Fact or Folklore?

Facts: In 1942, Bushnell General Military Hospital was built in Brigham City and served in the treatment of WWII soldiers who had been injured and experienced other issues from their service. One of Bushnell’s specialties was amputation and drew some of the top surgeons to our little town. Bushnell was also one of the first hospitals to use penicillin and document its tremendous medical benefits. Bushnell treated up to 3800 soldiers at a time and was so large that it had more hospital beds than all the other hospitals in Utah combined. Colonel Hardaway, who oversaw the hospital, also planned to add a swimming pool, golf course, bowling green and riding stable to the property.

Many soldiers experienced amputation of their limbs during their stay at the hospital. In fact, Ward 14 was known as “Stump Inn” (in less politically correct days) and was dedicated to those who had both legs amputated. This group eventually formed the Bushnell General Chapter of The Bilateral Amputee Clubs of America. In an effort to help the recovering soldiers, Verabel Call Knudson would provide a steak dinner to the amputees at the Idle Isle restaurant the first time that they could walk into the restaurant with their prosthesis under their own power. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi...

After the close of the war, the property was converted into the Intermountain Indian School in 1950 until 1984. After this time, the property was eventually returned to Brigham City with some requirements on its usage. A golf course was again planned.

Folklore?: As the golf course was being constructed, it was reported (by a reliable source) that the equipment clearing the area for the 11th hole green began to dislodge bones. It was discovered that the bones were the amputated arms and legs of the WWII veterans which had been discarded into a mound just above the hospital. The spot is marked in the following photos. It was decided to shorten the hole and cover the bones back up and leave the area undisturbed.

Do you know more of the story?

The photos are used for educational, nonprofit, and noncommercial uses only. A special thanks to Scott Jensen for his work in collecting photographs.