Monday Monday:
The most watched and sad day of all. Those who had visitors and those who was expecting visitors on Sunday were depressed and upset. I think more people escaped on Monday than any other day. Even the staff at school seemed depressed and it took until lunch before things got going. I remember how cold the classrooms were because of the heat and lights being turned off all weekend. In the afternoon the sadness wore off and the ones who had visitors would show off their new stuff and clothes and records. Tuesday was really the beginning of the week when things got back to normal. The song Monday Monday had a special meaning to us forgotten children.

I'm 58 so I remember Monday-Monday well. I went online to listen to it just now & heard it with new meaning.
I came home from college my Jr. year pregnant & was sent to an unwed mothers home in Grand Rapids (1971-72) that was run by the Salvation Army. It in no way compared to the horrors that were experienced at the State Hospital, but it was horrible. We were given fake names, not allowed to leave the grounds except twice a week & only around the block the home/hospital was on. We were treated like criminals. I was the oldest inmate (lol) and it was a daily emotional struggle for me - I still carry the scars. I was isolated from my family and friends since I was sent away in shame.
So when I think of the age Ron & Mike were, the enviorment they were exposed to, and what they endured - I can only imagine what an inpact that would have on their lives. It humbles me.

Then you were 10 when I was admitted.

I never knew that the SA was like that. I've heard that they did take in unwedded Mothers. A nd I knew they handed out chlothes and meals for the homeless. But that's all I knew about them.

I think in fairness it was the times more than it was any fault of the SA. They are a religous group and they were offering what was then thought of as support. It was misguided support but it's what society offered at the time.

I could give some stories about the "County" Mental Heath systems in the early 80's.
They weren't much different than the State Hospitals except that they were short term,
If you haven't noticed, they're all closed down now too.

Cool Days Of Fall:
Aw the darkness in the morning when we woke and the chill that was in our rooms when our army blanket came off from us. The heat was not on yet to keep us warm. The Luke warm water of the showers at 7 AM was an eye opener.
I still feel the chill as we lined up 2 by 2 and walked to school. I will never forget the colors of all the trees. The grounds had trees from around the world and the colors were magic. These trees had tags on them and I remember the groups who use to come to the grounds and tour in the fall. We were not allowed to talk to them, nor even bother them in any way.
I recall the cool evenings too as we were out till dark after supper. Fall without Halloween was what we had to look forward too. Even in school the kids holiday of Halloween was not a topic of discussion.

I think someone handed out some of that taffee with peanut butter in the middle. That was about it.
For Christmas we had to make our own decorations for the Hall.
Very few were fortunate enough to go home for the week end.

Just wanted to pop in here with two questions. First and foremost keep up the good work guys, I have followed this thread since day one and am just as excited and interested to read each new post as I was to read the first. I know all of this can't be easy, so thank you for sharing.

Anyway, the question:

-Have any of you talked to or researched any other similar facilities enough to say that your expierence at TCSH was "typical", or better, or worse?

-How does the Hall 18 at TCSH compare to the State Schools at other states. Is it the same thing just no located at a seperate facility but within TCSH, or is it something different completely?

Thanks again,
WSH

I have done no research, and all the reading I have done has found only 3rd party stuff, like "a friend of mines father had a cousin who was there in the 1950's", Or just outright lies. This is why I am writing all of my memories down just to set the record straight and to give future researchers something to read in the first person.
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I will say that our school staff was first class and loved their jobs. Our teaching staff had their hands full and the mixed bunch posed a big teaching problem because of the drugs we were on and yes before lunch we were given our noon drugs. I recall falling to sleep at my desk and when I was woken up and falling back to sleep before the teacher got back to the chalk board. I remember kids having fits and outbreaks. I remember the silence when someone was called to the principles office when Dr. Thill was there and than wondering if we would see them return. This was "Special ED" at its finest.
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Back to fall:
I remember the state flannel shirts and the tube socks coming out. I remember my shoes were too small when I wore them socks. I recall the sweaters we got at the clothing place above the canteen. I remember the extra thick cream of wheat, and the oatmeal, which we called poorage, lol. I remember the rain, than snow. Most of all I remember the cold setting in.
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Mike help me out here and post your Fall Memories.

WSH wrote:Just wanted to pop in here with two questions. First and foremost keep up the good work guys, I have followed this thread since day one and am just as excited and interested to read each new post as I was to read the first. I know all of this can't be easy, so thank you for sharing.

Anyway, the question:

-Have any of you talked to or researched any other similar facilities enough to say that your expierence at TCSH was "typical", or better, or worse?

-How does the Hall 18 at TCSH compare to the State Schools at other states. Is it the same thing just no located at a seperate facility but within TCSH, or is it something different completely?

Thanks again,
WSH

That sounds like all one question, and it's impossible to answer unless you've spent time in every place. In other words, in order to actually know or compare differences about something or some place, you need to be there.
If that wasn't so, no one would be asking questions here.
Do you see what I'm saying.

But I'm going to try and give you a fair answer.
I guess you could call tcsh "typical" considering the generation and many things that were lacking back then,such as, technology, patients rights, Mental Health laws and limits,education level requirements for incare employment, ect...
I'd have a guilty consience if I felt sorry for myself, because there are millions of people worse off than me.
I live life the way I can live it and try and make the best of it.

Thanks to Ron and everyone posting here life seems much lighter after releasing things I never realized I was holding in.
I always felt that I'd put tcsh completely behind me. But I guess just ignoring it is something else.

things I never realized I was holding in

I held it in for 40 + years and when I looked in private late at night so no-one could see me, and deleting all my tracks and getting pissed off of the untruths people were believing in, only made me more depressed. Since My first postings I have become free and I am totally at ease with any question about TCSH. The only problem I have with questions is the ones asked that have already been addressed. I tell them to read what is written first.
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Last week I had a med student contact me and we talked for about an hour, he is working on his PHD and writing a book about trials and treatment of the patients of the past century.
Here is a link he sent me.
http://www.preservepennhurst.com/default.aspx?pg=26

The falls were beautiful. The different shades of orange and brown in the leaves. Sometimes they would leave a big pile of leaves for us to play in. Squirrels running all over, some with their mouth full, and some came so close as if they were daring us to chase them.

I also remember the parts of fall where I stood at the window and watched leaves falling and looking at the bare trees knowing that a depressing winter was on it's way.
The leafless trees always gave me a depressing feeling.

Throughout my writings I keep coming up with a single detail, a date, a holiday heck even the weather brings me new memories. If you haven't noticed I have even backtracked and re-addressed somethings. I am now thinking that this may go on for years. I have a feeler out for information on Dr. Thill, he just could not have fallen off the earth in 1970. (The last time I see him on the grounds of TCSH walking and looking down at the ground.)
Almost weekly I remember another name and another face.
I read a few pages back when a local kid in my era road their bikes there often and never seen us kids.
We were well looked after and only things like the movie night and Friday night dancing and than in the summer we were at bandstand daily in the evenings. this was the only times we were with the older patients.
In 1970 we were moved to the back of the grounds near barn/farm area, so we would have been completely out of sight.

One teacher I've been trying to remember for years has finally emerged.
Mr. Bailey. I don't remember what he taught but everyone liked him.

Mr baily taught grade school grade 3-6th