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It was very easy. I googled TC State
Hospital & followed some links.
The Forgotten Children Hall-18 jumped out at me & I started reading & haven't stopped.
I really want you to know how appreciative I am for you opening up yourself and telling your story.
With all the personal connections I've had to the hospital I probably have an above average draw to the whole history part.
My husband came home for lunch a few minutes ago & I mentioned to him that I found this forum & gave him a quick synopsis of what I've read and as usual he listened politely, but skirted the topic. His birth there and his birth family history is something he never is comfortable with.
There's a long story there of course, but later with that.
Thank you again Ron.
And - I am listening to your music now & am impressed & touched.
The Forgotten Children Hall-18 jumped out at me & I started reading & haven't stopped.
I really want you to know how appreciative I am for you opening up yourself and telling your story.
With all the personal connections I've had to the hospital I probably have an above average draw to the whole history part.
My husband came home for lunch a few minutes ago & I mentioned to him that I found this forum & gave him a quick synopsis of what I've read and as usual he listened politely, but skirted the topic. His birth there and his birth family history is something he never is comfortable with.
There's a long story there of course, but later with that.
Thank you again Ron.
And - I am listening to your music now & am impressed & touched.
I walked up to the hospital right after I
posted last & spent three hours there (met a
friend to walk with me) and with a print out
of these forum posts - went looking for and
at all the buildings you talked about Ron.
The isolation rooms you wrote about are now
private residences so I wasn't able to go up
to the third floor but I did go through all
public areas of building 18. Also sat
outside in the area below the windows & was
amazed at how much it still looks like the
picture you posted. I'd be happy to take
pictures if you're interested.
I've walked those grounds hundreds of times but today really seemed like the first time after reading the stories here.
One thing that struck me today, and it was after I was off the computer, is that I never remember seeing children there ever. I only remember seeing adults. It wasn't like I was only there a couple of times - I lived only blocks away and rode my bike all around there for years when it was open. I wonder if that was because they kept the children out of the public eye or if I repressed that memory?
I do have a qustion if you're comfortable answering. Did your family visit you? Did they know what was going on while you were there?
Thank you again for your strength in telling your story.
Sandi
I've walked those grounds hundreds of times but today really seemed like the first time after reading the stories here.
One thing that struck me today, and it was after I was off the computer, is that I never remember seeing children there ever. I only remember seeing adults. It wasn't like I was only there a couple of times - I lived only blocks away and rode my bike all around there for years when it was open. I wonder if that was because they kept the children out of the public eye or if I repressed that memory?
I do have a qustion if you're comfortable answering. Did your family visit you? Did they know what was going on while you were there?
Thank you again for your strength in telling your story.
Sandi
I remember sitting close to the office on
the weekends my family was suppose to visit,
just waiting for the phone to ring and
hoping it was my family calling. They were
only allowed to visit once a month.
I still remember the feeling I had every time the phone rang.
My family still doesn't know what went on while I was there.
Once I was released, it was never brought up again.
We were all told.....
What happens in TCSH,Stays in TCSH..
I still remember the feeling I had every time the phone rang.
My family still doesn't know what went on while I was there.
Once I was released, it was never brought up again.
We were all told.....
What happens in TCSH,Stays in TCSH..
Mike - Thank you for responding.
I can't imagine how awful it must have been to not only be there at such a young age, but to also be there without your family - it hurts to even think about that.
The secrets/silence in regards to the hosptal is still there today.
I visited my dad tonight, he lives in the Pavilions which is part of the grounds, basically a nursing home, and when I gently asked him questions he just changed the subject. His mind is fine so this was deliberate.
When I began the search for my husbands birth parents - he was born in the hospital, his mother was a patient, his adoptive father was the Social Service Director - I got a first hand look at how many secrets there were.
My journey for the truth was quite a trip. I won't get in to the whole long story but I went to Dr. Young's retirement party and cornered him for information. He was a Director at the hospital. I also confronted Dr. Ruth Kulow (Child and Family Service) at my mother in laws funeral for info. She had suffered a stroke, could hardly speak and wasn't thrilled to answer me but I think I shamed her in to talking.
I visited ex-patients - talked to retired nursing staff and did a lot of BS'ing until I found the truth.
During all that I got an inside look at how the network of silence worked.
To know that you lived through what you did and are able to share your experience is remarkable.
I can't imagine how awful it must have been to not only be there at such a young age, but to also be there without your family - it hurts to even think about that.
The secrets/silence in regards to the hosptal is still there today.
I visited my dad tonight, he lives in the Pavilions which is part of the grounds, basically a nursing home, and when I gently asked him questions he just changed the subject. His mind is fine so this was deliberate.
