Out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitudes are largely a thing of the past when it comes to dealing with persons deemed, “not in their right mind” in today’s Ontario- but to reach the state where treatment is focused on social reintegration, the system also has to come to grips with its past.
The word “Bedlam” as referring to a scene of uproar and confusion, derives from the name of Europe’s oldest psychiatric hospital, founded in year 1247 in England- and many volumes have been written on the horrors enacted within its walls.
Closer to home, there is only one formal tome specifically dealing with hospitalization in Penetanguishene. “The Mentally Ill Offender in the Oak Ridge Hospital Unit” by C. K. McKnight is the only standalone authored book explicitly so catalogued.
Oak Ridge opened on February 21st, 1933 as the “Criminal Insane Building”, a specialized division within the Ontario Hospital, Penetanguishene and remained in service until 2014.
An early patient in the facility, English emigre Edwin Alfred George Stow was Rick Stow’s paternal grandfather.
Individuated stories from this interview were scheduled for Newscasts of 7AM, Noon and 5PM:
7AM:
Out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitudes are largely a thing of the past in today’s Ontario; and then there’s Penetanguishene.
The Oak Ridge Hospital Unit there opened in 1933, and functioned until 2014. It was widely known as the Province’s “Criminally Insane Building.”
An early patient in the facility, English emigre Edwin Alfred George Stow was Rick Stow’s paternal grandfather.
Despite rigorously combing the file for evidence of his committal, no formal paperwork authorizing it has ever been located.
NOON:
There’s been considerable progress in today’s society, both in treating mental illness- and discussing it.
Penetanguishene was once only spoken of in hushed terms.
The Oak Ridge Hospital Unit there opened in 1933, and functioned through to 2014. It was widely known as the Province’s “Criminally Insane Building.”
An early patient in the facility, English emigre Edwin Alfred George Stow was Rick Stow’s paternal grandfather.
Further, despite rigorously combing the file for evidence of his committal, no formal paperwork authorizing it has ever been located.
5PM:
By Rick Stow
