[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so I here we have an election coming up
so I here we have an election coming up
so I here we have an election coming up and i’m here to talk to you about insane
and i’m here to talk to you about insane
and i’m here to talk to you about insane asylums today so start it off with a
asylums today so start it off with a
asylums today so start it off with a little straw poll who thinks that if you
little straw poll who thinks that if you
little straw poll who thinks that if you lived in the 19th century an insane
lived in the 19th century an insane
lived in the 19th century an insane asylum would be a pretty nice place to
asylum would be a pretty nice place to
asylum would be a pretty nice place to be can raise your hands you can clap not
be can raise your hands you can clap not
be can raise your hands you can clap not not a lot of input there who thinks
not a lot of input there who thinks
not a lot of input there who thinks should be a pretty dreadful place to be
should be a pretty dreadful place to be
should be a pretty dreadful place to be it’s kind of the the response i expected
it’s kind of the the response i expected
it’s kind of the the response i expected that’s what i’m here to talk to you
that’s what i’m here to talk to you
that’s what i’m here to talk to you about today there’s a lot of stigma
about today there’s a lot of stigma
about today there’s a lot of stigma attached to insane asylums and most of
attached to insane asylums and most of
attached to insane asylums and most of it in America comes from recent insane
it in America comes from recent insane
it in America comes from recent insane asylums as typifies by the American
asylums as typifies by the American
asylums as typifies by the American media with such things as american
media with such things as american
media with such things as american horror story asylum Sam fuller shock
horror story asylum Sam fuller shock
horror story asylum Sam fuller shock corridor and the snake pit it doesn’t
corridor and the snake pit it doesn’t
corridor and the snake pit it doesn’t just extend to America of course stigma
just extend to America of course stigma
just extend to America of course stigma goes back as far as the Royal Bethlehem
goes back as far as the Royal Bethlehem
goes back as far as the Royal Bethlehem hospital also known as bedlam but what
hospital also known as bedlam but what
hospital also known as bedlam but what we have to keep in mind when we discuss
we have to keep in mind when we discuss
we have to keep in mind when we discuss the insane asylum is that in America
the insane asylum is that in America
the insane asylum is that in America insane asylums existed for a very
insane asylums existed for a very
insane asylums existed for a very specific period of time approximately
specific period of time approximately
specific period of time approximately 1797 to 1900 after that we had state
1797 to 1900 after that we had state
1797 to 1900 after that we had state hospitals psychiatric centers and
hospitals psychiatric centers and
hospitals psychiatric centers and institutions such as that I’m going to
institutions such as that I’m going to
institutions such as that I’m going to get all that and tell you why we
get all that and tell you why we
get all that and tell you why we shouldn’t feel so much stigma towards
shouldn’t feel so much stigma towards
shouldn’t feel so much stigma towards the insane asylum but first I’m going to
the insane asylum but first I’m going to
the insane asylum but first I’m going to jump back into my own history for a
jump back into my own history for a
jump back into my own history for a moment I began exploring abandoned
moment I began exploring abandoned
moment I began exploring abandoned buildings with the Gores line building
buildings with the Gores line building
buildings with the Gores line building overlooking High Falls some of you ROG
overlooking High Falls some of you ROG
overlooking High Falls some of you ROG historians might remember it because it
historians might remember it because it
historians might remember it because it was there for over a hundred years sadly
was there for over a hundred years sadly
was there for over a hundred years sadly it is no more but some of my older
it is no more but some of my older
it is no more but some of my older friends had driver’s licenses and some
friends had driver’s licenses and some
friends had driver’s licenses and some cannabis and thought it would be a lot
cannabis and thought it would be a lot
cannabis and thought it would be a lot of fun to get up on the roof and smoke
of fun to get up on the roof and smoke
of fun to get up on the roof and smoke that cannabis well I wasn’t so
that cannabis well I wasn’t so
that cannabis well I wasn’t so enthusiastic about that bit but I did
enthusiastic about that bit but I did
enthusiastic about that bit but I did wander around for two hours taking a
wander around for two hours taking a
