Comments for Asylum Architecture, History, Preservation * Kirkbride Buildings http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:18:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on City of the Sick by ronl http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/city-of-the-sick/comment-page-1#comment-19350 ronl Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:44:15 +0000 http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/?p=760#comment-19350 Part 2, I spent many hours looking out the window watching the day go by and wishing and asking god to help me and to show me 1 thing to believe in him, and never did he ever show his face nor 1 little miracle. I never heard of hydro therapy nor did I ever see a bath tub. I never seen shock therapy. Forced religion I will never forget. God did not look upon us at Traverse City State Hospital we were on our own. When I left on that Gray Hound Bus, I never was contacted by a social worker, I suppose it was good ridings. Part 2,
I spent many hours looking out the window watching the day go by and wishing and asking god to help me and to show me 1 thing to believe in him, and never did he ever show his face nor 1 little miracle. I never heard of hydro therapy nor did I ever see a bath tub. I never seen shock therapy. Forced religion I will never forget. God did not look upon us at Traverse City State Hospital we were on our own. When I left on that Gray Hound Bus, I never was contacted by a social worker, I suppose it was good ridings.

]]> Comment on City of the Sick by ronl http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/city-of-the-sick/comment-page-1#comment-19349 ronl Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:22:45 +0000 http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/?p=760#comment-19349 In a perfect world I guess this was spot on. I noticed the beds are just as I remember them and oddly enough the windows were exactly the same too. All attendants wore white and had keys. What wasn't mentioned was when the attendants came to work and had a bad day or night. I have witnessed attendants lose it and take it out on the patients. I never seen flowers on the wards and the tempatures were what they were. In a perfect world I guess this was spot on. I noticed the beds are just as I remember them and oddly enough the windows were exactly the same too. All attendants wore white and had keys. What wasn’t mentioned was when the attendants came to work and had a bad day or night. I have witnessed attendants lose it and take it out on the patients. I never seen flowers on the wards and the tempatures were what they were.

]]> Comment on State Hospital Stories Out of Time by bettie wheat http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/state-hospital-stories-out-of-time/comment-page-1#comment-19326 bettie wheat Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:22:49 +0000 http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/?p=679#comment-19326 I am interested in a few people that died at Anna and am sure they were buried there. I couldn't bring up any names for a cemetery. Thanks Bettie Wheat I am interested in a few people that died at Anna and am sure they were buried there. I couldn’t bring up any names for a cemetery. Thanks Bettie Wheat

]]> Comment on Inside Avalon Danvers by Erik http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/inside-avalon-danvers/comment-page-1#comment-19254 Erik Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:52:48 +0000 http://kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/inside-avalon-danvers#comment-19254 I have been here for a little over 6 months between selling our old and buying a new house and have been very happy. I work in Boston and the commute is comparable to other places I've lived in the area. Drive in or take the train, it's nearly the same. For an apartment complex, it's surprisingly quiet. The quality of the neighbors are generally good with little out of the ordinary noise or lack of respect for others. Overall I would recommend it (and have) to others. As for the historic preservation side of things, I can speak from experience, being an architect who has worked on reuse of other Kirkbride insane asylums. To achieve some of the suggestions in this thread is impossible since a complete gut and some tear downs are mandatory just to get the building up to code. While I think they could have done a little more to preserve the historic feel of the buildings as well as the campus, they have done a decent job in designing the new buildings, at least from the exterior. The interior is adequate quality and generic, which is appropriate for the price range. In the end, it's very difficult to transform a Kirkbride building into anything usable and profitable (which is always the bottom line for the client)with out major changes from it's original design. I'd give Avalon a "B/B+" for their overall work on turning this complex from a deteriorating abandoned waste of buildings to something that provides living space that is simply affordable and nice. Plus these are the best non-coastal views of Boston I've seen anywhere around here. I have been here for a little over 6 months between selling our old and buying a new house and have been very happy. I work in Boston and the commute is comparable to other places I’ve lived in the area. Drive in or take the train, it’s nearly the same.

