by ronl on Sun Nov 01

by **ronl** on Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:06 am

djp59

Thanks, I always like hearing this.
Don't forget to visit our website, and sign up, the story continues @ http://www.hall-18.com

by **mkfarnam** on Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:34 pm

djp59 wrote:Hello Everyone. I have been reading these posts from the beginning, it has taken me a little time, because I needed to let it all sink in. I have lived in Traverse City area for about 9 years now. I always thought the state hospital was interesting, but never ever trully had a real idea of what it was about. Thank you so much for sharing your stories and experiences. It has changed the way I veiw the whole thing, I drive by it everyday and now I think of you guys, Ron and Mike, everyday. This is trully amazing to me and I think it is such a good thing you are doing here. I hope it has helped you guys as well. Mike you caught me attention because I was raised in Cadillac, as was my Dad. My Dad was born in 1948 so he was bit older. But anyway...thank you all who have shared here and shed light and more importanly truth on this. Thank you.

Hi djp59:
WELCOME to the forum.
I was born in 1954, in a 2 story house on the corner of Pine and Lake St. in Cadillac. I think it was the south corner, it was kitty corner from Kraft. There was a train station across the street next to the Kraft, Co. and Kenwood Dr wasn't there at that time, but the park with the steam engine in it a block away was there.
Pine St. was made of brick then, is it still like that?
My mother worked at the "Waterfront" restraunt then for Mercy Hospital and "Criss-Craft" boat plant, now known as "Four Winns". Later we lived on Sunberg St, and then Cody St. and then we had a farm out in Selma Twsp.
I was in Cadillac in 2005. It really hasn't changed that much (expantion wise) I'm happy about that. Are you old enough to remember the skating rink all the kids went to on Fri & Sat nights? It was called "The Spot". It was on one of the lakeside drives. Maybe Sunnyside Dr.(?)
What I don't understand is why they put a Bypass in. :roll:

It not only deverts traffic but business too.
We have one here in Duncan, Oklahoma too(home of Ronny Howard). But i think this was a request from Halliburton, who practically owns the town.

For years I've been searching for a family that lived on the corner of Leeson Ave, and W, Division. Maybe you can help. :?:

We have alot to talk about yet

Sorry everyone, I didn't mean to highjacking the topic.
Maybe I'll send this story to the "Cadillac Evening News" so they'll have something to add to their History. :mrgreen:

Mike

by **pobi** on Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:47 pm

I just found your forum this morning and have been engrossed for the past 3 hours reading all your posts. I don’t know if you feel the same as I, but ‘purged’ pretty much sums it up! Thank you for your bravery!

I have worked with people who are developmentally disabled and mentally ill for almost 30 years in and around the metro-Detroit area. I started working as a direct care worker when de-institutionalization became mandatory in the late 1970’s and have held other, less interesting titles. :shock:

`A couple of years ago, I read a book called, “Waiting for Home” written by Richard Prangly (who is a developmentally disabled man who lived in the Coldwater State Training School for 15 years. He is now a public speaker and lives in Lansing) and he mentioned he tried to develop a ‘State Hospital’ traveling museum (for lack of a better term), but wasn’t able to get enough funding or interest from Lansing (big shocker huh?). I feel he had a great idea because our communities (and families…) need to know and understand what living in an institution was like so we don’t go down that road again. Perhaps you can pool your knowledge and experience with others who were institutionalized and share it with the legal system, use it in staff training classes, with mental health administrators, with psychology students, etc. in an effort to treat every citizen with dignity and respect.

I have become long-winded, phew….sorry!

by **djp59** on Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:38 pm

I do remember "The Spot", I learned how to skate there, although was never very good at it. There have been a lot of expansion since 2005..In fact all of Boon road basiclly is big stores now. It's strange to see. I usually go to Cadillac to see my Mom every week so next week I will be looking at the area's you mentioned. The brick road on Pine is gone now, although I don't think it was all that many years ago it was re paved. What was the name of the family you are looking for? Do you have any info on them?