wander around for two hours taking a look at the machinery and the first of
look at the machinery and the first of
look at the machinery and the first of many of my misconceptions about
many of my misconceptions about
many of my misconceptions about abandoned structures came to me which
abandoned structures came to me which
abandoned structures came to me which was these places aren’t ugly they’re not
was these places aren’t ugly they’re not
was these places aren’t ugly they’re not full of scary hobos with needles and
full of scary hobos with needles and
full of scary hobos with needles and axes they’re actually just quite
axes they’re actually just quite
axes they’re actually just quite beautiful places with rusting machinery
beautiful places with rusting machinery
beautiful places with rusting machinery and great history to them my first
and great history to them my first
and great history to them my first insane asylum came four years later it
insane asylum came four years later it
insane asylum came four years later it was Danvers State Hospital in
was Danvers State Hospital in
was Danvers State Hospital in massachusetts and i went with some
massachusetts and i went with some
massachusetts and i went with some school friends just to wander around and
school friends just to wander around and
school friends just to wander around and check it out and again I’d
check it out and again I’d
check it out and again I’d misconceptions I thought there were
misconceptions I thought there were
misconceptions I thought there were going to be shadows on the walls I
going to be shadows on the walls I
going to be shadows on the walls I thought there was going to be
thought there was going to be
thought there was going to be electroconvulsive therapy equipment
electroconvulsive therapy equipment
electroconvulsive therapy equipment lobotomy stuff and you know all that
lobotomy stuff and you know all that
lobotomy stuff and you know all that stuff you see in American media because
stuff you see in American media because
stuff you see in American media because since the 1930s with the publication of
since the 1930s with the publication of
since the 1930s with the publication of the snake pit that’s really the only
the snake pit that’s really the only
the snake pit that’s really the only picture we’ve seen sadly this beautiful
picture we’ve seen sadly this beautiful
picture we’ve seen sadly this beautiful building in high Victorian Gothic style
building in high Victorian Gothic style
building in high Victorian Gothic style went down in 2006 and that is the late
went down in 2006 and that is the late
went down in 2006 and that is the late motif with these places they’re being
motif with these places they’re being
motif with these places they’re being demolished at an incredibly rapid rate
demolished at an incredibly rapid rate
demolished at an incredibly rapid rate one it isn’t however and my favorite of
one it isn’t however and my favorite of
one it isn’t however and my favorite of these buildings I discovered four years
these buildings I discovered four years
these buildings I discovered four years later in buffalo new york right down the
later in buffalo new york right down the
later in buffalo new york right down the road Buffalo State Hospital is a linear
road Buffalo State Hospital is a linear
road Buffalo State Hospital is a linear plan building that I also had a
plan building that I also had a
plan building that I also had a misconception about which is that I
misconception about which is that I
misconception about which is that I could never ever get into it because it
could never ever get into it because it
could never ever get into it because it wasn’t as impenetrable as Fort Knox yeah
wasn’t as impenetrable as Fort Knox yeah
wasn’t as impenetrable as Fort Knox yeah of course less than a week later I was
of course less than a week later I was
of course less than a week later I was finding my way traveling across
finding my way traveling across
finding my way traveling across collapsing floors in the brick wards
collapsing floors in the brick wards
collapsing floors in the brick wards through the burned-out sections of the
through the burned-out sections of the
through the burned-out sections of the sandstone wards and to the great spiral
sandstone wards and to the great spiral
sandstone wards and to the great spiral staircase that led up into one of the
staircase that led up into one of the
staircase that led up into one of the towers and then to an 80-foot rickety
towers and then to an 80-foot rickety
towers and then to an 80-foot rickety ladder that I probably shouldn’t have
ladder that I probably shouldn’t have
ladder that I probably shouldn’t have trusted so I could get out under the
trusted so I could get out under the
trusted so I could get out under the roof in between the towers and what did
roof in between the towers and what did
roof in between the towers and what did I find there the most beautiful peaceful
