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M-Explorer Forum:Admin, Forum:Mod, bureaucrat, checkuser, sysop
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| 9:45:44 AM - Wed, Aug 4th 2010 |
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Welcome to Asylum Projects FrancesA. 
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| 4:35:49 AM - Wed, Sep 1st 2010 |
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Hi, everyone!
I'm Manda. I stumbled onto your site while reading up on the history of Allentown State Hospital. Despite having worked there for some time, I'm still amazed at how much I don't know about the place. I think it's sad that it's closing soon; my dad and uncle still work there (Dad in security, uncle as a psych aide), so it's kind of heartbreaking to hear all of the stuff that's going on, both from the patients and current staff.
But yeah.. thanks for creating this! There is so much awesome stuff to read here, that I may never get to sleep tonight :-/
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| 5:58:36 AM - Wed, Sep 1st 2010 |
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| Welcome Manda. Feel free to share anything you want about Allentown you have.
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| 6:31:03 AM - Wed, Sep 1st 2010 |
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When I left ASH in 2006, there were six units open. 2West and 3West were the "admissions" units and generally had a pretty fast turnover. M3 was the geriatric unit (I worked most of my time there until my last couple of months before I left). M4 was the "male unit" but was integrated male/female shortly after I left. M5 was the "open" unit - patients with higher steps had more freedoms, and the unit was usually left unlocked except for nighttime and meals. M6 was the "female unit" - though that was changed into a mixed unit, too. M1 was used for Cenpro, M2 used for storage. M7 had the patient library and activities area, and M8 was usually empty, except in cases of remodeling. When I had started, 2East was open and functioning, but they closed that one shortly after I finished orientation. For the most part, 2 East was used for patients in the admissions buildings when 2/3West was being remodeled. 3East was used pretty much for storage and to put us (staff) up when it snowed and we were mandated :-D
Now? I think my dad said there are two units left. Admissions building is empty of patients. I think he said M3 and M5 are left. They're talking about using the admissions building for County mental health stuff. The remaining staff and patients are all unsure/scared of what's going to happen next. The DPW said the hospital would close its doors on December 31st of this year, but it looks like it's going to happen sooner.
They also are in the process of taking down the old Stepping Stone building. The old pool has been knocked down and rebuilt into Children and Youth's headquarters. Liberty Health had moved into the old ASTU building outside of M1/M2, but because of low enrollment, they've had to pull out. Headstart pretty much leases all of the buildings on the drive out onto Hanover. I think Shettel, Hillcrest, the barn, and the psychology building are all empty yet.
If you guys have anything specific you'd like to know, I can try to help you out as best as I can. If I don't know the answer, I can always ask my dad.
All I know is it really is a shame the hospital is closing. There were some patients there that thought of the hospital as home, and the thought of being sent somewhere else would absolutely destroy them. Between the staff and some of the patients, I always thought of ASH as my second (albeit, not very close  ) family. I had fun with my co-workers, holidays with my patients were always the BEST, we shared some laughs, some tears. Some bumps and bruises along the way (I was a member of the PERT team, so I guess it was to be expected).
Speaking of PERT, I noticed you had touched that a little bit in your writeup of the hospital. I would like to point out the ASH was the first state hospital in the state of PA to completely do away with restraints by 2005. There were a select few patients (maybe two or three) that were allowed to be restrained, but that was only after every other avenue had been exhausted (one patient actually requested it - he was afraid of hurting others, and thought restraints were the only thing to keep him from doing that). As far as I know, that hasn't changed at all.
Anyway, as I'd said, if you guys have any specific questions about the hospital, I'll answer them for you.
Thanks again, for the site and for the warm welcome!
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M-Explorer Forum:Admin, Forum:Mod, bureaucrat, checkuser, sysop
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Forum Veteran
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| 10:51:53 AM - Wed, Sep 1st 2010 |
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It is great to hear from you MrEPants. I've always loved to hear from people who have in the past or are currently working at these places we study. While I don't have any questions at the moment, I know I'll have some in the future.
So make yourself at home and jump into any conversation you like, work with any article that you like, and add any image you want to the database. If you have any questions as how to do that, let us know and any of us can help you.
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Thomasp94 Forum:Admin, Forum:Mod, bureaucrat, checkuser, sysop
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| 12:06:29 PM - Fri, Sep 3rd 2010 |
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Welcome to the site MrEPants!
Thanks for the inside info on Allentown State Hospital. I had planned to make a trip there this summer in preparation for a new website I have in the works. Unfortunately, even with all my references from the other hospitals I have visited, my visit keeps getting pushed back, it was originally to be in July, now I guess they are going to make me wait till all the patients have been transferred. If I ever actually get up there I might have to pick your brain for some more information!
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| 2:56:15 AM - Fri, Sep 10th 2010 |
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Hastings, Nebraska asylum
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I am doing family history research for my husbands family. A July 22, 1910 Norfolk, Nebraska newspaper has an article about reading LOST HUSBAND, BECAME INSANE Albion News: "Mrs. Edith Roslyn, who was working in the home of F. F. Tully at Cedar Rapids, was adjudged insane last Thursday and taken to the asylum at Hastings. Some time ago she and her husband separated and since then her mind has been giving away. A few days ago she received a letter form her mother in Wyoming that her father shot at one of her brothers, and had declared he was going to kill the whole family. On the receipt of this news she became violently insane."
