Mt Pleasant State Hospital - Revision history

Squad546 at 00:32, 12 February 2026

2026-02-12T00:32:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:32, 12 February 2026
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	On August 10, 1936. A fire consumed parts of the main building, chapel, recreation building, and employee dormitory. Mt. Pleasant evacuated all 1,300 plus patients. Hundreds from the town came out to aid the insane; they formed a human chain to contain the meandering patients. One woman wandered off and was never heard from again. Iowa immediately appropriated $215,000 for repairs, with up to $502,000 available over the next two years for construction. Mt. Pleasant turned the catastrophe into an opportunity to redesign the damaged space into a more modern medical facility. The Board of Control drew up plans for a larger, combination chapel and amusement hall with a centralized kitchen. The new spaces could relieve overcrowding by 1,000.		On August 10, 1936. A fire consumed parts of the main building, chapel, recreation building, and employee dormitory. Mt. Pleasant evacuated all 1,300 plus patients. Hundreds from the town came out to aid the insane; they formed a human chain to contain the meandering patients. One woman wandered off and was never heard from again. Iowa immediately appropriated $215,000 for repairs, with up to $502,000 available over the next two years for construction. Mt. Pleasant turned the catastrophe into an opportunity to redesign the damaged space into a more modern medical facility. The Board of Control drew up plans for a larger, combination chapel and amusement hall with a centralized kitchen. The new spaces could relieve overcrowding by 1,000.

	In 1946, the facility reached its peak occupancy of 1,581. Since 1945 however, new therapies and medications have helped decrease the facility's population, and the individual's average length of stay has been reduced from years to a matter of weeks.		Between 1940 and 1944, the denizens of Mt. Pleasant went from roughly 12% to almost 19% of all mental institutions populations. The average numbers of inhabitants stayed several hundred over the suggested level. The majority of new admittance cases remained the elderly. Experts thought the rapid proliferation of the aged as a wartime trend. But rising populations spanned the next twenty-five years. By 1946, over half the population of Mt. Pleasant consisted of civilians over sixty; most were incurable cases of senility limited to their beds. The old required more hands on treatment and produced nothing; they cost Iowa large sums of money and gave zero back
			to the state. In 1946, the facility reached its peak occupancy of 1,581. Since 1945 however, new therapies and medications have helped decrease the facility's population, and the individual's average length of stay has been reduced from years to a matter of weeks.

	The ~~Center for~~ Psychiatric ~~Care (Adult Psychiatric Services~~ and ~~Dual Diagnosis) is accredited by~~ the ~~Centers~~ for ~~Medicaid & Medicare Services~~. The ~~Iowa Residential Treatment Center is licensed by~~ the ~~Iowa Department~~ of ~~Public Health~~, ~~and is currently operating on a three~~-~~year accreditation which was received in 2005.~~		In 1966, Iowa gained a federal grant of $25,000 yearly, for professional training programs. The American Psychiatric Association recommended a ratio of eight to one, wards to staff. Through the previous measures, the facility hired more personnel and achieved a ratio of twenty to one, down from 246-1. Mt. Pleasant kept up-to-date treatments, they hired a full time pathologists, cosmetologist, psychologist, chaplain, and numerous social service workers. In the few short years between 1950 and 1960, Mt. Pleasant built new employee housing to open up the main building for administrative tasks and make more patient room available. Several cottages appeared on the farm lands to relieve the filled halls. The institution also replaced part of the original structure with a state-of-the-art 249 bed wing.

			In July, 2015 the hospital closed, along with [[Clarinda State Hospital]].<ref>http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/01/iowa-mental-health-institutes-closed-branstad/29571527/</ref>

	'''From the "BOARD OF CONTROL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, From Iowa Official Register 1909-1910" pages 262-269'''		'''From the "BOARD OF CONTROL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, From Iowa Official Register 1909-1910" pages 262-269'''
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	The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.		The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.