I find there the most beautiful peaceful
I find there the most beautiful peaceful wonderful feeling is I wandered these
wonderful feeling is I wandered these
wonderful feeling is I wandered these corridors through the day stood on this
corridors through the day stood on this
corridors through the day stood on this rooftop and I realized the myth of the
rooftop and I realized the myth of the
rooftop and I realized the myth of the insane asylum is just that a myth
insane asylum is just that a myth
insane asylum is just that a myth however there is some truth to the fact
however there is some truth to the fact
however there is some truth to the fact that psychiatry did some terrible things
that psychiatry did some terrible things
that psychiatry did some terrible things here’s the important point psychiatry is
here’s the important point psychiatry is
here’s the important point psychiatry is a discipline didn’t really exist during
a discipline didn’t really exist during
a discipline didn’t really exist during the asylum era Thomas story kirkbride
the asylum era Thomas story kirkbride
the asylum era Thomas story kirkbride who will talk about later founded the
who will talk about later founded the
who will talk about later founded the precursor to the APA but really Oh an
precursor to the APA but really Oh an
precursor to the APA but really Oh an asylum could do is do what its name said
asylum could do is do what its name said
asylum could do is do what its name said be a haven and that’s what Buffalo was
be a haven and that’s what Buffalo was
be a haven and that’s what Buffalo was so what came after the asylum era some
so what came after the asylum era some
so what came after the asylum era some pretty nasty stuff joseph STG Arnett was
pretty nasty stuff joseph STG Arnett was
pretty nasty stuff joseph STG Arnett was a huge proponent of eugenics in America
a huge proponent of eugenics in America
a huge proponent of eugenics in America he was responsible partially for the
he was responsible partially for the
he was responsible partially for the buck versus Bell decision in 1927 that
buck versus Bell decision in 1927 that
buck versus Bell decision in 1927 that allowed American asylums or at least
allowed American asylums or at least
allowed American asylums or at least those in Virginia at the time to
those in Virginia at the time to
those in Virginia at the time to involuntarily sterilized
involuntarily sterilized
involuntarily sterilized anybody who was a misfit a de formative
anybody who was a misfit a de formative
anybody who was a misfit a de formative and some other words that I dare not
and some other words that I dare not
and some other words that I dare not repeat on stage pretty nasty fellow and
repeat on stage pretty nasty fellow and
repeat on stage pretty nasty fellow and his ideas sadly became wildly popular in
his ideas sadly became wildly popular in
his ideas sadly became wildly popular in America in fact we were we were forcibly
America in fact we were we were forcibly
America in fact we were we were forcibly sterilizing people in psychiatric
sterilizing people in psychiatric
sterilizing people in psychiatric hospitals until 1979 but the his ideas
hospitals until 1979 but the his ideas
hospitals until 1979 but the his ideas weren’t just popular in America they
weren’t just popular in America they
weren’t just popular in America they actually were widely talked about in
actually were widely talked about in
actually were widely talked about in Germany and were later used as a
Germany and were later used as a
Germany and were later used as a reference point during the Nuremberg
reference point during the Nuremberg
reference point during the Nuremberg trials because of action t4 which took
trials because of action t4 which took
trials because of action t4 which took it one step further euthanization
it one step further euthanization
it one step further euthanization instead of sterilization so should there
instead of sterilization so should there
instead of sterilization so should there be stigma there perhaps with this
be stigma there perhaps with this
be stigma there perhaps with this individual Henry Cotton a superintendent
individual Henry Cotton a superintendent
individual Henry Cotton a superintendent of Trenton state hospital another guy
of Trenton state hospital another guy
of Trenton state hospital another guy with some loopy ideas felt that insanity
with some loopy ideas felt that insanity
with some loopy ideas felt that insanity was rooted in infections of the teeth of
was rooted in infections of the teeth of
was rooted in infections of the teeth of the spleen of the colon of the bowel so
the spleen of the colon of the bowel so
the spleen of the colon of the bowel so one by one he’d removed these organs
one by one he’d removed these organs
one by one he’d removed these organs from his patients after a certain number
from his patients after a certain number
from his patients after a certain number died on his operating table quite a high
