Waldheim 

John Henry Voje was born in Holstein, Germany, on March 15, 1853.  Voje attended school at the  University of Leipzig, Germany.  He arrived in America in 1872.  He studied at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Further study was done at the Chicago Medical College in 1876.  Dr. Voje married Johanna Henretta Ulrich on June 19, 1879.  The family settled in Oconomowoc in 1883, and lived in the area of the Gifford railroad station.  Philip Armour financed the construction of Waldheim Sanitarium in 1886.  Dr. Voje was hired to run the sanitarium.  It opened in 1888.  The original sanitarium was on 35 acres, and Voje owned an additional 25 acres. The land today is owned by John Macy, and consists of 22 acres.

The Waldheim spa was famous for its Swedish treatments, pine needle and oil baths, grape and milk cures, colonic treatments, electric sand, diets and vitamins.  Rates consisted of $20 to $50 per week.

Waldheim graduated 8 nurses from a program that was financed by May Armour Valentine.

In 1914, Waldheim stables was destroyed by fire, taking the life of an employee, William Rommey.  Another fire in 1915 destroyed one of the cottages when heating milk on the stove started the fire.

The Sanitarium was incorporated in 1917, and continued to be successful. It was also running a three year training program for nurses, and a one year program for practical nurses.

In April 1923, the name was changed to Toren Restoration Hospital.  Dr. Julius Toren of Chicago became the director.

In April 1925 the Toren Hospital changed its name to Summit Hospital.  Dr's Voje and Love remained as directors.  Later Dr. Love assumed ownership of the hospital.

On Christmas day, 1926, the 4 story sanatorium building was destroyed by fire.  In April of 1927, rebuilding began with the grand opening in July 1928.  Dr. Voje died in 1927.  Dr. Love, who was the director of Summit Hospital died in 1953. 

Mr. David Schuele took over the operation and sold the hospital to Kettle Moraine Treatment Center in 1973.  After many years of treating alcohol and drug patients, the Kettle Moraine Hospital sold the Oconomowoc Lake facilities in 1993 the its current owner, John Macy.  This property is now divided into 5 residential lots with the removal of the hospital building planned in the very near future.

This information was provided from the Dave and Barb Barquist book "Barons to Bootleggers"  I hope you enjoy the postcard tour of the Sanitarium.  I will be adding other pictures in the future of this historic sanitarium.