347 Comments for Newington Home and Hospital for Crippled Children

Looks like the old air raid siren that was in some of the old schools I attended that were build pre World War I .

That appears to be an old mechanical alarm, similar to the old police sirens, but rather it would've been bolted to the wall, maybe a fire alarm.

The ""Blue Jacket" from the earlier photo would look well here, keeping the hanger company.

I was a laborer in about 1952 when a "new" wing was added. I was hurt on the job, met a lovely nurse there, learned to like the kids who chatted with me. I thought that place would go on forever. Sad, in a way. I am now retired, the nurse is deceased and the building is no more.

Sorry, yes you are correct, the facility moved to Hartford in 1996. I'm not sure what became of the hospital building; I'm guessing it was used for administrative purposes after that year.

This information cannot be accurate. My daughter had neurosurgery at Newington Children's hospital in 1993. Your information states the hospital moved to Hartford in 1986. Perhaps you mean 1996? And what of the hospital building that was in use in 1993?

One side is crushed, but it is bi-directional.

It is an siren. Probably to be used for emergencies.

I was an eight year old patient there in 1966. I have vivid memories of Newington Crippled Children's Hospital.

Wow, this is just like that scene in the first Silent Hill movie, where the already decayed bathroom starts disintegrating further as the siren sounds and the monsters come out.

Paul..congrats on you and your sister running track! I mentioned earlier in this gallery that I am currently reading the book "They Called It The Home For Incurables" and it's a wonderful book..a complete history of Newington. Charles..sad to hear that you thought it was a place of horrors. Everything I've read says that children were actually very happy there, and the staff became family to them. But there are 2 sides to every story!

BKW..they became a very highly regarded surgical center as time went on..training doctors from all over the world. The surgeries were mostly orthopedic. They also became known world-wide for their "brace shop" that designed braces for children for all sorts of muscular conditions.

I am currently reading "They Called It Home For The Incurables" and it's a great book..very comprehensive if you want to learn about the entire history of Newington. Luckily we have inter-library loan..this book was not available anywhere in Iowa..I was able to borrow it from a library in Connecticut. Great read!

Dark-Star I think the angel ornament is the content of the package.

That would have been a prosthetic from an above the knee amputee. (I'm a below knee myself). The socket would fit on the upper remaining limb, but the bottom part, below the knee, is basically a metal rod. Sometimes they have an outer shell on the bottom to make it more realistic, but not always.

It was probably left behind because the owner outgrew it. The residual limb (stump) changes over time. I still have my first two sockets, although I'm pretty sure neither would fit any more. Possibly the most recent one would do, but I wouldn't be able to walk on it much without serious blistering of my skin.