Logansport State Hospital

Logansport State Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in Logansport, Indiana.

It was founded July 1, 1888, as the Northern Indiana Hospital for the Insane. Its first superintendent was Dr. J.G. Rogers.

Origin

The origin of the hospital goes back to March 7 of 1883 when the Indiana General Assembly allotted funds for three State Hospital facilities: Logansport in the northern region, Evansville in the southern region, and Richmond in the eastern region. The three new hospitals were to help with the increasing population of the mentally ill at Central State Hospital in Indianapolis.

History

Much has happened since its beginning. Central State closed its doors in 1992 and Richmond State Hospital is presently in the process of becoming privatized. There has also been some discussion about changing the status of Evansville, Madison, and LaRue D. Carter State Hospitals which would leave Logansport and Evansville Psychiatric Children's Center as the only two facilities out of the six that would still be run by the State.

Description

In the 1950s, Logansport State Hospital had a surgery unit in which they did lobotomies. They also had a ward that housed tuberculosis patients. The facility also had a morgue and pathology lab. Since that time it has been used for a TV Studio and administrative offices. It is now the home of a museum. They also had a chapel which is still in use.

The majority of the patients prior to 1960 were admitted for symptoms of organic brain syndrome. Some of the patients were born mentally incapacitated so the families would admit them to the State Hospital because they did not want to handle them at home. That is not true currently for most of the patients.

In the early 1900s, the State Hospital was a self-sufficient facility. They had an award winning dairy in which the patients worked. The hospital had an active farm where the patients helped raise their own vegetables. The farm is now a soccer field. There were also hayfields for the animals, and patients grew their own plants and flowers in a greenhouse. The patients also helped raise their own livestock which supplied the facility with the meat needed. They also helped bake their own goods in a bakery.

Change

In the 1960s, the government intervened and patient labor ceased. Today there is a patient payroll program in which some patients may be able to work in dietary, housekeeping, and cleaning vehicles in the motor pool for a restricted amount of time, the most being 5 to 10 hours per week. These jobs are all supervised by the rehabilitation department.

In 2005, a new forensic unit, called the Isaac Ray Treatment Center, was opened to replace an older building that was established in 1979 to house those deemed criminally insane. This new facility is 110,000 square feet and has the capability for housing men. They are currently involved in creating a women's unit on Isaac Ray. There are 105 beds in this facility. Isaac Ray facility also holds the dental office, employee health department, x-ray department, and the pharmacy.