L. F. Blanchard - Abandoned Asylums of Connecticut

Images of Modern America

ABANDONED
ASYLUMS OF
CONNECTICUT

FRONT COVER: The Knight Hospital, also known as Mansfield Training School, recreation area may have been used for arts and crafts, as is evident by the amount of art supplies scattered around and paint all over the walls (Courtesy of Tammy Rebello and TMR Visual Arts.)

UPPER BACK COVER: Outside of the main hospital building at Seaside Sanatorium, taken from the beach in front of it (Courtesy of Tammy Rebello and TMR Visual Arts.)

LOWER BACK COVER (from left to right): Bryan Building at Norwich State Hospital on the Norwich town property (Courtesy of Tammy Rebello and TMR Visual Arts), Martin Buildingmale employee building (Courtesy of Tammy Rebello and TMR Visual Arts), the slide of the abandoned, overgrown playground in front of Seaside sanatorium on Long Island Sound (Courtesy of Tammy Rebello and TMR Visual Arts)

Images of Modern America

ABANDONED
ASYLUMS OF
CONNECTICUT

L.F. BLANCHARD &
TAMMY REBELLO

Copyright 2016 by L.F. Blanchard and Tammy Rebello
ISBN 978-1-4671-2458-4
Ebook ISBN 9781439658819

Published by Arcadia Publishing
Charleston, South Carolina

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016950039

For all general information, please contact Arcadia Publishing:
Telephone 843-853-2070
Fax 843-853-0044
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Visit us on the Internet at www.arcadiapublishing.com

Lynn dedicates this book to:
To my family, for your love
Tina, for inspiring the light, and continually amazing me
Tam, for standing with me on this incredible journey
Peggy, for being our biggest cheerleader and wonderful
friend (and that Patsy girl too!)
For those who found the courage to share their story
And always, Cathy, for her love and support through every step along the way
Bella, Rocky, and Tango, the cutest, funniest, and
most loved pups (and writing buddies)
All those who shine the light of hope to those lost in the darkness #BeTheLight.

Tammy dedicates this book to:
To my four children, for whom I breathe
My sisters Emmie, Jenn, and Michellewithout your friendship
and guidance I would have self-destructed long ago
Lynn, for being my light and inspiration
Cathy, for being my friend and the hardest working roadie around
Kiko, for being part of our livesforever our sweet boy, forever loved
For all those that suffer from emotionally and verbally abusive relationships, there
is hope! Remember, you are worthy, beautiful and deserve better! The first step
is scary but well worth it in the end. Live your life while the sun still shines.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish to thank Cathy Blanchard, our official roadie; Tina Runyan, PhD, for her constant support, unwavering faith, and inspiration of #BeTheLight; Linda Christensen and the Preston Historical Society; Susan Brosnan and the Preston Library; Sean Nugent and the Preston Redevelopment Agency; Russell Boulet; Mark Veau of WXLO radio; Max Bowen and Matt Zappa from WEMF Citywide Blackout; Kim Caisse and the faculty at our alma mater, Worcester State University; Patricia Graham, of the Myths, Minds, and Medicine Museum at the Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut; Mercedes Guy, Kelly Bowen, Valerie Keller, Aline Dick, Dani McGrath, and the entire marketing team for their hard work in promotion our first book, Abandoned Asylums of Massachusetts; Erin Vosgien, Henry Clougherty, and the rest of the Arcadia staff, for all of their support, and without whom this project would not have come to fruition.

We would also like to acknowledge all the libraries, bookstores (big and small), the local shops who helped us spread the word and galleries who welcomed us to tell our story, to the radio, television, and newspaper reporters who helped spread the light, to all those who found the strength to share their own stories along the way.

Unless otherwise noted, all images are from Tammy Rebello and TMR Visual Arts.

INTRODUCTION

Among the most often asked questions we get is how we got started with this project and what drives us. Tammy and I have known each other for three decades, and while there was a time where we had lost touch, busy in our own lives, we reconnected on Facebook several years ago. Tammy had been photographing for over 20 years at that time, and on a whim, based on the interest her kids took in an episode of Ghost Adventures, she grabbed her camera and brother Josh (or as we call him, the Muscle) and headed out to the New York location.

She loved it the moment she stepped on the grounds and has been hooked ever since. When she returned home to central Massachusetts, she began researching like institutions close by. While exploring, she discovered a strong desire to tell the story of these places. This is when she came to me.

It did not take long before we had a definite direction to our project. Tammy continued photographing, every chance she could, often returning to the locations several times. In the snow or the blistering heat, she persevered with a desire to get just the right shot. We were both students at Worcester State University and had the chance to take a few classes together. This gave us the chance to talk and receive guidance and encouragement from the faculty.

We were recently asked if there was a point when we wanted to throw in the towel and abandon our journey. For me, it came when my mother took ill. During that time, nothing else mattered but spending time with her and the family. The irony of this is it was also the catalyst for me to see it through. While our family came together for her, we would spend hours talking, and it gave me the opportunity to bounce ideas off those I trusted most. After a period of mourning my mother, Tammy and I were ready to move forward and have not looked back.

We quickly discovered how well we worked together. Tammy was in control of everything photographic, and I was in charge of everything written, although we are constantly bouncing ideas off one another. We talk with one another daily, even now that the first two books are finished and out for the world to see. While we do not always agree, we try to maintain our respect for one another. Our friendship is most importanteven more than the books. But I feel that is what makes it work.

We approached this project from different angles. Tammy loved the architecture, the style of the buildings, and the artistry of the physical structure set against the rubble left behind. She recently told me how much it saddens her to see these places being torn down. If perhaps these buildings were taken care of instead of left to rot, they could have been saved for future generations to see how beautiful they truly are.

I, on the other hand, come at it from the psychological perspective. I dug in to the history of these locations. I wanted to know for what purpose they were built, what they became, and what led to their demise. I explored the story as a whole, with the perspective of the state, the institution and administrators, employees, patients, and their loved ones and how the mental health field in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and in the United States has each changed over the past century, and why. Tammy and I spoke with dozens of people, all with a unique impression of how the most horrific and unimaginable, alongside the most wonderful, shaped the mental health field today and will continue to as it evolves.