{{infobox institution
| name = Independence State Hospital
| image = IowaPC.jpg
| image_size = 275px
| alt = Independence State Hospital
| caption = Postcard photograph of the Kirkbride.
| established =
| construction_began = 1868
| construction_ended =
| opened = 1873
| closed =
| demolished =
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]]
| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions|Kirkbride Plan]]
| architect(s) = Stephen Vaughn
| location = Independence, Iowa
| architecture_style =
| peak_patient_population = 1,880 in 1946
| alternate_names = 
*Independence Mental Health Institute
*Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, Independence
*Independence Lunatic Asylum
*Independence Asylum for the Insane
}}
The Independence state Hospital is a state run mental asylum in Independence, Iowa. There is a labyrinth of underground tunnels which connect every building.

==History==
One of 4 Mental Health Institute’s in the State of Iowa. – the others being Mt. Pleasant, Cherokee and Clarinda.

The “Mission Statement” of the Mental Health Institute, Independence is “To assure that the mentally ill adult citizens of Northeast Iowa and mentally ill children from Eastern Iowa have the opportunity to attain their maximum level of functioning by having available highest quality of inpatient psychiatric care through the institute.”

The “Vision Statement” of the Mental Health Institute, Independence, is “To foster a therapeutic environment for persons with mental illness, which preserves patient’s self-respect and dignity, assures optimum care and treatment, and enhances patient functioning and independence.”

During the middle of the 19th century, at about the time the Civil War was drawing to a close, there was a growing incidence of mental illness in Iowa. At that time, there was only one state facility for the mentally ill, located at Mt. Pleasant in the southeast corner of the state. In operation but a few years, it quickly became overcrowded. A bill passed by the Iowa Legislature on April 6, 1868, appropriated money for the building of a second hospital for the insane. It was to be located west of Independence. The new asylum became a reality when the doors opened and patients admitted on May 1, 1873. It was built at a cost of $845,000 and took 10 years to complete. The walls of the main building are made up of stone taken from the quarries around Farley and Stone City, while the foundation is of prairie granite. The latter was a plus for the State of Iowa, as the contractor was not obligated to use material this durable. There was a lot of prairie granite laying in the fields in this area during the mid-19th century. There was a French influence here in the mansard roofs, lofty arched windows, decorative slating, bracketed eaves, domes, corner towers and ornamental roof turrets. Due to circulation capabilities, the main building was credited with contributing to the physical heath of patients during those early days.

The landscape artist, J.J. Weidenmann, was a professional of some renown, for he did the State Capitol grounds in Des Moines, as well as some work on Central Park in New York City. He was employed here to furnish all the plans for improvement of the grounds, drainage, roads, drives and walks, grading and lakes, also a map for guidance of the gardener in the planting of trees. This work, incidentally, was done largely by patients treated here at the time.

The landscape gardener, in those early years, was a man by the name of Jonathan Bland. His roots were in England. Before alighting in Independence, he stopped off to landscape the parks in Toronto, Canada. During Bland’s time, there were 300 acres of garden at this hospital, the entire grounds being laid out in floral gardens, with paths running through them. According to legend, following a request by the Superintendent’s wife, Bland took to growing chrysanthemums one summer and by November he had some that were “at least a foot in diameter.”

Many changes have taken place at the Independence facility over they years. The name has changed at least twice. In the beginning, it was known as the Hospital for the Insane, or the Insane Asylum. Later, it was re-named The State Hospital, and then the Mental Health Institute, one of four in the Iowa Department of Human Services umbrella. There was a time, many years ago, when this hospital, like many others over the land, was a custodial facility, with patients staying here for long periods. A sizable number spent the greater part of their lives here.

