Mendocino a Kirkbride?

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Found this. Interesting, eh? Looks like a Kirkbride.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83881511/mendocino-state-asylum-for-the-insane?ga_search_query...

http://books.google.com/books?id=q5RHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=american+arc...

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Interesting find Soldat! The building sure looks like a kirk, and the description in the article also supports it.

If I recall correctly I think I have seen a postcard or two of this place with images of a kirk looking building.

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http://alexwellerstein.com/collection/image.cgi?hospital_mendocino4

link to a postcard overhead shot. The main building sure looks like it could be a kirk, but it is hard to tell with all the support buildings that were built so close. This was also mostly a clinical psych unit (or what the call forensics unit) I guess, so the design may have more to do with prison styles than asylum styles at the time. When you think about it that way, it also has the look of many of those facilities.

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I was looking around a bit last night and read in the 1907 report that the tower was originally tall like we see in the architects drawing, but it was shortened following damage from the great earthquake of 1906.

Do you have a date for that aerial shot? I am starting to think it was designed to be a kirkbride but the outer two wards on each wing were never built, probably due to a move towards the cottage plan. Leaving us with a kankakee-esqe main building.

Just my educated guess at this point.

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I agree, the evidence does point to it being a Kirk.

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Few years back i came across a postcard of this asylum.

MendocinoTower.JPG
Edited On 2:46:06 AM - Tue, Nov 22nd 2011 by Duffy

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The overhead photo I posted was taken some time around the 1950's. Post mark is from 1956.

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Nice postcard Duffy!! Do you own that or did you just find it on the internet?

Looking at that post cards it certainly looks like there are two sets of wards behind the admin.

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Quote:Thomasp94 Tue 22nd 12:32 pm
Nice postcard Duffy!! Do you own that or did you just find it on the internet?

Looking at that post cards it certainly looks like there are two sets of wards behind the admin.



I owned it at one time but sold it a few months back. I've kept scans of everything I've had and when I have the time I will upload everything. It's gonna be about 250+ full sized scans

I agree that it appears that's it has two wards on that side. I believe it was a Kirkbride but I can't say for sure.

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Quote:Duffy Tue 22nd 3:28 pm
and when I have the time I will upload everything. It's gonna be about 250+ full sized scans


No time like the present!


Seriously though, the server has been running great for the last 2 days, almost no lag time on uploads and editing. I have been trying to do as much editing as possible this week to take advantage.

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I think we had a question about it on the old forum but never came to a decision like a couple other hospitals. It looks like they demolished a couple of the outer wings at some point.

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http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=Mendocino_State_Hospital_Image_Gallery

I added some new photos I found.

The more I look at it the more I don't think they completed the two outter wards on the wings.

It says about California hospitals: "The main buildings of the hospitals were erected from 20 to 50 years ago and generally followed the plan of a central or administration building, with three-story ward buildings on each side. About 1900 the state began to make enlargements along the cottage system, which plan is being continued. Agnew, which was originally built on the lineal plan, was, after its destruction by the earthquake in 1906, rebuilt as an entire cottage system, no cottage exceeding two stories in height. All the state hospitals, with one exception, have fully equipped receiving buildings"

I also noticed the population of Mendocino was 500 when the others hospitals all had populations of 1000 or so, leading me to believe it was smaller.

I am guessing they just never got around to expanding the wings as per the original plan because they did not need the space in less populated Northern California. Then when they did expand it was the cottage era.

So I would still call it a kirk, just an unfinished one. The towers on the rear ends of each wing imply they did mean to expand it like in the drawing.

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I also feel that Patton may very well be a Kirkbride at this point, as mendocino and it were built at the same time.


No real way to tell unless we can find an aerial, map, or really clear photo.
Edited On 5:52:12 AM - Wed, Nov 23rd 2011 by Soldat251

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interesting

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Another one I wish I had a Sanborn for but none of the California asylums had any done for whatever reason. Patton does appear to be "Kirkbride-ish". Looks like the wings are connected via covered walkways like Buffalo? Here are 2 photos I found circa 1900 of it under construction.

highland2.png
highland.png

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Yeah, Patton is one I am really sad we cannot find a sanborn or map of. Its kirkbrideish for sure but its so hard to say from the pictures exactly what the place was. It has so many turrets and shapes and nonsense its hard to really tell.

Awesome pictures Squad, I looked everywhere and never saw those! By far the best view of the hospital.


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