347 Comments for Newington Home and Hospital for Crippled Children

It is a horn that would be mounted on the wall or ceiling for the fire alarm system.

Beautiful photo, Motts!

WHY DON'T THEY USE OLDER PHOTOS OF NEWINGTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, HOW THEY LOOKED WHEN BEING USED. I HAVE TO HEAR THAT PPL SAY IT'S HAUNTED. IT WAS JUST A HOSPITAL.

I was a patient there in 1968. All I have is bad memories from there. The doctor put my cast on the wrong way. It dug into my knee and slowly tore the skin off. It felt like torture. A new cast was put on the right way. I went back in 1973 in the new building. The nurses were mean to the patients . It was a nightmare.

I was a polio patient there in 1943. My vivid memories recall a washing machine being rolled into the ward every weekday morning with hot water. They would bring the wet, hot towels from the machine and wrap the body parts that were affected. This became known as the Sister Kenney treatment. When the towels cooled, the process started over again until about 4:00 pm. I was there for nine months. When they brought me in , I could not wqlk. My left leg and spine were affected. I was 8 years old at the time. I had to come once a month for physical therapy until age 16. I had to take a bus from new britain to newington and walk up that long steep hill. As things turned out, although my left leg has atrophied, I was still able to run, bowl. play golf all of my life.....today I am 84 yrs old and owe my life to Newington Crippled Childrens Hospital

Stephanie,
Dr. Burr and Peg Curtis were good family friends, and he was an orthopedic colleague of my father Dr. VanDerwerker. They put their souls into aiding the children at Newington Children's. Sad to see what time had done to the building, but this happens to us people, too. Lots of good staff had worked to make the place a useful institution, and it is good some still think fondly of it.

I am able to walk normally today because of one surgeon at this hospital in 1954 and 1958.

That's amazing, glad you have recovered! I don't recall seeing too many ramps inside, perhaps they were removed before the building was closed.

I was a patient between 1964 and 1969. I use to ride around on a board with wheels on my belly down the halls. I had hip issues and underwent allot of operations, casts, traction your name it......I did get to meet the Governor and his wife and had our picture together in the newspaper. I am able to walk/run thanks to this hospital......sad to see it like this. what happened to all the ramps everywhere I didn't see any pictures of those....

I used to do yard work for Dr. & Mrs. Curtis!! I grew up 2 houses down from them! When I was a kid, every time that I went to the main hospital, I used to toss a quarter into the fountain!! A few years ago, I went into the old main hospital for business purposes. It still had that same ol' medicinal smell buy was eerie how quiet it was.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Having had knee surgery there in 1966 (done by Dr. Burr Curtis) & then going on to work there (referred by Dr. Curtis, I can assure you the children were very well treated. There was a school, there were Sunday services, there were picnics & lots of other activities. The philosophy was to let them live as normal lives as possible. Also, the building in this gallery was the oldest (I believe). There was a whole large campus with several buildings.

Some children were there for a very long time. Our philosophy was to have the kids be as normal as possible. There was a school & religious services. There were picnics & other activities.

Yes, that's a towel rod. Having been a patient there (briefly) in 1966 & working there in the '70's I can assure you no one got locked in or out.

public adress horn as in paging soinso.

AYE CALUMBA!! WHAT A SHAME