Rockland State Hospital, courtesy asylumprojects.org

Not many patients looked back on their stay at an asylum with any fondness. Unfortunately, horrific experiences were not limited to adults or to the ancient past. One person wrote about his childhood confinement in the Rockland County (NY) Mental Institution:

Primary School Work at the Rome State Custodial Asylum

I was institutionalized at Rockland County Mental Institution when I was 8 years old (1965-69)…I lived in a big dormitory with 50+ children. We were lined up at shower time and lined up to go to cafeteria. I remember spending most of the day in a “day room” – most of the other kids were severely disturbed / mentally retarded. If I didn’t do as told, they would put me in an isolation room (all day). Once they tied me to a bed with wet sheets layered with ice and opened the window in winter. There was an outside play area where one of the “minders” would hit kids with a wiffle ball bat. At meals I was forced to eat and finish everything on my plate even till I puked. It was HELL!*

Elsie Lacks, Committed to Crownsville State Hospital with Diagnosis of Idiocy

This mental institution was built in 1927 and was considered one of the best facilities of its kind at the time. It seems to have followed the familiar pattern of beginning with high hopes and dedication before deteriorating into a human warehouse making little effort to treat its residents.

*Story posted on “Memories From an Insane Asylum: Stories From Rockland County Psychiatric Center” on blog maintained by Scout.