Seated among them in a navy blue cap and gown was me, a 62yearold former retard of belchertown state school. Robert hornicks book about belchertown state school includes. W as the title of the springfield union article that finally broke the story of the state school open, triggering the chain of events that eventually evacuated these nowovergrown grounds. The girls and boys of belchertown offers the first detailed history of an american public institution for intellectually disabled persons. But some of the histories the pair researched were very dark, including the belchertown state school for the feebleminded, which both women consider one of the most horrific stories. Donald vitkus, who spent 11 years at the belchertown state school, talks about. See more ideas about state school, school and abandoned asylums. Open me this short film was originally derived from a film project i did for my comm tech class at westfield state university. Chcs is a safe, supportive learning environment that fosters the academic and socialemotional growth of our students in order for them to become respectful. The book chronicles his experiences growing up at the belchertown state school, a western massachusetts institution for the developmentally disabled. Built in 1922 the belchertown state school for the feeble minded would become a snake pit, changing the world of mental health forever. I can say that there were injustices but also acts of kindness and love at the state school, he said.
Robert hornicks book about belchertown state school. Belchertown state school for the feebleminded is a black mark on the history of education and medical care in massachusetts. Jabish middle school located in belchertown, massachusetts ma. Interesting history of the belchertown state school. Belchertown state school belchertown, massachusetts. The fifty stories in this charming collectionpart history, part reminiscencerecall belchertowns days as the detroit of the carriage industry and as a genteel summer haven from urban life, while acknowledging the changes brought by the coming of the belchertown state school and by the dislocation of four nearby communities for the quabbin reservoir. A history of mental retardation in the united states hornick skillfully connects the demise of this particular institution to the attitudes. He tells his story in the book youll like it here which was. Vitkus, a former resident of belchertown state school, worked with author ed orzechowski to chronicle his experiences at the school in a book and ultimately chose the turkey hill road cemetery where over 200 other former residents are buried as his final resting place. Ella morton is a writer working on the atlas obscura, a book about global wonders, curiosities, and esoterica. Youll like it here the story of donald vitkus, belchertown.
Its worth reading, especially if you ever wonder about what life was like for those people leaving all those wheelchairs behind. Advocates and former resident call for belchertown state. Ruth remained at the state school until june 1978 when, along with four. The story of this abandoned institution is deeply chilling.
Local author ed orzechowskis book details life of man who lived at. Located at 30 state street, the 8500acre campus comprised of ten major buildings built in a colonial revival style by kendall, taylor, and co. Belchertown, a photographic celebration of smalltown life in western massachusetts, depicts the story of the community from its settlement to the 1960s. The author was able to take his reader through the experience of growing up at belchertown state school and the lingering effects.
A story of one mans triumph over horrors at belchertown. When i moved here 3 years ago, i started hearing stories about the horrors of the. Vitkus was the subject of a book published in 2016 by ed orzechowski, vice president of cofar and a founding member of the advocacy network, an. The 845 acre campus comprising some 57 buildings must be called scenic, if nothing elsethe holyoke range is visible from. It became known for inhumane conditions and poor treatment of its patients, and became the target of a series of lawsuits prior to its eventual closing in 1992. Orzechowski transports the reader to the unconscionable, inhumane, and nighmarish conditions in the for anyone concerned with human rights and dignity, ed orzechowskis book, youll like it here. Visit atlas obscura for more on belchertown state school for the feebleminded.
At the time, the state distinguished between mental hospitals, where adults with mental illness were housed, and state schools, which were primarily repositories for children and other undesirables considered to have mental or behavioral insufficiencies. The belchertown state school for the feebleminded was founded in 1922. Saikewicz defendant was incompetent from birth, and the issue arose as to whether he was required to receive lifesaving medical treatment. Belchertown state school for the feebleminded home. The town includes the censusdesignated place of belchertown. The belchertown state school for the feebleminded was established in 1922 in belchertown, massachusetts. The belchertown state school was built in 1922 to serve the mentally defective. An abandoned developmental center in belchertown with a horrific history jul 7, 2016 david goran consisting of about 50 buildings on an 845acre campus, the belchertown state school for the feebleminded was established in 1922 in belchertown, massachusetts. Disadvantaged students at this school are performing about as well as other students in the state, but.