Over a 10 year time span, from 1937 until 1947, there were just under 1,800 patients residing here daily, with an average yearly admission rate of 700. Needless to say, the hospital in those times was very overcrowded and the care minimal. Patients, in effect, were warehoused. Progress began shortly after the end of the Second World War. The really big assist came in 1957, when an enlightened legislature placed emphasis on recruiting qualified professional staff, in lieu of stressing more ‘brick and mortar.” This, combined with the advent of newer treatment methods, especially psychoactive medications, led to creation of an active treatment program.<ref>[http://www.buchanancountyhistory.com/mhi.php http://www.buchanancountyhistory.com/mhi.php]</ref>

'''From the "BOARD OF CONTROL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, From Iowa Official Register 1909-1910" pages 262-269:'''

*Superintendent-WILLIAM P. CRUMBACKER, M.D.
*First Assistant Physician-SAMUEL C. LINDSAY, M.D.
*Second Assistant Physician-GEORGE DONOHOE, M.D.
*Pathologist-JOSEPH C. OHLMACKER, M.D.
*Woman Physician-CORA B. MURDOCK, M.D.
*Steward-JAMES NETCOTT.
*Matron-ISABELLE McWILLIAMS.

The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient.

== Images of Independence State Hospital ==
{{image gallery|[[Independence State Hospital Image Gallery|Independence State Hospital]]}}

<gallery>
File:Independance.jpg
File:IndSH.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
<references/>

== Links ==

*[http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/independence/ Independence State Hospital @ Kirkbride Buildings]

[[Category:Iowa]]
[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
[[Category:Active Institution]]

Independence State Hospital

2010-09-17T22:42:56Z

Votesmall:

{{infobox institution
| name = Independence State Hospital
| image = IowaPC.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt = Independence State Hospital
| caption =
| established =
| construction_began = 1868
| construction_ended =
| opened = 1873
| closed =
| demolished =
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]]
| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions|Kirkbride Plan]]
| architect(s) = Stephen Vaughn
| location =
| architecture_style =
| peak_patient_population = 1,880 in 1946
| alternate_names = 
*Independence Mental Health Institute
*Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, Independence
*Independence Lunatic Asylum
*Independence Asylum for the Insane
}}
The Independence state Hospital is a state run mental asylum in Independence, Iowa. There is a labyrinth of underground tunnels which connect every building.

==History==
One of 4 Mental Health Institute’s in the State of Iowa. – the others being Mt. Pleasant, Cherokee and Clarinda.

The “Mission Statement” of the Mental Health Institute, Independence is “To assure that the mentally ill adult citizens of Northeast Iowa and mentally ill children from Eastern Iowa have the opportunity to attain their maximum level of functioning by having available highest quality of inpatient psychiatric care through the institute.”

The “Vision Statement” of the Mental Health Institute, Independence, is “To foster a therapeutic environment for persons with mental illness, which preserves patient’s self-respect and dignity, assures optimum care and treatment, and enhances patient functioning and independence.”

During the middle of the 19th century, at about the time the Civil War was drawing to a close, there was a growing incidence of mental illness in Iowa. At that time, there was only one state facility for the mentally ill, located at Mt. Pleasant in the southeast corner of the state. In operation but a few years, it quickly became overcrowded. A bill passed by the Iowa Legislature on April 6, 1868, appropriated money for the building of a second hospital for the insane. It was to be located west of Independence. The new asylum became a reality when the doors opened and patients admitted on May 1, 1873. It was built at a cost of $845,000 and took 10 years to complete. The walls of the main building are made up of stone taken from the quarries around Farley and Stone City, while the foundation is of prairie granite. The latter was a plus for the State of Iowa, as the contractor was not obligated to use material this durable. There was a lot of prairie granite laying in the fields in this area during the mid-19th century. There was a French influence here in the mansard roofs, lofty arched windows, decorative slating, bracketed eaves, domes, corner towers and ornamental roof turrets. Due to circulation capabilities, the main building was credited with contributing to the physical heath of patients during those early days.

The landscape artist, J.J. Weidenmann, was a professional of some renown, for he did the State Capitol grounds in Des Moines, as well as some work on Central Park in New York City. He was employed here to furnish all the plans for improvement of the grounds, drainage, roads, drives and walks, grading and lakes, also a map for guidance of the gardener in the planting of trees. This work, incidentally, was done largely by patients treated here at the time.