My Mom is actually going to do some research at the Cadillac Libary on the State Hospital, after sharing the stories you guys have posted she is very interested in hearing and learning more. She didn't live in cadillac until 1980, like me, so I don't know how much help in finding the family you are looking for we may offer, but would certainly be willing to try.

by **ronl** on Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:21 am

pobi
Thanks for the kind words

by **ronl** on Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:08 pm

I put together a photo which is a good representation of what my mind see's when I think of hall-18 and TCSH. This is why time, space and my storyline wavers.
Sometimes I dwell for hours trying to pick something out this. :roll:

click image for a full-sized view

by **mkfarnam** on Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:28 pm

There's something about the owl in the painting on the wall the strikes me and always has. I think there were times I sat and stared at that picture for hours.
Alot of boys did. Some(including me) had to stand with or nose against the wall for hours on end and I think that's why it effects me so much. :roll:

by **mkfarnam** on Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:57 pm

pobi wrote:I just found your forum this morning and have been engrossed for the past 3 hours reading all your posts. I don’t know if you feel the same as I, but ‘purged’ pretty much sums it up! Thank you for your bravery!

I have worked with people who are developmentally disabled and mentally ill for almost 30 years in and around the metro-Detroit area. I started working as a direct care worker when de-institutionalization became mandatory in the late 1970’s and have held other, less interesting titles. `A couple of years ago, I read a book called, “Waiting for Home” written by Richard Prangly (who is a developmentally disabled man who lived in the Coldwater State Training School for 15 years. He is now a public speaker and lives in Lansing) and he mentioned he tried to develop a ‘State Hospital’ traveling museum (for lack of a better term), but wasn’t able to get enough funding or interest from Lansing (big shocker huh?). I feel he had a great idea because our communities (and families…) need to know and understand what living in an institution was like so we don’t go down that road again. Perhaps you can pool your knowledge and experience with others who were institutionalized and share it with the legal system, use it in staff training classes, with mental health administrators, with psychology students, etc. in an effort to treat every citizen with dignity and respect.
I have become long-winded, phew….sorry!

Hi Pobi:WELCOME to the forum>
Parts of this is still kind of scrambbled up to me,like a crossword puzzle although this forum(and the posters) has helped release many things that I never realized were still held inside.
I suppose we could talk about your above mention. If this could some how steer others in the clear, so to speak, I'd be happy to help as much as possible.
I can be contacted at mkfarnam@yahoo.com ....or maybe we could talk about it openly on the new forum http://www.hall-18.com/forums/index.php
so Ron can take part. I wouldn't mind our frequent posters getting involved with their opinions either.

by **mkfarnam** on Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:58 pm

djp59:
About the family I'm searching for, you can email me at mkfarnam@yahoo.com and I'll send you the info.
Mike

by **Kirkbride** on Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:05 am

ronl wrote:I put together a photo which is a good representation of what my mind see's when I think of hall-18 and TCSH. This is why time, space and my storyline wavers.
Sometimes I dwell for hours trying to pick something out this.

click image for a full-sized view

That's a great collage. I think it's got a stronger emotional impact than any of the individual pictures. I feel like I can ALMOST see what you see by looking a that.

by **mkfarnam** on Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:53 am

Ron..that describes the crossword puzzle in my head. :roll:

Now it just needs to be put together and dated.

by **mkfarnam** on Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:36 am

Ron, I made this my homepage on Tweeter. :wink:

by **ronl** on Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:26 am

My Head

click image for a full-sized view

by **djp59** on Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:27 pm

Those pictures are amazing, what a great job!

Can I ask a question? Did you both hold a lot of anger towards your family's for taking you there?

Thanks again for sharing your stories!!

by **ronl** on Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:31 pm

I was distant from them and my mother died in 1978 and the last couple of years of my dads life I took care of him, he died in 1986. We were not best friends.
P/S if you notice my pictures loading slow is because my server has a problem that I am working on, will be fixed tonight.