Lizzie Borden Society Forum

For those of you who had asked me for book references I have another one for you. I've been reading different books on asylums because I am so fascinated with the architecture and it is a huge part of our history. This is one of the best books I've read so far. It's called: Asylum : A Mid-Century Madhouse and It's Lessons about Our Mentally Ill Today by Enoch Callaway, MD
I like it because Dr. Callaway actually worked in Worcester State from 1948 until ?? I only put ?? because I'm not completely done with the book. This book's copyright date is 2007. Worcester State was founded in 1833 as the first state insane asylum in this nation. This is the place that was having the open house in the beginning 1980's and a group of us went because we have seen the clock tower since we were little kids. I also didn't realize that it encompassed 500 acres of land. Of course now I don't think there is anything left and I know there is some kind of medical building on the land, it is across the street from a huge hospital called UMass Medical. If you get it, hope you like it.

In this state the "county farm" was where indigent persons with mental or cognitive deficits ended up if they weren't fully institutionalized or cared for by family up until the Olmstead decision in 1999. The old building in this county is still used for public offices. Out behind the building is a man-made cave, dirt floors and stone walls complete with hand and leg irons bolted into the rock. For residents who needed physical restraint. (These days we use chemical restraints instead.) I will never forget my shock and horror at seeing them for the first time.