The landscape gardener, in those early years, was a man by the name of Jonathan Bland. His roots were in England. Before alighting in Independence, he stopped off to landscape the parks in Toronto, Canada. During Bland’s time, there were 300 acres of garden at this hospital, the entire grounds being laid out in floral gardens, with paths running through them. According to legend, following a request by the Superintendent’s wife, Bland took to growing chrysanthemums one summer and by November he had some that were “at least a foot in diameter.”

Many changes have taken place at the Independence facility over they years. The name has changed at least twice. In the beginning, it was known as the Hospital for the Insane, or the Insane Asylum. Later, it was re-named The State Hospital, and then the Mental Health Institute, one of four in the Iowa Department of Human Services umbrella. There was a time, many years ago, when this hospital, like many others over the land, was a custodial facility, with patients staying here for long periods. A sizable number spent the greater part of their lives here.

Over a 10 year time span, from 1937 until 1947, there were just under 1,800 patients residing here daily, with an average yearly admission rate of 700. Needless to say, the hospital in those times was very overcrowded and the care minimal. Patients, in effect, were warehoused. Progress began shortly after the end of the Second World War. The really big assist came in 1957, when an enlightened legislature placed emphasis on recruiting qualified professional staff, in lieu of stressing more ‘brick and mortar.” This, combined with the advent of newer treatment methods, especially psychoactive medications, led to creation of an active treatment program.<ref>[http://www.buchanancountyhistory.com/mhi.php http://www.buchanancountyhistory.com/mhi.php]</ref>

'''From the "BOARD OF CONTROL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, From Iowa Official Register 1909-1910" pages 262-269:'''

*Superintendent-WILLIAM P. CRUMBACKER, M.D.
*First Assistant Physician-SAMUEL C. LINDSAY, M.D.
*Second Assistant Physician-GEORGE DONOHOE, M.D.
*Pathologist-JOSEPH C. OHLMACKER, M.D.
*Woman Physician-CORA B. MURDOCK, M.D.
*Steward-JAMES NETCOTT.
*Matron-ISABELLE McWILLIAMS.

The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient.

== Images of Independence State Hospital ==
{{image gallery|[[Independence State Hospital Image Gallery|Independence State Hospital]]}}

<gallery>
File:Independance.jpg
File:IndSH.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
<references/>

== Links ==

*[http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/independence/ Independence State Hospital @ Kirkbride Buildings]

[[Category:Iowa]]
[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
[[Category:Active Institution]]

Taunton State Hospital

2010-09-05T19:22:45Z

Votesmall: /* History */

{{infobox institution
| name = Taunton State Hospital
| image = Taunton44.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt = Taunton State Hospital
| caption =
| established =
| construction_began = 1851
| construction_ended = 1853
| opened =
| closed =
| demolished =
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]]
| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions|Kirkbride Plan]]
| architect(s) = Elbridge Boyden
| location =
| architecture_style =
| peak_patient_population =
| alternate_names = 
*Taunton Lunatic Hospial
*State Lunatic Hospital at Taunton
}}

==History==
It took Massachusetts until 1833 to establish its first "lunatic system" located in Worcester. By 1851 it had grown so dangerously overcrowded that the Legislature appropriated $100,000 for the construction of a new hospital. The Legislature appointed a commission to choose the site and oversee its construction. Interestingly, many communities across the state petitioned to have the institutions located in their towns. After a lengthy search the commission chose the City of Taunton who had raised $13,000 to buy a one hundred and fifty-four acre farm situated in the north of town.

The commission's site search was driven by specific criteria, and their vision, when the building and grounds were completed, was to "render it a spot fitted to interest and tranquilize the minds of those who need as well the soothing influences of external nature as the healing remedies of art." It was believed at the time that a bucolic setting of soothing topology would compliment and aid treatment. To that end, the commission settled on the farm in northern Taunton whose more than sixty acre grove, bounded by the river, extended to within a half a mile of the center of town. One advantage of the site was that the river acted as a natural barrier against the encroachments of an increasing town population, so that the institution would not gradually find itself in the heart of a large city.

