I'd like to meet:
THE DIXMONT STATE HOSPITAL: A HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY - now available on DVD!To order a copy of this DVD, please visit Stargazer Video Productions
In November of 1862, The Dixmont Hospital for the Insane officially opened its doors at a time when those suffering from mental illness were often times treated as mere animals by unsympathetic caretakers- caged, beaten, isolated from others and left to rot in their own filth. Dixmont served as a house of refuge - a safe haven where the insane could receive proper care and treatment, with a focus on returning them to family and friends as fully recovered.
But the reality of mental illness was that it was difficult to treat, and often times, impossible to cure. Through the years, the population at Dixmont grew to include the violent and criminally insane, chronic patients and those who were completely incurable, causing constant disruption to the wards. In later years, electroshock and insulin shock therapies, hydrotherapy and even lobotomies provided patients with some relief from their insanity. However, until the introduction of psychotherapeutic drugs in the 1950's, it was extremely difficult to manage and treat the over 1,200 patients that resided within Dixmont's wards.
Through a vivid collection of over 500 historical photos, excerpts from the Annual Reports of the Managers, written and oral accounts from former employees and an examination of what caused the Hospital to close in 1984, this narrated documentary will explore what is fact, what is fiction, and how these accounts have intertwined to become the legacy of The Dixmont Hospital for the Insane.
To order a copy of The Dixmont State Hospital: A Historical Documentary, please visit Stargazer Video Productions
The Slide Show below shows just a small sampling of the hundreds of photos featured in the DVD...
The Dixmont State Hospital: A Historical Documentary
Produced by: Stargazer Video Productions
Written/Directed/Edited by: Kate Guerriero
Narrated by: Bill Chappo
Duration: 94 minutes
$15.00 each plus $3.00 s&h
To order a copy of this DVD, please visit Stargazer Video Productions
DIXMONT UPDATE: The Hospital was completely demolished in 2006 to make way for a Super WalMart. In October of 2006, a large portion of the building pad for the store slid onto Route 65, completely closing the road for two weeks while workers put in a 24/7 effort to clear the road of the debris. The D.E.P. has pulled the building permits until developers can submit a plan that outlines the cause of the landslide and how to prevent the same disaster from happening in the future. Reports submitted indicated that the land is still sliding at a rate of about 3 inches per day.
DIXMONT CEMETERY CLEAN UP PROJECT UPDATE
Monday, May 29th, 2007
To all of the wonderful volunteers who so generously donated their time and energy on Saturday, May 26th - I cannot thank you enough! It was an absolute plesaure meeting each and every one of you, and I truly appreciate all of the hard work that went into making the Dixmont Cemetery a beautiful place again! The site is 110% improved, and it could not have been done without you! I hope that you will all stay in touch, and visit the cemetery periodically, bringing your family and friends to see your accomplishment.
I would also like to thank Pennsylvania Timber Management Services, Inc., the Stroyne Family, PsychoNewJersey.com, Giant Eagle on Camp Horne Road, Rome Monuments, Tony Rosenberg, Frank Bryan Inc., The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, The Beaver County Times, KDKA, The Citizen, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for helping out in various aspects. And a special thank you to Lloyd with PsychoNewJersey.com for driving all night from New Jersey to help out with the clean up! Lloyd also took the time to hand craft a beautiful Dixmont Cemetery sign that we erected at the entrance!!
I will be ensuring that the Cemetery is maintained on a regular basis, so if you would like to help with the maintenance, shoot me an email at [email protected] or call 724.259.2142.
Also, Rome Monuments will be erecting the 52" granite memorial they so generously donated within the next few weeks. I will post details as we get them, so be sure to check back frequently. I would love to have you all there at the dedication ceremony!
Below are some pictures from the Clean Up. I hope that you enjoy them!
Thank you again to everyone! I look forward to seeing you all again!