46 Comments Posted by Thad

Yes you are correct about the tunnel system BTDTIHTTS. The tunnels excluded those buildings. Emilia, you too are also correct, the security staff there are just trying very hard to do their jobs. If you talk to them, you'll find that they are basically a decent lot and will treat you nice as long as you show some respect.

The name of the movie was
SURROGATES starring Bruce Willis, & Vhing Rhyames.

Rita, as you stated " the people that left were never 'normal' again?" I hate to tell you this, but in most cases, the people that left there were most likely never quite 'normal' to begin with. Back in the '50's and '60's it was considered "normal" to put your mentally disabled child in schools like this...as harsh as that may sound... but it really was what was considered best for all concerned. Many Dr's advised parents of newborn retarded children of this option, out of concern for both parents and the children involved. You have to remember that back in those dark days people did not have the options readily available to them for in home care, as we do now. it would create a very real hardship on most couples and their families, and this was the next best thing. if families could have afforded to keep their children, many probably would have. I worked in this particular school for 18 years, and am still working for the state in a group home for a total of 25 years. All of my clients were loved and cared for like they were family by many devoted staff over the years. It may have once seemed like a "cold place" but by the time I got there in 1985, it was transformed and the " bad seed " staff were generally weeded out.

lol emilia

to unknown: some are very aware of their surroundings and their abilities/disabilities, but there are those that do not have the ability to acknowledge in any way, that they are aware... they cannot walk,talk, or express many emotions. there are differing levels mental retardation.I have worked in this field for 25 years (originating at this particular School).
The clients that I took care of which happened to be total care ( wheelchair bound, diapered) had to be cared for as you would care for infants... In very rare cases some clients did get abused by some staff and even other clients over the years. I will tell you honestly, that all of the clients in my building were cared for and loved by many of the staff who in many cases became the only family that these people ever knew. Some very fortunate clients had families that were very involved ...but the majority DID NOT.
I will also say that in many cases the clients lost more than they gained by this place being closed and being forced into the community. Here they had 24-7 nursing,security & just more freedom than they do now. In the community, while their houses are more pleasing to the eye, they do not have skilled certified nurses in most homes 24-7and there are deficiencies in general. they do not have the rec therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric therapy readily available to them that they had at the school. Personally, I think that they would have been better off demolishing the buildings on grounds and put either 8 or 4 person housing in their place and kept the staffing that they had.

*cooking purposes, not laundry...lol

I started working in this building back in 1985,this was my first real job after graduating High School I and still work for the state now, some 25 years later. These were used for all of the purposes mentioned above. Yes the staff that I had the pleasure to work with back then were awesome and the food was of exceptional quality. I feel that it is a shame what has been allowed to happen to the buildings and the property as a whole. Some of the buildings as well as the bandstand area were used as sets for the movie " The Surrogates " starring Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. the exterior of the kitchen building was made to look like an abandoned elementary school. In the movie,they were part of the dread community. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to take pictures of the buildings as they appeared in the movie and got to actually talk to Bruce Willis as well. I agree with Jo Q & nanadoone totally... it wasn't a prison setting, and you had to work there to "get it".

Well, close... :-)

The governer doesn't create drag on the engine to regulate speed... That would be one wussy steam engine! It's connected to the throttle. As it goes faster, the balls swing out, which turns the throttle down. As it slows down, the balls fall back down, which turns the throttle up. An ingenius simple feedback system, works marvelously. (Nowadays they'd use a microchip and sensors to do it, and it would be broken all the time...)

That's "governer"...

Tracker Action, too. A real shame it's busted up.

Actually, not all the pipes have been removed. Only the metal facade pipes are completely removed. You can see a number of remaining wooden ones, including some particularly big ones standing on the right.

I'm definitely with Lynne on this one. What's up with destroying that instrument?

Good catch!

So, how creepy would it have been to have been in this crypt when the medallion fell off into the handle like that?

*clink*

(!!!) whatwasthat?

As BillF said, it's a schematic of the electrical system. The zig-zaggy horizontal yellow things indicate electrical grounding points in the circuit.

Kind of reminds me of the castle from Rocky Horror Picture Show.

So yeah, a horror movie, of sorts...

*gasp*
Does anyone else see the spirits present in this room? Motts, were u scared?

;-)