	In July, 2015 the hospital closed, along with [[Clarinda State Hospital]].<ref>http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/01/iowa-mental-health-institutes-closed-branstad/29571527/</ref>

	== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==		== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==

Squad546 at 15:16, 8 March 2021

2021-03-08T15:16:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:16, 8 March 2021
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	\| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions\|Kirkbride Plan]] (Demolished)		\| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions\|Kirkbride Plan]] (Demolished)
	\| architect(s) = Jonathan Preston		\| architect(s) = Jonathan Preston
	\| location =		\| location = Mount Pleasant, Iowa
	\| architecture_style =		\| architecture_style =
	\| peak_patient_population = 1,581 in 1946		\| peak_patient_population = 1,581 in 1946
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	*Iowa State Hospital for the Insane		*Iowa State Hospital for the Insane
	*Mount Pleasant Lunatic Asylum		*Mount Pleasant Lunatic Asylum
			*Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility (Current)
	}}		}}

	==History==		==History==
	~~The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute is the oldest of the four Iowa Department of Human Services facilities serving persons affected by mental illness.~~ The first patient was admitted on February 26, 1861. In the early years of its operation, the facility was a custodial facility for patients who were hospitalized for long periods of time, some for the greater part of their lives.		The first patient was admitted on February 26, 1861. In the early years of its operation, the facility was a custodial facility for patients who were hospitalized for long periods of time, some for the greater part of their lives. Mt. Pleasant went through the years updating the building as needed. 1870 saw the purchase of thirty-seven and a half acres of serviceable farmland. Four years later, the engine house caught fire destroying the boiler of the hospital. The General Assembly immediately appropriated funds for construction of a new boiler house. During this period, worry over tuberculosis dominated many municipalities including the city of Mt. Pleasant and the asylum. The board of trustees constructed and implemented a new tuberculosis cottage. In the same year, 1878, it expanded the kitchen and improved the transportation of water throughout the facility.

			By 1884, both hospitals were in the middle of huge development projects. Mt. Pleasant erected additional east (men's) and west (women's) wings; completed in 1885 and 1887, respectively. Although each hospital provided care for hundreds of additional patients, roughly 200 per expansion, it still fell short of solving the population problem. The government removed dangerous and criminally insane and moved them to the newly built the department for the criminally insane in Anamosa.

			On August 10, 1936. A fire consumed parts of the main building, chapel, recreation building, and employee dormitory. Mt. Pleasant evacuated all 1,300 plus patients. Hundreds from the town came out to aid the insane; they formed a human chain to contain the meandering patients. One woman wandered off and was never heard from again. Iowa immediately appropriated $215,000 for repairs, with up to $502,000 available over the next two years for construction. Mt. Pleasant turned the catastrophe into an opportunity to redesign the damaged space into a more modern medical facility. The Board of Control drew up plans for a larger, combination chapel and amusement hall with a centralized kitchen. The new spaces could relieve overcrowding by 1,000.

	In 1946, the facility reached its peak occupancy of 1,581. Since 1945 however, new therapies and medications have helped decrease the facility's population, and the individual's average length of stay has been reduced from years to a matter of weeks.		In 1946, the facility reached its peak occupancy of 1,581. Since 1945 however, new therapies and medications have helped decrease the facility's population, and the individual's average length of stay has been reduced from years to a matter of weeks.

Squad546 at 04:23, 22 August 2015

2015-08-22T04:23:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:23, 22 August 2015
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	\| construction_ended = 1865		\| construction_ended = 1865
	\| opened = 1861		\| opened = 1861
	\| closed =		\| closed = 2015
	\| demolished =		\| demolished =
	\| current_status = [[~~Active~~ Institution\|~~Active~~]]		\| current_status = [[Closed Institution\|Closed]]
	\| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions\|Kirkbride Plan]]		\| building_style = [[Kirkbirde Planned Institutions\|Kirkbride Plan]] (Demolished)
	\| architect(s) = Jonathan Preston		\| architect(s) = Jonathan Preston
	\| location =		\| location =
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	The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.		The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.

	In ~~1936 a huge fire destroyed the main Kirkbride building and left it beyond repair. The massive infereno spared only a few kitchen buildings behind the main building. People tried to rebuild~~ the hospital, ~~but this proved to be too hazardous, costly, and time consuming~~. ~~The Mt~~. ~~Pleasant State Hospital became the only~~ mental ~~institution in Iowa to be~~ closed ~~down and it's ruins abandoned. Only pictures and a few smaller, newer buildings with no historical value remain.~~		In July, 2015 the hospital closed, along with [[Clarinda State Hospital]].<ref>http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/01/iowa-mental-health-institutes-closed-branstad/29571527/</ref>

	== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==		== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==
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	==Cemetery==		==Cemetery==
	There is a cemetery on the property, however it is now off-limits as part of the prison that currently operates the facility.		There is a cemetery on the property, however it is now off-limits as part of the prison that currently operates the facility.

