Yesterday my fiance and I went to a place a few miles down the road of me called Asylum Lake four our hopefully what would be daily jog. Asylum lake is an absolutely beautiful place, complete wilderness inside a bustling city – but it has a history, a history that is heavy in suffering, rumor and speculation. Asylum lake is named Asylum lake for a reason – it was orriginally part of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, which is now known as the Kalamazoo Regional Pychiatric Hospital (or if your from Kalamazoo ‘the state hospital’).
Asylum Lake as it was around 1900
Asylum lake is quite rich in history, and the psychiatric hospital which used to operate at Asylum lake had land that extended to where my apartment building is today. Its odd thinking that I live in what used to be a psych ward. Its was quite odd walking through the now heavily wooded area, standing on foundations of old cottages that used to house psychiatric buildings – but the land is one of the most peaceful places you can find in Kalamazoo. As Kate and I walked around the wooded area it was hard to realize, but less than 100 years ago its purpose was basically a prison for those with mental impairments.
Kate and Lucky walking at Asylum Lake
There where flowers, swans, beautiful wooded scenic paths – we even stopped to take some pictures, because it was absolutely beautiful. Its hard to get it out of your head sometimes the history of the places you have been – and how far forward (and sometimes backwards) the world has gone for helping those with disabilities.
Years ago people with epilepsy were considered witches, or possessed by Satan and burned at the stake – just 100 years ago people with mental disabilities were regularly forced to take freezing cold baths, electrocuted on a daily basis and forced to go through with many very difficult things. Its hard to think that some of these things are still happening today, and how fortunate I am to be born today – and not 100 years ago.
Kate and Lucky Sitting on an cottage foundation that used to house patients.
For those interested the local public libary has put up a great hour long series on youtube of the history of the Kalamazoo State Psychitatic Hospital. Its presented by the former director of the hosptial, and he does it in a very nice and sensitive way, and its a great series to watch. Also if you live in the Kalamazoo area, you should really check out Asylum Lake – its a beautiful area.
Have you ever been in a beautiful area, only to know that dreaded things used to happen there in the past?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Does this mean you and Kate resolved your issues and are back together? If, so I am happy for you
Yes – were back together.
Very thoughtful blogpost … in many ways
Thanks,
I appreciate the comment – I’m trying to write daily and I didn’t know what to write about, but this kept going into my head.
I think that turning a once sad and tragic area into a place of beauty is a wonderful thing…yes, things have changed in the last 100 or so years…I hope that they keep changing-and that places such as that-and others like it are transformed into positive sites.
Do you know where I could find more information on the happenings that went on at the ward when it was open? It would be much appreciated.