died on his operating table quite a high
died on his operating table quite a high number sadly he was finally quietly
number sadly he was finally quietly
number sadly he was finally quietly retired to a large sweet on the hospital
retired to a large sweet on the hospital
retired to a large sweet on the hospital grounds and of course the famous Walter
grounds and of course the famous Walter
grounds and of course the famous Walter Freeman inventor and main proponent of
Freeman inventor and main proponent of
Freeman inventor and main proponent of the transorbital lobotomy feeling that
the transorbital lobotomy feeling that
the transorbital lobotomy feeling that the prefrontal lobotomy took too long
the prefrontal lobotomy took too long
the prefrontal lobotomy took too long and not owning a surgical license which
and not owning a surgical license which
and not owning a surgical license which is necessary to perform one he started
is necessary to perform one he started
is necessary to perform one he started jamming ice picks through people’s eyes
jamming ice picks through people’s eyes
jamming ice picks through people’s eyes and in fact he toured the country in the
and in fact he toured the country in the
and in fact he toured the country in the lobotomy Beale and performed over 3400
lobotomy Beale and performed over 3400
lobotomy Beale and performed over 3400 of these eventually losing his medical
of these eventually losing his medical
of these eventually losing his medical license all together but that’s not the
license all together but that’s not the
license all together but that’s not the main story sure there were cold water
main story sure there were cold water
main story sure there were cold water baths there were forcible shower rooms
baths there were forcible shower rooms
baths there were forcible shower rooms where patients were lashed up and and a
where patients were lashed up and and a
where patients were lashed up and and a hose was turned on them and there was
hose was turned on them and there was
hose was turned on them and there was various shock therapy’s most notably
various shock therapy’s most notably
various shock therapy’s most notably electroconvulsive therapy but the main
electroconvulsive therapy but the main
electroconvulsive therapy but the main story is about the optimism of the
story is about the optimism of the
story is about the optimism of the asylum during the asylum period now look
asylum during the asylum period now look
asylum during the asylum period now look at these three hallways here one thing
at these three hallways here one thing
at these three hallways here one thing you’ll notice about them is that each
you’ll notice about them is that each
you’ll notice about them is that each side of the hallway has a bank of doors
side of the hallway has a bank of doors
side of the hallway has a bank of doors leading into rooms and the other side
leading into rooms and the other side
leading into rooms and the other side has windows allowing tons of air and
has windows allowing tons of air and
has windows allowing tons of air and light into the building this means that
light into the building this means that
light into the building this means that the cost per patient room was twice as
the cost per patient room was twice as
the cost per patient room was twice as much because single loaded
much because single loaded
much because single loaded corridors are more expensive to
corridors are more expensive to
corridors are more expensive to construct but that was standard for a
construct but that was standard for a
construct but that was standard for a hospital of this type and this is again
hospital of this type and this is again
hospital of this type and this is again Buffalo State Hospital here’s one of
Buffalo State Hospital here’s one of
Buffalo State Hospital here’s one of these hallways you know a long time ago
these hallways you know a long time ago
these hallways you know a long time ago this is an undated photograph from the
this is an undated photograph from the
this is an undated photograph from the archives but the blueprint of the
archives but the blueprint of the
archives but the blueprint of the hospital shows a long linear building so
hospital shows a long linear building so
hospital shows a long linear building so that every room would have a good view
that every room would have a good view
that every room would have a good view get good light have beautiful grounds
get good light have beautiful grounds
get good light have beautiful grounds outside in this case the landscape
outside in this case the landscape
outside in this case the landscape architects were Olmsted and Vaux of New
architects were Olmsted and Vaux of New
architects were Olmsted and Vaux of New York famous for Central Park and
York famous for Central Park and
York famous for Central Park and unfortunately this particular building
unfortunately this particular building
unfortunately this particular building lost three wards in 1966 when they were