			== References ==
			<references/>

	== Links ==		== Links ==
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	[[Category:Iowa]]		[[Category:Iowa]]
	[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]		[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
	[[Category:~~Active~~ Institution]]		[[Category:Closed Institution]]
	[[Category:Institution With A Cemetery]]		[[Category:Institution With A Cemetery]]
	[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]]		[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]]

Squad546 at 03:50, 31 January 2012

2012-01-31T03:50:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:50, 31 January 2012
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	File:MtPleasant33.png		File:MtPleasant33.png
	</gallery>		</gallery>

			==Cemetery==
			There is a cemetery on the property, however it is now off-limits as part of the prison that currently operates the facility.

	== Links ==		== Links ==
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	[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]		[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
	[[Category:Active Institution]]		[[Category:Active Institution]]
			[[Category:Institution With A Cemetery]]
	[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]]		[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]]

Squad546: /* Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital */

2011-06-11T04:35:07Z

Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:35, 11 June 2011
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	File:MPSH Iowa 4.jpg		File:MPSH Iowa 4.jpg
	File:MPSH Iowa 5.jpg		File:MPSH Iowa 5.jpg
			File:MtPleasant33.png
	</gallery>		</gallery>

M-Explorer at 11:35, 1 March 2011

2011-03-01T11:35:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 1 March 2011
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	[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]		[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
	[[Category:Active Institution]]		[[Category:Active Institution]]
			[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]]

Votesmall: /* History */

2010-08-31T22:17:41Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:17, 31 August 2010
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	The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.		The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.

	In 1936 a ~~large~~ fire destroyed the Kirkbride building.		In 1936 a huge fire destroyed the main Kirkbride building and left it beyond repair. The massive infereno spared only a few kitchen buildings behind the main building. People tried to rebuild the hospital, but this proved to be too hazardous, costly, and time consuming. The Mt. Pleasant State Hospital became the only mental institution in Iowa to be closed down and it's ruins abandoned. Only pictures and a few smaller, newer buildings with no historical value remain.


	== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==		== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==

Votesmall at 15:58, 31 July 2010

2010-07-31T15:58:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 31 July 2010
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	*Mount Pleasant Hospital for the Insane		*Mount Pleasant Hospital for the Insane
	*Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute		*Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute
			*Mount Pleasant Asylum for the Insane
			*Iowa State Hospital for the Insane
			*Mount Pleasant Lunatic Asylum
	}}		}}

Squad546 at 23:35, 24 May 2010

2010-05-24T23:35:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:35, 24 May 2010
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	\| architecture_style =		\| architecture_style =
	\| peak_patient_population = 1,581 in 1946		\| peak_patient_population = 1,581 in 1946
	\| alternate_names =		\| alternate_names =<br>
	Iowa Lunatic Asylum, Mount Pleasant		*Iowa Lunatic Asylum, Mount Pleasant
	Mount Pleasant Insane Asylum		*Mount Pleasant Insane Asylum
	Mount Pleasant Hospital for the Insane		*Mount Pleasant Hospital for the Insane
	Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute		*Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute
	}}		}}

			==History==
	The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute is the oldest of the four Iowa Department of Human Services facilities serving persons affected by mental illness. The first patient was admitted on February 26, 1861. In the early years of its operation, the facility was a custodial facility for patients who were hospitalized for long periods of time, some for the greater part of their lives.		The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute is the oldest of the four Iowa Department of Human Services facilities serving persons affected by mental illness. The first patient was admitted on February 26, 1861. In the early years of its operation, the facility was a custodial facility for patients who were hospitalized for long periods of time, some for the greater part of their lives.

Thomasp94: Added link & a note about a fire that destroyed the Kirkbride.

2010-03-12T15:16:56Z

Added link & a note about a fire that destroyed the Kirkbride.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:16, 12 March 2010
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	The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.		The amount allowed for the support of this hospital is $12 per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which patients are sent.

			In 1936 a large fire destroyed the Kirkbride building.


	== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==		== Images of Mt Pleasant State Hospital ==