Partlow State School
| Partlow State School | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1919 |
| Opened | 1923 |
| Current Status | Active |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Peak Patient Population | 2,245 in 1966 |
| Alternate Names |
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History
Partlow opened in September 1923 as the Alabama Home for mental Defectives & housed 116 people between the ages of 6-18. Originally all patients were housed in 1 building that quickly became overcrowded. The following year a second dormitory was built, but by 1930 the facility had over 400 patients and had changed it's name in 1927 to Partlow State School. Due to economic problems with the depression, the hospital saw understaffed wards & little maintenance or repairs.
It wasn't until 1946 that a separate building was built for "Black feeble minded" children, who previously had nowhere to go. By 1961 8 new cottages were constructed & education became a priority. Today the facility continues to house developmentally challenged children & give them educational opportunities.
