Neglect, revisited

[rover]

Back in November of 2004 I posted a thread about a photo project I decided to do at a closed institutional facility for the developmentally disabled here in CT.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2286

The main historic structures have remained in state and allowed to deteriorate for a number of years now. I went back with my camera in hand agin in November of 2005 and found that little has changed. If anything, doors that were open in 2004 were shut in 2005, while other ones have been opened.

Here are some of the shots I took in 2005.

These taken with my M6 and CV 90/3.5.

I still have a album, Neglect, here in my RFF gallery and have published the original project and a number of photos on my blog. I will add a number of the 2005 photos to my blog today.

 

[kmack]

Good idea for a project. The second shot, the phonebooth, caught my eye good job.

 

[ch1]

Interesting study - "neglect" and "decay" are harder to document since the time line is so much longer than demolition. I've been "documenting" the demolition of a church + school complex across the street from my apartment building - while they've taken a lot of time to do it - I can see changes every day.

It will be interesting to see how your project "turns out". It will take a lot longer to see things "fall apart".

[BTW, iIn upstate NY (Wingdale, in Dutchess County) there is a similar abandoned institution such as yours. It is along the Metro North Harlem train line and a developer has now purchased it with the intent of making it into a luxury condo project! Talk about alternative use!]

Oh, as to my demo project - I want to then follow up with the new church/school that are supposed to go up afterward. And, I'm using my digi P&S so not sure it would be appropriate to post here.

 

[rover]

George, the MTS is about 3 miles from the main University of CT campus in Storrs. The university and state have used some of the buildings for storage and have physically taken over the minor buildings to house facilities and other service departments. My guess is that in time the University will grow to the point that the 3 miles will not be too great a distance to justify allowing this resource sit unused.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I wonder what it must have been like inside...years ago.
Depressing place I think, but a great subject.
Nice job.

 

[rover]

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" I fear.

 

[ch1]

The closing of these "insane asylums" was one of the better things we've done as a society. Unfortunately, few of the resources that were supposed to be committed to providing alternative "community-based" care were ever made available.

And many of those who were so institutionalized later committed crimes (both petty and major) such that they traded one institution (the asylum) for another (prison). It is a sad reality that the closing of asylums has a mirror parallel of the opening of more prisons.

Sorry to go so OT.

 

[dazedgonebye]

The closing of these "insane asylums" was one of the better things we've done as a society. Unfortunately, few of the resources that were supposed to be committed to providing alternative "community-based" care were ever made available.

And many of those who were so institutionalized later committed crimes (both petty and major) such that they traded one institution (the asylum) for another (prison). It is a sad reality that the closing of asylums has a mirror parallel of the opening of more prisons.

Sorry to go so OT.

The unintended consequences of our compassion are not always "compassionate."
I'm not sure a discussion like this is all that OT. After all, images are intended to evoke thought and emotion. That they would spark disucussion just proves that they are sucessful.

 

[rover]

The closing of these "insane asylums" was one of the better things we've done as a society. Unfortunately, few of the resources that were supposed to be committed to providing alternative "community-based" care were ever made available.

And many of those who were so institutionalized later committed crimes (both petty and major) such that they traded one institution (the asylum) for another (prison). It is a sad reality that the closing of asylums has a mirror parallel of the opening of more prisons.

Sorry to go so OT.

If a photo essay evokes a conversation I guess it has been successful. George, you are no doubt correct that funding for these large Training Schools was much easier done as their was a tangible place, brick and mortar, to which money was "thrown." In the current system of private and public community based programs I believe funding from the local, state and federal governments is more of an issue as now they must consider the funding as a social service for individuals. Sad that the perception can be that buildings are more important than people.

Regarding the results of closing these schools. It is sad that anyone may have been lost in the transition without having the appropriate care available to them. I have had the opportunity to work with a small number of social service organizations as customers and have a cursory understanding of their missions, goals, successes and failures. I feel confident in saying that today a new social institution has been developed and is now strong enough, at least in CT, to fill the "void" that existed when the change over was taking place. There is a growing number of agencies and the natural maturation of the services that they provide. By closing the doors of the training schools, we have opened the doors to real opportunity to those in need.

 

[ch1]

rover,

Yes, perhaps I was too negative in focusing on what, as time goes by, was a "stage" in an ongoing transformation. When they first started closing these institutions here in NY many of the patients were "dumped" onto the streets of NYC - becoming either homeless or residents of where here known as SROs (Single Room Occupancy hotels.

But you are correct that over time, many support services have been created and things are not as "bleak" as they once seemed.

Overall, I think the closings were a good thing - it made us see these folks as "people" - rather than just shutting them away in an out of sight approach. I have a close friend who has an autistic son now approaching adulthood. My friend and his wife (CT residents, as a matter of fact) take comfort that although their son will always need "structured living arrangements" it will be in a community-based group home rather than being shuffled off to some "institution".