lost three wards in 1966 when they were
lost three wards in 1966 when they were demolished to build the very ugly straw
demolished to build the very ugly straw
demolished to build the very ugly straw Z building in their place so who came up
Z building in their place so who came up
Z building in their place so who came up with this idea for a linear plan
with this idea for a linear plan
with this idea for a linear plan building what was a man named dr. Thomas
building what was a man named dr. Thomas
building what was a man named dr. Thomas story kirkbride who was basically a
story kirkbride who was basically a
story kirkbride who was basically a savant as a physician by the age of 30
savant as a physician by the age of 30
savant as a physician by the age of 30 he was running the pennsylvania
he was running the pennsylvania
he was running the pennsylvania institute which was the premier hospital
institute which was the premier hospital
institute which was the premier hospital in the country for treating insanity his
in the country for treating insanity his
in the country for treating insanity his hospital was beautiful it worked on a
hospital was beautiful it worked on a
hospital was beautiful it worked on a linear plan and this gave him some ideas
linear plan and this gave him some ideas
linear plan and this gave him some ideas so eventually published a very important
so eventually published a very important
so eventually published a very important book which laid out both the ways to
book which laid out both the ways to
book which laid out both the ways to build and the ways to maintain an insane
build and the ways to maintain an insane
build and the ways to maintain an insane asylum in the era when there was no
asylum in the era when there was no
asylum in the era when there was no psychiatry when there was no treatment
psychiatry when there was no treatment
psychiatry when there was no treatment and what he stressed was was art was air
and what he stressed was was art was air
and what he stressed was was art was air was light was occupational therapy rest
was light was occupational therapy rest
was light was occupational therapy rest of cures a bucolic setting any number of
of cures a bucolic setting any number of
of cures a bucolic setting any number of things that we don’t usually think of
things that we don’t usually think of
things that we don’t usually think of when we think of you know the creepy
when we think of you know the creepy
when we think of you know the creepy decaying place with the prison doors and
decaying place with the prison doors and
decaying place with the prison doors and the manacles because that’s not what he
the manacles because that’s not what he
the manacles because that’s not what he prescribed and that’s not the way over a
prescribed and that’s not the way over a
prescribed and that’s not the way over a hundred of these linear plan buildings
hundred of these linear plan buildings
hundred of these linear plan buildings were built in America so let’s take a
were built in America so let’s take a
were built in America so let’s take a look at how these ideas were put into
look at how these ideas were put into
look at how these ideas were put into practice at Buffalo State Hospital this
practice at Buffalo State Hospital this
practice at Buffalo State Hospital this is a curved connector corridor which
is a curved connector corridor which
is a curved connector corridor which connected two of the word pavilion
connected two of the word pavilion
connected two of the word pavilion buildings which for each freestanding
buildings which for each freestanding
buildings which for each freestanding buildings what was the purpose of this
buildings what was the purpose of this
buildings what was the purpose of this well simple it was fire protection you
well simple it was fire protection you
well simple it was fire protection you put a fire door at either side a curved
put a fire door at either side a curved
put a fire door at either side a curved hallway will not allow patient beds even
hallway will not allow patient beds even
hallway will not allow patient beds even when the hospital gets overcrowded and
when the hospital gets overcrowded and
when the hospital gets overcrowded and that way patients can escape the wards
that way patients can escape the wards
that way patients can escape the wards if any of the words catch fire
if any of the words catch fire
if any of the words catch fire this was a great amount of foresight
this was a great amount of foresight
this was a great amount of foresight from the architect HH richardson and
from the architect HH richardson and
from the architect HH richardson and when a fire did in fact break out at
when a fire did in fact break out at
when a fire did in fact break out at Buffalo State Hospital no one was
Buffalo State Hospital no one was
Buffalo State Hospital no one was injured all of the patient areas however