The commission selected Elbridge Boyden, the most prominent New England architect of the mid-19th century, whose most famous works were Mechanics Hall and Holy Cross College, both in Worcester. He was also well-known outside of New England and was chosen to design and build Antioch College in Ohio. Boyden's specialty was the design of civic and public buildings. He built jails, courthouses, town halls, churches, hotels, banks, post offices and railroad stations all over the United States.

In 1853 the hospital was completed at a cost of $151,742.48. It was constructed in the Georgian style on a monumental scale and is, to this day, an example of classical revival institutional architecture. Boyden's specialty was the use of cast iron as a functional and decorative medium. His command of these materials can be seen in the domes, capitals and cornices that survive today. He situated the hospital "on a gentle eminence, at the extreme northerly part of the farm, being about one mile from town." As originally completed it was a three-storied building of brick with a slate roof. It was surmounted by a dome rising seventy feet above the roof. The dome's cupola offered a "panoramic view of great beauty, embracing the neighboring town, with its many tokens of busy life, several flourishing villages, the numerous ponds and streams with which the surrounding country abounds, and reaching even to the blue hills of Norfolk County."

The building boasted all of the modern conveniences: central heat, running water, sewer and central ventilation. It contained a chapel, kitchen, bakery, laundry, dining rooms, apartments for staff, washrooms, parlors, open-air verandas and "patient" rooms. Some patient rooms were dormitory style and others private. Private rooms were an innovation and reflected the institution's concern for its inhabitants who would now be called "patients" and not "inmates."

Today, while the Mill River still forms a barrier to the eastern boundary of the hospital the remaining 600 acres are now surrounded by the City of Taunton. The city now has 50,000 citizens. Private homes, old and new; businesses, small and large have grown around the hospital including the nationally known Reed and Barton Silver Company. At present the hospital inpatient population is only a fraction of the large number of patients who resided here in the 1940's and 50's. However, the role and vitality of the hospital have not diminished. In the 1990's there were extensive renovations which have provided modern and pleasant living environments for our patients. Taunton State Hospital currently houses 10 wards which provide long term psychiatric care and forensic evaluations for admissions that come primarily from Southeastern Massachusetts. Support is also provided to two youth service units and two adolescent wards. The hospital is a Joint Commission approved facility that serves as an intern site for Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry as well as a training site for nursing, psychology, occupational therapy and social work students. The current Chief Operating Officer is Katherine Chmiel, while the Clinical Director is Rogelio Bayog, M.D.<ref>History written by Joe Langlois</ref>

In 1999 the large dome crowning the admin collapsed into the building. And on March 19, 2006 a huge fire gutted what was left of the administration. Soon, parts of the buildings were deemed beyond repair and the fire damaged portions were leveled. All that remains now are the decaying wings of the Kirkbride.

== Images of Taunton State Hospital ==
{{image gallery|[[Taunton State Hospital Image Gallery|Taunton State Hospital]]}}

<gallery>
File:Taunton2.jpg
File:Taunton3.png
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Active Institution]]
[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
[[Category:Massachusetts]]

== Links ==

*[http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/taunton/ Taunton @ Kirkbride Buildings]
*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~asylums/taunton_ma/index.html Taunton @ Historic Asylums]
*[http://arch.thomas-industriesinc.com/Kirkbride_Gallery_HospitalY.htm Taunton Aerial Photos]
*[http://www.capecodfd.com/PAGES%20Special/Taunton%20GA%20Fire%20031906%20P1.htm Photos from the 2006 fire]
*[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhphoto&fileName=ma/ma1300/ma1354/photos/browse.db&action=browse&recNum=0&title2=Taunton%20State%20Hospital,%20Danforth%20Street,%20Taunton,%20Bristol%20County,%20MA&displayType=1&itemLink=D?hh:1:./temp/~ammem_TMCw::@@@mdb=hh,gottscho,cic,dag,papr,alad,fawbib,vv,wpapos,qlt,detr,varstg,awh,awhbib Historic American Building Photos]