Old Fort Bayard Medical Center interior photos 082715

This aerial image of the old Fort Bayard Medical Center courtesy of Mark Erickson

Photos in slideshow and article by Mary Alice Murphy

The Beat had an opportunity to go inside the Old Fort Bayard Medical Center on Thursday afternoon. Jeb Fowler, president of Fowler Brothers Inc, the salvage subcontractor to Tatsch Construction on the demolition of the 150,000 square-foot structure, took Grant County Commission Chairman Brett Kasten and the Beat on a tour of the interior.

Fowler, a self-described history buff, said the old hospital once had as many as 1,800 patients in it at a time. The surgery area had 10 recovery rooms. The construction started in 1922 and was completed in 1923.

"Our job is to salvage everything possible," Fowler said. "We will take out and save original lights and plumbing fixtures and equipment items that are still functioning. Unfortunately, most of the hand-painted murals will be destroyed in the demolition. However, we have had a request to save the cafeteria mural of The Last Supper, if it's possible."

Furniture that was reusable has been claimed by entities, such as The Gospel Mission, Cliff Schools, the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society and other organizations.

Some of the wood doors are original and will be saved. Many twin bed frames still remain in the halls, although few have been claimed. The head and foot boards are mainly particle board and the mattress support is just a wire spring frame.

As many as a dozen or more patients once stayed in the rooms, although in recent years, it was mostly two to three people to a room. Each room had a theme and a different color of paint.

The steel will be recycled. The concrete, of which the building is primarily constructed , will be taken and crushed for road base course at a crusher in Hurley.