Not much history can be found in researching the building; however, the following has been pieced together from various resources that are listed in the resource section of this page.

The building was built to allow the railroad to curve around it, so steam trains ran all day long underneath the windows of patients. After the tuberculosis patients were moved out, the building housed those with mental difficulties and the abandoned elderly.

“The (Hackett) Hotel was built by Col. John Riley. He also built the Tiber Way building.”

A wealthy and prominent attorney, Riley was lauded for the two buildings, erected in 1899 and 1900 respectively, because they were built on top of Goose Run.

“There was a great article in an old Marietta Times that called it the greatest improvement in Marietta’s downtown history. They cover Goose Run, which was an open sewer at the time. All the downtown buildings had outhouses that emptied into it,” said Noland.

Riley covered the ugly view, stifled the smell and was praised for the effort.

However, his effort to open a downtown sanitarium for tuberculosis patients was met with much less praise.

“The city fathers found out (Tiber Way) was for TB patients in the center of town and decided that wasn’t the best idea,” said Noland.

The building was converted into apartments on the second and third floors until it was slated for demolition around 30 years ago when Noland stepped in and purchased the building to save it.

Rivertown Grill is one of our favorite places in town. A cozy atmosphere, with delicious comfort food, it is a great place for lunch, dinner or a snack! Located directly underneath the old sanitarium, it has its share of strange activity. The Tiber Way building was built to house those dying of the 'White Plague', or Tuberculosis. It was a state of the art hospital for 1900, but it was a terrible place for those suffering from breathing problems. As it was built to allow the railroad tracks to curve around to Second Street, steam trains ran all day long underneath the windows of patients, pouring smoke into their rooms. After the Tuberculosis patients were moved out to the countryside, the building housed those with mental difficulties, as well as the abandoned elderly. After the building was abandoned, those wandering around inside would hear moaning, and see dark figures huddled in the corners, crying. They would disappear when approached. It is possible that many lost souls still linger in this building.