So perhaps it's better to look at the glass as half-full. 😉

 

[rover]

Where buildings are today left to decay, their residents were once neglected by our ignorance of their needs. Our knowledge has grown, and our society has matured. Today our grace is in the ability to better provide these needs. What we can say about the grace of the past is in the grandeur of the architecture of the facilities in which care was provided.

 

[RayPA]

Nice images. I'm really getting the sense of 'neglect' from the phone booth image, and less so with the others. Looks like a great place to shoot, regardless. The 90 is an interesting choice, great for isolating details, like the handrail shot (boy that railing will give you a nasty cut!).

I really like hearing about people's projects. Is this a finished project, or are you heading back for more? I'll go have a look in your gallery. Thanks for sharing.



.

 

[rover]

George said it right that this has to be a long term subject. I find this place very interesting, so yes, it is an on going project.

 

[KoNickon]

Ralph, very nice images indeed. I've been by Mansfield any number of times, both before and after it was closed. One of the places that, in my youth, gave me nightmares to think about -- probably as much because of my discomfort with "those" people as with the idea that being in such a place must have been awful. Both totally uninformed opinions, of course.

Your title is an interesting one, since I agree with your earlier note that we probably did just place these people there (and at other similar institutions) without the appropriate examination of their needs. I think what with mainstreaming, halfway houses, etc. we have learned something.

Please keep it up.

 

[oftheherd]

While I know that many of the institutions were in need of help, both in their physical upkeep, and staffing, I question if simply turning so many out on the streets was the correct solution. Seeing people "housed" on city grates or in parks, begging for food and/or clothing, and digging in garbage cans, doesn't encourage me that their quality of life has been enhanced. Good solutions don't create more probems than they stop. I think it would have been better to have improved the quality of the institutions and allowed for selective release of those demostrably able to provide some care for themselves. Mind you I know there is no easy solution, but wholesale release wasn't good either. At least imho. I always stand ready to be corrected by anyone who can show me ill informed.

And the above isn't intended to be aimed negatively at anyone elses opinions, just expressing mine.

 

[KoNickon]

No question -- dumping these folks out on the street helps no one at all. I think there was a lot of that that happened, unfortunately. I have strongly held opinions on social matters, which I definitely avoid expressing on RFF, but I must say that the answer to dealing with poorly run institutions isn't to just close them up without there being some sort of proverbial "safety net" for those who simply can't function outside an institution.

 

[ch1]

George said it right that this has to be a long term subject. I find this place very interesting, so yes, it is an on going project.

I thinking about this with regard also to your prior note about the beauty of the architecture of these institutions.

Perhaps it was the availability 100 or so years ago of highely-skilled but cheap immigrant labor that enabled society to build "edifices". And perhaps too, there was the thinking that by surrounding the patients with such edifying structures it would help their "cure". But regardless, you are absolutely correct that even in decay - these late-19th and early-20th century institutions consist of some amazing architecture.

Although the preference would be to restore and re-use (perhaps by UConn as you mention), they do make interesting "ruins" and excellent photographic subjects.

One thing I'm curious about. Do you have "official" access to the place - or just "unspoken permission" because no one is there to challenge you? Given the time your investing - it'd be a shame if at some point some "officialdom" started denying you access.

 

[peterc]

And perhaps too, there was the thinking that by surrounding the patients with such edifying structures it would help their "cure".

I suspect it was more to distract from the generally abysmal conditions inside many of these places. It looked nice on the outside, so most would think nice things, rather than simple warehousing and in many cases outright abuse, were going on inside. I'm not saying this was the case at this institution, but it was the story at many.

Peter

 

[ch1]

I suspect it was more to distract from the generally abysmal conditions inside many of these places. It looked nice on the outside, so most would think nice things, rather than simple warehousing and in many cases outright abuse, were going on inside. I'm not saying this was the case at this institution, but it was the story at many.

Peter

Peter,

I would imagine that there wever multiple motives. And while these places came to be seen as "horror houses" the original intentions were noble. Hence the use of the term "asylum".

Sadly, all to often, the noble intentions of "reformers" is abused by the people who actually then implement the reforms. Such was the case with the "de-institutionalizing" that occurred in the 1960's and 1970's.

 

[rover]

You can do a lot of research about the care provided in institutions like this. Ironically, I believe I am correct in saying that institutionalization in itself, not just the quality of care provided, is a contributing problem for these folks. Exposure to and the ability participate in the general community to the fullest of one's abilities has been found to be an avenue of and means of caring and therapy. I had a wonderful conversation with the executive director of The Caring Community in Colchester CT who's personal work in the 1970s with a severly disabled young man in the 1970s put him in the leadership of the efforts to change the way care was delivered to these individuals in CT. I wish I could find a link to the articles he shared about this topic in general and about his work.

Regarding access, it is obvious that some people have entered the buildings, which I have to consider is trespassing. The campus is 100% open, not gated or guarded at all. There are a number of the secondary buildings that are being used to house state and university agencies. There are athletic fields that are on the grounds that are used by the town and University clubs. As long as I keep my exploration to the exterior of the buildings I am sure I will be fine.