When did the Carville, LA leper colony close to residential treatment?

Asked by Snoopy (5798

) February 16th, 2009

I realize this seems “google-able”, but I have tried for over an hour and can’t find the exact date.

All patients were free to leave in the 1960’s, I believe…..yet many chose to remain at the facility.

Specifically, I am trying to find when the last patient either died or was moved from the facility.

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3 Answers

This article says that it closed its doors as a treatment facility in 1999, but that some residents chose to stay on anyway. That agrees with this Oct,1998 report from NPR that says the facility was to close “by the end of the year”, but that some residents would be allowed to stay “for up to 3 more years” before being forced to leave.

Harp (19179

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@Harp Thanks! Triple lurve score for you!

Snoopy (5798

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I just was there last month. They still do have people there with Hanson’s Disease (Leperacy). There stories are very sad. It lets you know just how blessed you are after spending a week there.

gooch (5749

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