Where would I find information about her stay and does it say who her husband was? This is one road block I am trying to break through.
Thanks for your help
Thank for any help you can give me.
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M-Explorer Forum:Admin, Forum:Mod, bureaucrat, checkuser, sysop
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| 10:11:57 AM - Fri, Sep 10th 2010 |
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Hmm...
Well I see that Hastings State Hospital is still active as a mental hospital, so at the very least I'd contact them to see if they still have patient records from back then. They may have transferred those records to a state archives or local historical society. Plus, ask them what you would need to do to access those records.
Two things to keep in mind: A) Due to the current HIPPA laws, you may have to prove your relationship to her to be able to see her records and B) don't expect to see the same amount of information in her records as you might find in current patient records.
To find out who her husband was, I'd try to find a marriage record, if it is not contained in her records or you are not able to find/access the records. This would mean you would have to trace her history to where she was when she was married as they would help you pin point the place where the record of her marriage might/will be (I.E. the state archives/historical society where her marriage record might be.)
If any other member might have anything else to suggest please chime in.
I hope this helps.
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Forum Veteran
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| 2:40:20 AM - Sat, Sep 11th 2010 |
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| M-Explorer pretty much summed it up, HIPAA is a huge headache to say the least. I should point out that HIPAA doesn't deceased patients at state hospitals more then 50 years ago, but many states still use that to keep records sealed. Not sure on the laws/rules in Nebraska, some states are easier then others. Being as old as those records are my guess is the state archives has those records if they still exist. The archives can tell you how to handle an open records request, usually it's just put in writing what you want then go from there. If you want more you could try the Nebraska State Genealogical Society. Unfortunately it's rarely an easy project!
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| 6:38:43 AM - Mon, Sep 13th 2010 |
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Thank you
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Thank you for you help in this matter.
I know where she was born, where she lived in 1900 and 1910. It is where she was in-between that I am not sure of. I will continue my search. I will also contact the hospital and state archives/historical society and see if they can help.
Again thank you for the suggestions
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| 4:31:33 PM - Mon, Sep 13th 2010 |
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Hi! I'm new here!
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My name is Dave and I've been working in the Psychiatric Field for 30+ years!
I work in a facility here in the midwest. Like many other facilities across the nation this facility is in the transition of downsizing, with threats looming to close this facility to lower the State budget. Luckily we have made the appropriate budgetary cuts to remain open for another year, and hopefully longer.
The threat of closure has loomed on the horizon since 1975, and we remain open so we must be doing something right, that the State still sees value in the services we provide to the public!
I'm glad to find that this is an active site with an active messageboard! I've added you to my favorites list!
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| 5:08:38 PM - Mon, Sep 13th 2010 |
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I'm obviously a Moron!
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| I noticed that the "time listed" for my post doesn't match the actual time when I submitted the post. How can I get my submitted posts to show the correct time for when they are posted?
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Forum Veteran
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| 11:46:55 PM - Mon, Sep 13th 2010 |
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Glad you found the site Dave, feel free to contribute. Good to hear your facility is safe from being cut for the near future, so many seem to be closing in the past couple of years.
To change the time you see, click on "My Preferences" at the top then you'll get the page for preferences. Click on the tab for "Date & Time" to change the timezone.
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| 6:11:15 AM - Tue, Sep 14th 2010 |
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Quote:Thomasp94 Fri 3rd 12:06 pmWelcome to the site MrEPants!
Thanks for the inside info on Allentown State Hospital. I had planned to make a trip there this summer in preparation for a new website I have in the works. Unfortunately, even with all my references from the other hospitals I have visited, my visit keeps getting pushed back, it was originally to be in July, now I guess they are going to make me wait till all the patients have been transferred. If I ever actually get up there I might have to pick your brain for some more information!
I welcome any brain-picking that comes my way :-P
On the plus side, once all of the patients are out of there, you'll likely be able to get the "full" tour (which I still haven't gotten... *grumble*). So it being pushed back may not be such a bad thing.
If they let you, make sure you get a look in the old psychology building. They still have the old bowling alley in there, and there's something about that area that is creepy as all get-out.
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Clicked A Few Times
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| 10:18:40 AM - Sun, Dec 19th 2010 |
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Hi :) i'm Audrey
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| I'm brand new to this community account-wise, but I'm definitely not new to asylums. I have been reading and gatheriing tons of pictures about mental institutions since last year. I'm absolutely fascinated with the history and architecture of these places. I feel a strong connection here because you have the same obsession I do, and the people around me everyday doesn't really understand or care, sadly. I really have more of a fascination towards Kirkbride asylums, and I have already been to two that are still around: Bolivar and Bryce. I will have to post the pictures I took! Also, another thing I would like to share is that I am a cartoonist, and I have created cartoons based on the Kirkbrides. I'm a little scared sharing it however, because people don't really understand them. Maybe you will. Well, hope to post more soon!
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