BACKGROUND
Following the devastation of the Civil War, the United States began reflecting on the need to care for Union Veterans returning home. A step toward meeting this need was the creation of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (National Home). While regular soldiers were afforded more care and benefits upon leaving the service, volunteers were given only a pension. For those afflicted with long-term conditions due to their wartime engagements, more was needed. Hearing the concerns of constituents, congressional legislation was introduced on March 1, 1865, to create the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The bill passed two days later on March 3, and was signed by President Lincoln a month before his assassination.
Upon its approval, construction began on the first National Home in Togus Springs, Maine, which opened in 1866 as the Eastern Branch location. The Central Branch located in Dayton, Ohio, and Northwestern Branch in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, soon followed. Throughout the years, more residential National Homes opened across the nation, providing greater access to medical and holistic care for volunteer soldiers in a domicile environment. Due to their wide geographic span, each National Home often reflected the landscaping and architectural styles of their region. The National Homes in Dayton, Ohio, and Sawtelle, California, are two such examples.
DAYTON, OHIO
On September 10, 1867, the Dayton Weekly Journal reported on the ongoing construction of the Dayton National Home, calling it “one of the greatest attractions in the State.” With its vast gardens and economic impact on the city, this statement held true.
The layout and architecture of the Dayton, Ohio, facility was led by C.B. Davis and Thomas B. Van Horne. For residents, the structure of the Dayton National Home was familiar, constructed in much of the same fashion as military installations. Residences were centrally located around a parade ground with administrative facilities close by. In its development, multiple architecture styles were utilized, with late 19th and 20th Century revival styles featuring prominently. One of the most notable characteristics of Dayton is its Gothic Revival Protestant chapel, which is one of the 28 pre-1930 buildings still standing today, and the first stand-alone church at a National Home.
Photo to left: Aerial shot of the Dayton campus cemetery (National Parks Service)
Landscaping also proved essential in distinguishing the Dayton National Home. Aiding in the process was Frank Mundt, a landscaping enthusiast. He developed what became known as Grotto Springs, a winding path of nature trails surrounded by gardens and springs. Eventually, the natural landscaping grew to include waterways, flower gardens, wildflowers, and even a conservatory and deer park. Exotic animals were also supplied including swans and alligators. The natural beauty of the Dayton home as well as its animal population encouraged tourism to the site. As a result, businesses popped up in the area, capitalizing on the surge in traffic.
Photo to right: Colorized postcard of landscaping at the Dayton National Home (VHA Collection)
“After a gentle walk from the hospital, and passing through a handsomely decorated arch, we enter a lovely dell where the art of the florist and botanist have been brought into requisition — a landscape garden, with nature’s choicest flowers of beauty and fragrance to delight the eye and charm the senses.” ~ Veteran recounting his visit to Dayton
Images from left to right: Stone stairs in a garden area; Gazebo by the water on the Dayton campus; A lake provided a relaxing spot for residents (Library of Congress); Colorized postcard of a section of the Dayton National Home with the city in the background; A colorized aerial view of the Dayton campus (Norman Gasbarro)
SAWTELLE, CALIFORNIA
On the West coast, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers took on a distinct look, embodying the popular architectural styles of California. In 1888, a National Home was opened in Los Angeles in the Sawtelle neighborhood. Constructed on 713 acres, the sprawling campus included traditional barracks, Barry Hospital (later called Wadsworth Hospital), and a mess hall. Stanford White, a renowned American architect was responsible for much of the design work. He first began with the Shingle-style barracks. The Shingle style emerged in New England during the 1880s and was popular due to its ability to blend into more natural areas. In comparison to the more structured organization of buildings at Dayton, Sawtelle had an open design featuring sprawling porches that measured the width of the buildings. Like Dayton, Sawtelle had a chapel; unlike Dayton, the Sawtelle chapel built in 1900, matched the rest of the buildings with its Shingle style. Moreover, the Sawtelle chapel allowed Protestant and Catholic parishioners to worship simultaneously in different sections as opposed to Dayton which had two separate chapels.
Photo to left: The chapel at Sawtelle (Library of Congress)
Part of the reasoning behind choosing Sawtelle as a location for a facility was its natural flat, treeless state that served as a blank canvas. Unlike Dayton, which already was built around a natural environment, landscapers at Sawtelle worked to create spaces to appreciate nature, designing an irrigation system to sustain orchards and vegetable gardens. Hoping to create a sustainable campus, these gardens helped supply food for residents. Palm trees were planted around the grounds, giving this location a distinctive West Coast feeling. Pine trees and eucalyptus plants were also added.
Photo to right: High-angle shot of the Sawtelle campus dotted with palm trees (Wikimedia)
Images from left to right: Close-up of the steeple; A man walks alongside a row of buildings on the Sawtelle campus; Postcard of the National Home (Wikimedia and Homestead Museum)
HORTICULTURAL THERAPY AND TOURISM
Contrasting the mental fortitude and physical strength that comes from military service was the use of what was coined "horticultural therapy," or rehabilitation through gardening and spending time in nature. According to a 2004 study focusing on those with brain damage, horticultural therapy was shown to mediate “emotional, cognitive and/or sensory motor functional improvement” and overall improve a patient’s quality of life. More recent studies have investigated the efficacy of therapeutic gardens for aging populations, recommending time in nature to reduce pain, alleviate stress, and improve attention spans. With the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Veterans both today and during the age of National Homes, horticultural therapy has been employed as a stable “holding environment” for those suffering from this condition. One researcher describes gardens for patients as “stable objects of attachment.” The stability contained within a garden provides meaningful work and a place of solitude and security.
While the Dayton National Home did not necessarily anticipate the number of tourists who would visit, the Sawtelle home was initially built to be connected to the town, incorporating a streetcar depot. This allowed for easy travel between the National Home and local businesses. Tourists and locals often visited Sawtelle as a part of the Balloon Route which visited “10 beaches and 8 cities” for a journey of “101 miles for 100 cents in 1 day.” This was an exciting venture in the early 1900s, and often led to visitors buying property along the route. According to a flyer, the National Soldiers’ Home was classified as a “long stop,” meaning visitors were provided more time to stroll across the campus. In describing the facility, they labeled it “a park of 700 acres, aptly termed ‘old peoples’ paradise.’” While certainly not home to solely older Veterans, the Home was well-regarded for its beauty and functionality.
Images above: A map of the Balloon Route and a flyer for attractions along the way (KCET)
In addition to being tourist destinations, the architecture and landscapes of the National Homes helped Veterans in their rehabilitation, healing, and recovery. Studies have shown that nature reduces stress and anxiety while increasing positive feelings and emotions. For Veterans seeking rehabilitation, taking walks through picturesque landscapes and specially designed gardens were an essential part of recovery. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues its mission of providing acre for Veterans at VA hospitals and medical centers across the country, including through the use of nature and gardens in recovery. In November 2010, the VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville, Illinois, incorporated a healing garden to provide "a new place to recharge." Like the Homes of the past, landscapers included a wandering path and ample greenspace complete with flowers, vines, and other plant material.
Photo to left: A patient visits one of the gardens at the Danville VA Hospital (Commercial News)
Created by: Parker Beverly, Wake Forest University Student and Virtual Student Federal Service Intern with the VA History Office