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| | {{infobox institution | | {{infobox institution |
| | | name = Lakin State Hospital | | | name = Lakin State Hospital |
| − | | image = Lakin1942 .jpg | + | | image = |
| | | image_size = 250px | | | image_size = 250px |
| | | alt = | | | alt = |
| | | caption = | | | caption = |
| − | | established = 1919 | + | | established = |
| − | | construction_began = | + | | construction_began = 1924 |
| − | | construction_ended = | + | | construction_ended = |
| − | | opened = 1926 | + | | opened = |
| − | | closed = late 1970s | + | | closed = |
| − | | demolished = Partially | + | | demolished = |
| | | current_status = [[Closed Institution|Closed]] | | | current_status = [[Closed Institution|Closed]] |
| − | | building_style = [[Rambling Planned Institutions|Rambling Plan]] | + | | building_style = [[Single Building Institutions|Single Building]] |
| | | architect(s) = | | | architect(s) = |
| − | | location = Lakin, WV | + | | location = |
| | | architecture_style = | | | architecture_style = |
| − | | peak_patient_population = 502 (1960 pop.) | + | | peak_patient_population = |
| − | | alternate_names =<br> | + | | alternate_names = |
| − | *Lakin State Hospital for the Colored Insane
| + | Lakin Industrial Home for Colored Boys |
| − | *Lakin Hospital (1970)
| + | Lakin Industrial School for Colored Boys |
| − | *Lakin Hospital Nursing Home
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| | }} | | }} |
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| − | == History ==
| + | The Lakin Industrial School for Colored Boys was founded by T.G. Nutter, Harry Capehart and T.J. Coleman, three African American legislators that created several state-funded reform institutions for blacks between 1919 and 1921. This led to several structures being constructed west of WV 62 in rural Mason county. It lies just north of Lakin State Hospital. The familiar red brick building, built in 1924, was constructed of fireproof materials and is very sturdy, was the first building to be erected. A gymnasium was built in the 1940's; several smaller structures followed soon after. |
| − | Founded by an act of the West Virginia Legislature in 1919, Lakin Hospital opened its doors on Feb. 1, 1926, with a purpose of, “the reception and treatment of blacks suffering from mental and nervous disorders.” The Lakin State Hospital was created under the same legislation proposed by T.G. Nutter, Harry Capehart and T.J. Coleman, three African American legislators that created several state-funded reform institutions for African Americans between 1919 and 1921, that also created the [[Lakin Industrial Home for Colored Boys]] across WV 62 from the hospital. The hospital, then named the ‘Lakin State Hospital for the Colored Insane,’ served patients from across the state. Although the institution’s original name reflected the era of segregation, it was a nontraditional facility with an all black staff, including administrators, and was one of what is believed to be only two all black mental health facilities east of the Mississippi River.
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| − | In 1950, Lakin was visited along with the [[Huntington State Hospital]] and [[Spencer State Hospital]] by Dr. William Freeman, sometimes called the "Father of the American Lobotomy". During July and early August Dr. Freeman performed 228 lobotomies on patients at those facilities, including twenty 'very dangerous Negroes' at Lakin.<ref>[http://www.graveaddiction.com/lakin.html Brief history of Lakin]</ref>
| + | The Lakin Industrial School closed in 1956, only two years after the Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas decision that led to the gradual desegregation of many public schools and colleges in West Virginia. Those who remained before its closure were transfered to the Industrial School at Pruntytown. |
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| − | In 1954, Lakin State Hospital began the process of integrating it's staff and patient population. It also assumed the duty of district hospital for Jackson, Mason, Putnam, and Wood counties in West Virginia. In 1960 the facilities consisted of two three story main buildings (separated by gender), a two story office building, cannery, a new office/dietary complex constructed in 1959, two staff dormitories, physician housing, and a short term treatment medical center. Along with those buildings, there were six older buildings that had been renovated structures serving as laundry, workshops, and recreation hall. By 1960 psychosurgical procedures were no longer practiced, replaced by group and recreational therapy and psychotherapy.<ref>Meyers, J. Howard, ed. "West Virginia Bluebook" 44th ed. Charleston: Jarrett Printing Company, 1960. Print.</ref> However, the hospital did still offer electro-convulsive therapy and insulin coma therapy.<ref>Meyers, J. Howard, ed. "West Virginia Bluebook" 45th ed. Charleston: Jarrett Printing Company, 1961. Print.</ref>
| + | It was owned by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, the same owners of Lakin State Hospital across the state road that slides between the two. The school property was deeded over to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture in 1976. |
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| − | It's use as a mental hospital persisted into the late 1970s, until the State of West Virginia de-institutionalized mental healthcare. <ref>[http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1287 WV Encyclopedia Entry]</ref> Today the former Lakin State Hospital property is still owned by the Department of Health the Lakin Nursing Home, while many of the older buildings constructed by the state have now been demolished. One of the hospital’s oldest existing buildings is the Office Building which remains on the grounds though it is only used for storage by the nearby Lakin Correctional Facility for Woman. The Office Building, erected around the late-1950’s is said to have housed not only offices but been a place for major and minor surgery and private pay patients. The Dietary Building which sits behind the Office Building was erected in 1958 and is still in use.<ref>http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bhhf/facilities/Lakin/Pages/History.aspx.</ref>
| + | A fire in 2000 did very little damage to the main building; it is a testament to the brute strength of the building, even after 50 years of abandonment. |
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| − | == Confusion with the Industrial Home for Colored Boys ==
| + | In November 2006, Lakin Industrial School for Colored Boys was demolished. The property is expected to become part of American Electric Power's River Operations. |
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| − | In modern times, the state hospital is frequently confused with the [[Lakin Industrial Home for Colored Boys]]. Proximity and similar names mean casual observers often mistook the abandoned Industrial Home building for being the state hospital. Matters are not helped since after the School's closing in 1955 the State Hospital took over the grounds in 1957, using the structures as employee housing, post office, and gymnasium.<ref>Meyers, J. Howard, ed. "West Virginia Bluebook" 45th ed. Charleston: Jarrett Printing Company, 1961. Print.</ref> | |
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| − | == Known Staff ==
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| − | Dr. M. Mitchell Bateman, MD: Superintendent, ???-1960<br>
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| − | Dr. Kathryn A. Rainbow, MD: Superintendent, 1961-???<br>
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| − | Mr. G.E. Chamberlain, jr: Business Manager, ???-1960<br>
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| − | Mr. Lenzy G. Austin: Business Manager, 1961-???<br>
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| − | Dr. Luther D. Robinson, MD: Staff physician, 1947-1949
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| − | == Images ==
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| − | <gallery>
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| − | File:Lakin2.jpg
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| − | File:WVlakinwomenswards1930.png
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| − | File:WVlakin1930.png
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| − | | |
| − | </gallery>
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| − | == References ==
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| − | <references/>
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| | [[Category:West Virginia]] | | [[Category:West Virginia]] |
| | [[Category:Closed Institution]] | | [[Category:Closed Institution]] |
| − | [[Category:Rambling Plan]] | + | [[Category:Single Building Institutions]] |
