Kevin Waters
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Saranac Lake, Ray Brook State Sanatorium,
Interview conducted on 09/21/2019 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project
Kevin J Waters was born on July 12, 1951 at the Saranac Lake General Hospital. Both of his parents had been TB patients at Ray Brook State Sanatorium! His father, John Waters, was from Hell’s Kitchen. After being discharged from the Army just prior to WWII, John developed a cough. He was admitted to Bellevue Hospital with tuberculosis just one day after visiting his doctor. Kevin’s mother, Rita Hynes, was about 19 years old when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Rita and John met at Ray Brook State Sanatorium. After they had recovered their health, it was still recommended they stay in the area, which they did. While curing at Ray Brook, John had worked in housekeeping, and after being discharged, he was able to keep his position there until the closure of the hospital in the 1960s. As Kevin grew older his parents began to explain more about TB. John showed Kevin Ray Brook State Hospital and explained why Kevin had to get a chest x-ray every year. Much of the family’s social circle was made up of former TB patients and many of them didn’t have kids, or if they did they only had one or two. Kevin learned that John didn’t tell his family he had TB, not even when he was close to death. He didn’t have a single visitor. Curing was lonely. John and Rita taught Kevin many lessons through the narrative of tuberculosis, about how every action has a consequence, about doing what you have to, about the dangers of misuse of alcohol. In 1965 the family moved to NYC. After graduating high school, Kevin attended Marist College. He has had a career as a yacht maker. He continues to visit the Saranac Lake. Each time he learns a little more about the town he was raised in and the disease it was built around.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.
Interview conducted on 09/21/2019 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project
Kevin J Waters was born on July 12, 1951 at the Saranac Lake General Hospital. Both of his parents had been TB patients at Ray Brook State Sanatorium! His father, John Waters, was from Hell’s Kitchen. After being discharged from the Army just prior to WWII, John developed a cough. He was admitted to Bellevue Hospital with tuberculosis just one day after visiting his doctor. Kevin’s mother, Rita Hynes, was about 19 years old when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Rita and John met at Ray Brook State Sanatorium. After they had recovered their health, it was still recommended they stay in the area, which they did. While curing at Ray Brook, John had worked in housekeeping, and after being discharged, he was able to keep his position there until the closure of the hospital in the 1960s. As Kevin grew older his parents began to explain more about TB. John showed Kevin Ray Brook State Hospital and explained why Kevin had to get a chest x-ray every year. Much of the family’s social circle was made up of former TB patients and many of them didn’t have kids, or if they did they only had one or two. Kevin learned that John didn’t tell his family he had TB, not even when he was close to death. He didn’t have a single visitor. Curing was lonely. John and Rita taught Kevin many lessons through the narrative of tuberculosis, about how every action has a consequence, about doing what you have to, about the dangers of misuse of alcohol. In 1965 the family moved to NYC. After graduating high school, Kevin attended Marist College. He has had a career as a yacht maker. He continues to visit the Saranac Lake. Each time he learns a little more about the town he was raised in and the disease it was built around.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.