Phelps Sanitarium

Battle Creek Sanitarium
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Battle Creek Sanitarium headquarters, c. 1951
Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Location in United States Show map of the United States
Interactive map
Location	197 N. Washington Ave., Battle Creek, Michigan
Coordinates	42°19′37″N 85°11′11″W / 42.32694°N 85.18639°W / 42.32694; -85.18639 (Phelps Sanitarium)
Built	1899 (1899)
Architect	Robert T. Newberry
Demolished	1985[2]
NRHP reference No.	78001492[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 4, 1978
Removed from NRHP	April 18, 1988

The Phelps Sanitarium, later known as the Battle Creek Sanitarium, was a health care facility located at 197 N. Washington Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan. The building was demolished in 1985.^[2]

The Phelps Sanitarium was built by brothers O.S. and Neil S. Phelps, with construction beginning in 1899 and completed in 1900. The sanitarium was intended to compete with the nearby Battle Creek Sanitarium operated by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. However, the Phelps brothers went bankrupt within four years, and in 1904 the building was sold to C. W. Post, who used it to house his Trades and Workers Association labor union. In 1906, Bernarr MacFadden opened his own sanatorium in the building, which lasted only until 1909.^[2]

In 1913, Dr. Kellogg purchased the building and used the building as a Sanitarium Annex. In 1942, the original Battle Creek Sanitarium building was sold to the federal government to become Percy Jones Army Hospital, and Kellogg's sanatorium moved into the former Phelps Sanitarium building. In 1957, the building was purchased by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They operated the sanatorium for some time, constructing an annex in 1970. However, the original Phelps Sanitarium building was demolished in 1985.^[2]

The Phelps Sanitarium was constructed entirely of fieldstone, and at the time of construction was reputed to be the largest fieldstone building in the United States.^[2]