There is a book called i raise my eyes to say yes, by ruth sienkiewicz, which was written by a woman with cerebral palsy who lived at the infirmary at belchertown state school. In the audience were my wife pat, my son dave, and his wife laura and my grandchildren, william and helena. A look inside the painful past of massachusetts asylums. Order online tickets tickets see availability directions. Jabish middle school belchertown, massachusetts ma. Even if you are already familiar with the tragic tale, looking within the decaying walls will give you an entirely new perspective on the story. A gritty new book on a survivor of belchertown state school. Here is an image, remnants, a photograph taken at belchertown state school which is featured in the book, behind the walls. With state retirements, many residents enjoyed a secure old age. Abandoned belchertown state school for the feebleminded in. Belchertown day school 432 state st belchertown ma 01007. The belchertown state school was designed according to the cottage planthe dominant. Donald vitkus, inspirational survivor of the belchertown. Chestnut hill community school belchertown public schools.
Donald vitkus, a survivor of the former belchertown state school, whose life became an inspiration to many in the disabled community, died wednesday of complications from a brain tumor. Extensive renovations were made in the 1980s, and the building now only contains town offices. Terrifying and creepy massachusetts belchertown school. The belchertown state school for the feebleminded was built in 1922. The belchertown state school is located off of front street and berkshire avenue in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts. See more ideas about state school, school and abandoned. A historical perspective, ricci wrote of what he had seen when visiting his son at the institution. Belchertown, massachusetts images of america series by.
This book is pretty balanced in that it highlights the good, bad, and ugly. The belchertown state school was designed according to the cottage planthe dominant structural and operational model of the day for such facilities. Belchertown previously known as cold spring and belchers town is a town in hampshire county, massachusetts, united states. Were a quiet little town, unless you delve deep into the darkest and more secret chapter in our town history. This is a story of the resiliency of the human spirit. The way this would be done is that the undertaker, whom i got to know personally, would come up with the body in the limo, and wed go to the cemetery, and hed be saying things to me like, now bob, this guy was a nonentity. Robert hornick recounts the story of the state school in belchertown, massachusetts, from its beginnings in the 1920s to its closure in the 1990s following a.
In the book, he recalls the sea of graduates that spring at commencement. The state schools of massachusetts were different from state hospitals. Robert hornick recounts the story of the belchertown state school in. I went to third and fourth grade on the campus, starting the same year the school closed, in two buildings that used to be womens dorms. There was work to improve the quality of life before the expose, however, most obviously in the belchertown state school friends association. Donald vitkus, who spent 11 years at the belchertown state school, talks about his experiences from his room at the community living center of the va medical center in leeds on feb. Belchertown state school cemetery, belchertown or lengthy. Abandoned belchertown state school for the feebleminded. Belchertown high school remained part of lawrence memorial hall until a new high school was constructed off north washington street in 1964. Vitkus, a former resident of belchertown state school, worked with author ed orzechowski to chronicle his experiences at the school in a book and ultimately chose the turkey hill road cemetery. The communitys economy was sound, and unemployment was unheard of. Economic development and industry belchertown, massachusetts. Pediment photo of the abandoned belchertown state school.
The auditorium building of the former belchertown state school in massachusetts, ragged, collapsing, yet still impressive. Belchertown day school 432 state st belchertown, ma day. B 41 camera canon eos 5d mark ii externalidentifier urn. Belchertown when donald vitkus died in 2018, he left behind a legacy of disability rights advocacy. Belchertown state school a horror school from massachusetts august 27, 2017 nikola petrovski unlike today, back in its days, it was known for quite a few things that made it. Author ed orzechowskis belchertown state school book youtube. An industrious group,belchertown residents worked to establish shops, work fields, and manufacture carriages in the early years. Belchertown state school was closed in 1992 following a federal classaction lawsuit. Belchertown state school for the feeble minded on kickstarter. Belchertown state school was build in 1922 to house the feeble minded and was the third state school in the state. Consisting of about 50 buildings on a 845 acre campus, the facility was once rated to support over 700 residents, to which was exceeded in the 1920s.
Belchertown school for the feeble minded, belchertown. It is part of the springfield, massachusetts metropolitan statistical area. The image is from the book abandoned asylums of the northeast, by rusty. Due to health concerns regarding the covid19 virus, the closing of belchertown public schools for all staff and students has been extended through the remainder of the school year, per the governors order. It is donalds triumph that he is able to survive belchertown. Massachusetts state schools posted in haunted places. From 1922 to 1992, belchertown state school served developmentally disabled children in western massachusetts for 70 years. This book tells the life story of ruth sienkiewicz mercer, as recounted by her.
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