San Haven, North Dakota

San Haven is an unincorporated community in Rolette County, in the U.S. state of North Dakota.[1]

History

San Haven ("sanatorium haven") probably was named for its location near the state tuburculosis hospital.[2] A post office called San Haven was established in 1923, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1987.[3] The building was changed to an asylum during the 60s after the vaccine was found for tuberculosis and special or ‘Retarded’ patients were treated in the place. In the 80s patients weren't taken care of well enough so they closed the building in 1987, because there were over 400 patients. San Haven land is now owned by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.

Sanatorium and hauntings

The San Haven Sanatorium, as the unincorporated city is mostly named after, was built in 1912, but due to the number of patients flooding in, the place closed in 1987. Nowadays the place is on private property, so anyone who goes there is considered “trespassing.”

The site is dubbed as one of the “most haunted place in North Dakota,” as many believe the place to be filled with the ghosts of patients. Many also claim that the place was used during Satanic rituals. The place also had a case where a 17-year-old boy, who was trespassing, went there to hunt for ghosts and accidentally slipped at the edge of an elevator shaft, tumbling 40 ft. (12 m.) to his death in the process on October 13, 2001.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: San Haven, North Dakota
2. "Explain Origin of All County Towns". Turtle Mountain Star. September 5, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
3. "Rolette County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 14 February 2015.