, when he died, aged eighty-one years. Following are the names 
of his children: Jasper, who died February 15, 1911; Alonzo L., Edward and Miss 
D. V. The latter left home at the age of sixteen to become a graduated trained 
nurse. How successful she has been is known to all who are conversant with the 
splendid work done by the institution of which she is the head. 
 
     Miss Fenwick is constantly improving her institution; within the past year 
she has remodeled the basement, installed electricity for heating and cooking, 
and has added restrooms, thus increasing the comfort of her patients, and is 
always looking out for the sanitation of the place and the health of its 
patrons. 
 
SOURCE:  History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical 
Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, Pp 493, 494