For an apartment complex, it’s surprisingly quiet. The quality of the neighbors are generally good with little out of the ordinary noise or lack of respect for others.

Overall I would recommend it (and have) to others.

As for the historic preservation side of things, I can speak from experience, being an architect who has worked on reuse of other Kirkbride insane asylums. To achieve some of the suggestions in this thread is impossible since a complete gut and some tear downs are mandatory just to get the building up to code. While I think they could have done a little more to preserve the historic feel of the buildings as well as the campus, they have done a decent job in designing the new buildings, at least from the exterior. The interior is adequate quality and generic, which is appropriate for the price range.

In the end, it’s very difficult to transform a Kirkbride building into anything usable and profitable (which is always the bottom line for the client)with out major changes from it’s original design. I’d give Avalon a “B/B+” for their overall work on turning this complex from a deteriorating abandoned waste of buildings to something that provides living space that is simply affordable and nice. Plus these are the best non-coastal views of Boston I’ve seen anywhere around here.

]]> Comment on Myths & Legends of Fergus Falls State Hospital by Dave Dahle http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/myths-legends-of-fergus-falls-state-hospital/comment-page-1#comment-19131 Dave Dahle Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:48:02 +0000 http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/?p=635#comment-19131 I'd like to learn a bit more about the hospital myself - particularly which power company served them prior to 1953 - whether they were one of Otter Tail Power's few "industrial" customers within Fergus Falls or if they were the largest account on the former Fergus Falls municipal power utility's system. I’d like to learn a bit more about the hospital myself - particularly which power company served them prior to 1953 - whether they were one of Otter Tail Power’s few “industrial” customers within Fergus Falls or if they were the largest account on the former Fergus Falls municipal power utility’s system.

]]> Comment on Warren State Hospital by Dr. Paul http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/warren-state-hospital-information/comment-page-1#comment-19084 Dr. Paul Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:16:30 +0000 http://kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/warren-state-hospital-information#comment-19084 I worked at WSH from 1993 to 1997. It is definitely a hot spot of paranormal activity. But, it is still in use. I worked at WSH from 1993 to 1997. It is definitely a hot spot of paranormal activity. But, it is still in use.

]]> Comment on The Lost Kirkbrides: Brooklyn State Hospital by Clara http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/the-lost-kirkbrides-brooklyn-state-hospital/comment-page-1#comment-19064 Clara Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:44:48 +0000 http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/?p=752#comment-19064 Oh Ian, forever the internet sleuth. However DO you do it? Oh Ian, forever the internet sleuth. However DO you do it?

]]> Comment on Independence State Hospital by Lee http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/independence-state-hospital/comment-page-1#comment-19040 Lee Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:59:09 +0000 http://kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/independence-state-hospital#comment-19040 I have an uncle, Frank W. Morrison,who was sent to the Home for Aged in Independence, Buchanan, Iowa around 1900. He died in 1921. Does anyone know if there are records to prove this?Was this also a home for the destitute? I have an uncle, Frank W. Morrison,who was sent to the Home for Aged in Independence, Buchanan, Iowa around 1900. He died in 1921. Does anyone know if there are records to prove this?Was this also a home for the destitute?

]]> Comment on City of the Sick by Audrey http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/city-of-the-sick/comment-page-1#comment-19012 Audrey Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:57:43 +0000 http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/?p=760#comment-19012 Very nicely done. Have yet to watch part 2 but it is nice to see that some attendants cared. Very nicely done. Have yet to watch part 2 but it is nice to see that some attendants cared.

]]> Comment on Clarinda State Hospital by Doug http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/clarinda-state-hospital/comment-page-1#comment-18990 Doug Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:09:38 +0000 http://kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/clarinda-state-hospital#comment-18990 My great grandfather was a patient at clarinda in the early 1900's. Does anyone know of a place where I can request his records? Doug My great grandfather was a patient at clarinda in the early 1900’s. Does anyone know of a place where I can request his records?
Doug

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