This 8" x 10" black and white photographic print shows an underground utility tunnel at the Immanuel Deaconess Institute, with associated piping, valves and steam trap. Bricks and concrete blocks form the walls of the tunnel.
Original format: black and white photographic print, 8 x 10 inches.
Historical Notes
The central utility plant (power house) was built in 1903 to provide steam for the hospital and other buildings on campus. The plant was located at 3337 Fowler St. The distance to the hospital (3600 block of Meredith Ave) was approximately one block. High pressure steam from the boilers circulated through the pipes providing heat and steam for sterilization. The tunnel allowed for maintenance of the pipes and provided access between the buildings. Oral history suggests that the tunnel was the scene of high jinks by hospital staff.
