609 Comments for Rathen State Hospital

pegasus64 nailed it with his description..

I spent about 3 weeks in one of those. The one I was in, I lay on my tummy for 2 hours and they came and put another part on my back and turned me over. took the part I was laying on on my tummy off. After 2 more hours the came back, put the tummy part on me again and turned me over and removed the back part. I went through that every 2 hours for three weeks, Kept me from getting bed sores, though. My back was broken in a coal mine roof fall. That was almost 30 years ago, and I'm sure they still use the Stryker Frame..

Hey thanks old Lpn its interesting to find info on old washers....I work at a old dry cleaners the business started back in the early 1900's and we still have one of the original or almost original mangle machines and LOTS of washers and dryers.

Early automatic washers such as this Westinghouse and the 1st automatic washer made by Bendix were the first of the automatics sold in the USA.. These machines were sold in the post world war II years, they lacked the suspension system of modern machines and were actually bolted to the floor, or a slab of concrete in the basement of existing homes, to limit vibration. This desgin continued well into the 1950's as a coin operated machine in neighborhood laundromats.
The word "Laudnomat" is/was trademarked by westinghouse electric.
There are working examples of this machine owned by collectors You can see them on youtube and also at Automaticwasher.org I really think this part of the building was housing for staff at one time. I doubt patients would be expected to do their own laundry.

Another awesome gallery, Mr. Motts. Thanks!

The floor almost looks like it's bubbling.

Wow. 1974. My birth was still fifteen years away.

Motts have you ever stayed over night in a place like this...not for paranormal reasons or anything, just to take some really neat pictures? You seem to take alot in the dawn and dusk hours...stunning by the way

how sad that at times this was probably the closest thing people had to home, dreams and hopes of actually feeling loved. i hope that that wish of going home came true. no one deserves to be alone...especially on christmas :( i wish that more people could walk a day in the shoes of someone with special needs. I truley appreciate that you give people that chance motts, to see that people still need some loving too. <3

Motts thats really freaky thought still. you come prepared but dont you ever get freaked out that the doors will shut and you wont get out? thank goodness someone asked along time ago if you bring people with you. still i worry :S

I imagine if being there was anything like this...even in better condition, would feel lonely and cold. its really hard to believe that people put loved ones in places like this...its heartbreaking

Simply amazing! wallpaper please?! :)

you are truely an artist, by far my favorite photographer. you capture what no one else sees as beautiful. i love your work

Noob here. Don't know if I can post a link, so I'll do it the long way. On page 34 of the January 5, 1942 issue of LIFE magazine [if anyone wants to look], there's a picture of a contraption that might be similar to what Claudia and old Lpn have described. It's in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

The light in this is amazing!