When I began the search for my husbands birth parents - he was born in the hospital, his mother was a patient, his adoptive father was the Social Service Director - I got a first hand look at how many secrets there were.
My journey for the truth was quite a trip. I won't get in to the whole long story but I went to Dr. Young's retirement party and cornered him for information. He was a Director at the hospital. I also confronted Dr. Ruth Kulow (Child and Family Service) at my mother in laws funeral for info. She had suffered a stroke, could hardly speak and wasn't thrilled to answer me but I think I shamed her in to talking.
I visited ex-patients - talked to retired nursing staff and did a lot of BS'ing until I found the truth.
During all that I got an inside look at how the network of silence worked.
To know that you lived through what you did and are able to share your experience is remarkable.
LOL - just have always had a need to know
the truth and an Irish temperment to go with
it.
I'm like that myself. Some alarm it
"Daydreaming", but I'm usually aggravating
to amount something out or cerebration about
what I'm traveling to do next.
PKpangZer wrote:I'm like that myself. Some alarm it "Daydreaming", but I'm usually aggravating to amount something out or cerebration about what I'm traveling to do next.
That's a refreshing and unique statement
Did my parents know what was going on, This
is a question asked a lot.
I told them many times of what went on. I think they did not believe me.
On Sunday, visiting day, our visitors were briefed at the door before they seen us. I will not second guess this, I will say they knew what they wanted to believe. We could only have visitors 1 time a month on Sunday so the staff knew who was due for a visit and the rest of the kids were either told to stay in their rooms or an outing was planned. I always noticed when it was my Sunday, the hall was cleared of all kids so my visitors did not see what I lived with. Privileges were also for visitors, if you were confined to the hall, than your visits were in a room on hall-18, if you had outdoor privileges than you could go out on the grounds with your visitors between 2-4 PM. If you had all the privileges than you could go off grounds but between 2-4 PM.
I told them many times of what went on. I think they did not believe me.
On Sunday, visiting day, our visitors were briefed at the door before they seen us. I will not second guess this, I will say they knew what they wanted to believe. We could only have visitors 1 time a month on Sunday so the staff knew who was due for a visit and the rest of the kids were either told to stay in their rooms or an outing was planned. I always noticed when it was my Sunday, the hall was cleared of all kids so my visitors did not see what I lived with. Privileges were also for visitors, if you were confined to the hall, than your visits were in a room on hall-18, if you had outdoor privileges than you could go out on the grounds with your visitors between 2-4 PM. If you had all the privileges than you could go off grounds but between 2-4 PM.
paigertime I am listening to your music now & am impressed & touched
I have a question which I am just dieing to know "Which Songs, the new stuff without words, or old the stuff"
.
I have always had problems writing the lyrics, because of my illness.
My new stuff just flows and every day I sit in my lazyboy with my lazyboy guitar and come up with new stuff, most never gets recorded thou. I feel like a big burden has been lifted from me when I decided that I no longer have to write lyrics.
.
I have a few lyrics which haunts me and I can get no further than
I know I am right because I seen a light now its dimming
somehow I knew you will stop and take me away
its a matter of fact the time has come, its your play
but them shaddows at night always keeps me awake
I have a question which I am just dieing to
know "Which Songs, the new stuff without
words, or old the stuff"
I was listening to your music with no lyrics when I wrote that.
Music without lyrics can speak just as loudly.
I was listening to your music with no lyrics when I wrote that.
Music without lyrics can speak just as loudly.
paigertime wrote:I walked up to the hospital right after I posted last & spent three hours there (met a friend to walk with me) and with a print out of these forum posts - went looking for and at all the buildings you talked about Ron. The isolation rooms you wrote about are now private residences so I wasn't able to go up to the third floor but I did go through all public areas of building 18. Also sat outside in the area below the windows & was amazed at how much it still looks like the picture you posted. I'd be happy to take pictures if you're interested.
I've walked those grounds hundreds of times but today really seemed like the first time after reading the stories here.
One thing that struck me today, and it was after I was off the computer, is that I never remember seeing children there ever. I only remember seeing adults. It wasn't like I was only there a couple of times - I lived only blocks away and rode my bike all around there for years when it was open. I wonder if that was because they kept the children out of the public eye or if I repressed that memory?
I do have a qustion if you're comfortable answering. Did your family visit you? Did they know what was going on while you were there?
Thank you again for your strength in telling your story.
Sandi
Sandi: I was out there a few weeks back and tried to find Hall 18 but wasn't sure.. Is Hall 18 now STELLA'S
It is - and the floor Ron & Mike were
talking about are now private residences.