injured all of the patient areas however
injured all of the patient areas however were light in areas you can see in these
were light in areas you can see in these
were light in areas you can see in these three examples here of a day room and
three examples here of a day room and
three examples here of a day room and two dormitories the patients would be
two dormitories the patients would be
two dormitories the patients would be allowed ample light card tables
allowed ample light card tables
allowed ample light card tables recreation other buildings they could
recreation other buildings they could
recreation other buildings they could visit for sport and so on even the
visit for sport and so on even the
visit for sport and so on even the employee areas like all of these attic
employee areas like all of these attic
employee areas like all of these attic rooms coat rooms even the light switches
rooms coat rooms even the light switches
rooms coat rooms even the light switches in the Attic were beautifully designed
in the Attic were beautifully designed
in the Attic were beautifully designed so we picture the asylum we picture
so we picture the asylum we picture
so we picture the asylum we picture horror we picture a gothic horror but
horror we picture a gothic horror but
horror we picture a gothic horror but that is not really the story of the
that is not really the story of the
that is not really the story of the asylum and you can see in the photos of
asylum and you can see in the photos of
asylum and you can see in the photos of the chapel the dining room and the end
the chapel the dining room and the end
the chapel the dining room and the end of the ward with a stained glass here
of the ward with a stained glass here
of the ward with a stained glass here that that wasn’t the true story sadly
that that wasn’t the true story sadly
that that wasn’t the true story sadly however that’s the narrative that got
however that’s the narrative that got
however that’s the narrative that got continued and that’s the narrative that
continued and that’s the narrative that
continued and that’s the narrative that persists to this day and what that means
persists to this day and what that means
persists to this day and what that means is that the majority of these buildings
is that the majority of these buildings
is that the majority of these buildings are now gone so I’m going to ask you a
are now gone so I’m going to ask you a
are now gone so I’m going to ask you a couple of things I’m going to ask you to
couple of things I’m going to ask you to
couple of things I’m going to ask you to stop thinking of these places as places
stop thinking of these places as places
stop thinking of these places as places of dread in stigma yes there are
of dread in stigma yes there are
of dread in stigma yes there are photographs like this that demonstrate
photographs like this that demonstrate
photographs like this that demonstrate darkened corridors with wheelchairs but
darkened corridors with wheelchairs but
darkened corridors with wheelchairs but this was actually a trick of myself with
this was actually a trick of myself with
this was actually a trick of myself with artificial lighting in a completely
artificial lighting in a completely
artificial lighting in a completely boarded off hallway this was not the way
boarded off hallway this was not the way
boarded off hallway this was not the way the hallway looked when it was well let
the hallway looked when it was well let
the hallway looked when it was well let the story of the stigma is false and
the story of the stigma is false and
the story of the stigma is false and ought to be dispelled so I’d ask you one
ought to be dispelled so I’d ask you one
ought to be dispelled so I’d ask you one final thing which is if you can’t do
final thing which is if you can’t do
final thing which is if you can’t do that if you cannot look past the stigma
that if you cannot look past the stigma
that if you cannot look past the stigma of these buildings in America then at
of these buildings in America then at
of these buildings in America then at least preserve the ones that remain even
least preserve the ones that remain even
least preserve the ones that remain even if you think of them as horrible after
if you think of them as horrible after
if you think of them as horrible after all we were they were able to preserve
all we were they were able to preserve
all we were they were able to preserve the ovens at auschwitz birkenau Dachau
the ovens at auschwitz birkenau Dachau
the ovens at auschwitz birkenau Dachau Belson why can’t we do that in America
Belson why can’t we do that in America
Belson why can’t we do that in America even if these were bad places my
even if these were bad places my
even if these were bad places my contention is that they were not thank
contention is that they were not thank
contention is that they were not thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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