1 Comments Posted by Gayle

My aunt (lula) and uncle (chicki) worked there in the 70's to 90's. My aunt was a nurses aid in the womans ward. my uncle was the ambulance driver. they both lived around the bend in bayshore. I once went to visit my aunt at the ward. Not a lovely place to be. it was echoey and noisey. Alot of the patients screaming and talking among themselves or to themselves. I was checking out the place because my aunt thought I could get a job there. but quite frankly, you have to be a special soul to work there. and have a huge tolerance, in addition, you might need a little wrestling experience, cuase when the patients got frisky or violent, you and the other nurses were the only one there, to calm them down until the "bouncers" came to help. most of the patients were or seemed normal and quiet. It wasn't for me.
At about 1971 my mother and her husband who could not handle my brother had him admitted to Pilgrim State. I never thought his condition was that bad, to send him to that type of hospital, but they did. My aunt and uncle tried getting him out. It took a long while for this to happen. it's very difficult to get them out, once they're in. They took custody of Billy Boy (william) once they got him out. Eventually the army took him for the next 20 years. They didn't think he was a crazy and he functions well today. Yup, he still has emotional problems, but today's medicines do well by him.
last month I drove past there,( I live in Jersey now) and saw it seemed a little abandoned and desolate. Now after seeing the photos I realize it is abandoned. I didn't know that. Yes it was a vast campus and very beautiful where the doctor homes where. it should be renovated and saved by the state. that would be a lot of work, but it can be done. it's done all over the country, and the neighborhood is still good. many improvements have been done. it was always very hispanic but I notice a lot of portuguese and columbians now as well. good foods and good shopping. I hope everything works out for my childhood neighborhood. I enjoyed reading all your comments about the old place.