Alberta Hospital Edmonton: Difference between revisions
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| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]] | | current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]] | ||
| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]] | | building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]] | ||
| architect(s) = | | architect(s) = R.P. Blakey | ||
| location = | | location = Oliver, AB | ||
| architecture_style = | | architecture_style = | ||
| peak_patient_population = | | peak_patient_population = 1497 in 1953 | ||
| alternate_names =<br> | | alternate_names =<br> | ||
*Home and Training School for Mental Defectives | *Home and Training School for Mental Defectives | ||
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In the spring of 1923, with crowding becoming a deeper problem at the Hospital for the Insane in Ponoka, it was decided to make the facility a mental hospital for adults. It was to become a home for, in the parlance of the time, the chronically insane. Its first patients were 47 First World War veterans, transferred from the Hospital for Returned Soldiers in Red Deer. | In the spring of 1923, with crowding becoming a deeper problem at the Hospital for the Insane in Ponoka, it was decided to make the facility a mental hospital for adults. It was to become a home for, in the parlance of the time, the chronically insane. Its first patients were 47 First World War veterans, transferred from the Hospital for Returned Soldiers in Red Deer. | ||
While the original facility contained several buildings, today just Building No. 1 survives. This three-story brick and stucco structure ranks as one of the few remaining buildings of its type in the province. Its cruciform 2,200 square | While the original facility contained several buildings, today just Building No. 1 survives. This three-story brick and stucco structure ranks as one of the few remaining buildings of its type in the province. Its cruciform 2,200 square meter layout with crenelated roof line, front bay windows and arched oak vestibule with terrazzo flooring shows influences of the English Jacobethan Revival Style. The style is characterized by its multi-paned windows, shaped parapet, hipped roof and bay windows. Early on, the basement contained a dining room and school room, there was a day room on the main floor, dormitory rooms and the main and second floors and staff bedrooms in the attic. There were 15 staff in those days, overseen by Dr. David Dick, the facility's medical superintendent. | ||
Dr. David Dick, the first superintendent, believed that healthy employment was good occupational therapy. His approach was successful for the 35 percent of male patients who could undertake heavy outside work in summer. That number was reduced to 20% in winter. Dick’s daily records of construction work by patients read like duty logs of an army engineer, demonstrating the importance of patient labor in constructing the hospital site.<ref>https://madnesscanada.com/contributor-exhibits/the-asylum-project/1923-alberta/</ref> | |||
Starting in those early years of operations, patients raised much of their food through farm work. In fact, gardening was considered as the best therapy — a belief that many relaxed gardeners of healthy mind will also attest. Patients growing their own food was phased out in 1962. | Starting in those early years of operations, patients raised much of their food through farm work. In fact, gardening was considered as the best therapy — a belief that many relaxed gardeners of healthy mind will also attest. Patients growing their own food was phased out in 1962. | ||
Latest revision as of 18:59, 24 May 2026
| Alberta Hospital Edmonton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1920 |
| Opened | 1923 |
| Current Status | Active |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Architect(s) | R.P. Blakey |
| Location | Oliver, AB |
| Peak Patient Population | 1497 in 1953 |
| Alternate Names |
|
History
In the spring of 1923, with crowding becoming a deeper problem at the Hospital for the Insane in Ponoka, it was decided to make the facility a mental hospital for adults. It was to become a home for, in the parlance of the time, the chronically insane. Its first patients were 47 First World War veterans, transferred from the Hospital for Returned Soldiers in Red Deer.
While the original facility contained several buildings, today just Building No. 1 survives. This three-story brick and stucco structure ranks as one of the few remaining buildings of its type in the province. Its cruciform 2,200 square meter layout with crenelated roof line, front bay windows and arched oak vestibule with terrazzo flooring shows influences of the English Jacobethan Revival Style. The style is characterized by its multi-paned windows, shaped parapet, hipped roof and bay windows. Early on, the basement contained a dining room and school room, there was a day room on the main floor, dormitory rooms and the main and second floors and staff bedrooms in the attic. There were 15 staff in those days, overseen by Dr. David Dick, the facility's medical superintendent.
Dr. David Dick, the first superintendent, believed that healthy employment was good occupational therapy. His approach was successful for the 35 percent of male patients who could undertake heavy outside work in summer. That number was reduced to 20% in winter. Dick’s daily records of construction work by patients read like duty logs of an army engineer, demonstrating the importance of patient labor in constructing the hospital site.[1]
Starting in those early years of operations, patients raised much of their food through farm work. In fact, gardening was considered as the best therapy — a belief that many relaxed gardeners of healthy mind will also attest. Patients growing their own food was phased out in 1962.
In 1971, patient dormitory spaces were eliminated and the original building converted to occupational therapy rooms. Ten years later, a major restoration was launched and the second floor became classrooms and offices for the Highwood School. By the late 1980s, the hospital was the largest psychiatric centre in the province, maintaining 650 active treatment beds for the mentally ill. Now known as Alberta Hospital Edmonton, the facility at 17480 Fort Road has grown to 45 buildings spread over 275 acres.
There have been other changes, too. In 1923 the cost per patient was calculated at 86 cents per day. Now it tops $300 a day. Mind you, back in the 1920s, there was no such thing as active treatment. Before the days of tranquillizers, staff really didn't work much at helping patients to heal. The hospital was a custodial facility, where well-sedated "incurable" mental patients spent their lives doing farm chores. The science of caring for the mentally ill has come a long way.[2]
Images
References
- ↑ https://madnesscanada.com/contributor-exhibits/the-asylum-project/1923-alberta/
- ↑ Source: [1] - The Road Taken by Alberta Hospital Edmonton by Lawrence Herzog
