Utica Psychiatric Center facts for kids
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Utica State Hospital, Main Building
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1213 Court Street, Utica, New York 13502 |
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| Built | 1843 |
| Architect | Capt. William Clarke, Andrew Jackson Downing |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000548 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | July 30, 1989 |
The Utica Psychiatric Center, also known as Utica State Hospital, opened in Utica on January 16, 1843. It was New York's very first state-run hospital built to help people with mental health challenges. It was also one of the first hospitals like it in the whole United States.
This impressive building was designed in the Greek Revival style by Captain William Clarke. Its construction was paid for by the state and by people living in Utica. In 1977, the hospital closed its doors, and the last patients moved to other care places. Today, the building is used to store important records for the New York State Office of Mental Health. Since 1989, it has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical site. The hospital building is still on the campus of the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center, alongside newer buildings that are still used for medical care today.
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A Look Back at the Hospital's History
The idea for the hospital was approved by the government in 1836. The first plans were for four identical buildings that would form a square with a courtyard in the middle. But there wasn't enough money, so only one building was finished. This building, called Old Main, is huge! It stands over 50 feet (15 meters) tall, 550 feet (168 meters) long, and nearly 50 feet (15 meters) deep. The six large Greek-style columns at the front of Old Main are 48 feet (14.6 meters) tall, and each one is 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide.
The hospital quickly became full, so more space was needed. Wings were added to both ends of the building, opening in 1846. By 1850, the hospital had many rooms for patients, attendants, and common areas. It also had dining rooms, bathing rooms, and restrooms.
How Patients Were Cared For
The hospital's first director was Amariah Brigham. He believed that mental health issues often came from a bad environment. So, he made sure patients had spacious rooms, good food, and chances for exercise and mental activities. He thought that "labor" (meaning work) was very important for helping people get better.
Patients were encouraged to work outdoors, like gardening. They also learned crafts such as needlework and carpentry. Brigham even started an annual fair at the hospital. Patients could show and sell the items they made. The first fair, in 1844, raised $200. This money was used to buy more books for the library, musical instruments, and a greenhouse.
Some patients at the hospital even created their own newspaper called The Opal. It was published from 1851 to 1860. This newspaper featured articles, poems, and drawings made by the patients themselves. It gave them a creative way to express themselves.
Fires at the Hospital
In 1852, a fire started on the first floor stairway of Old Main. Everyone, including patients and staff, was safely moved out of the building. However, a firefighter and a doctor died trying to save things from the building. The entire middle part of the building was destroyed.
Just four days after the fire at Old Main, a barn on the hospital grounds also caught fire. A former patient and occasional employee named William Spiers was arrested. He admitted to starting both fires because he was upset with his supervisor.
American Journal of Insanity
In 1844, Dr. Brigham started the first English-language journal focused on mental health. It was called the American Journal of Insanity. Dr. Brigham was the main editor, and the journal was printed right at the Utica State Hospital. After Brigham passed away, the journal became the property of the hospital. Later, in 1894, the American Medico-Psychological Association bought the journal. It was later renamed the American Psychiatric Journal.
The Utica Crib
Dr. Brigham didn't like using chains to restrain patients, which was common at the time. So, he invented something called the "Utica crib" as a different option. The Utica crib was a special bed with a thick mattress. It had slats on the sides and a top that could be locked from the outside. It was 18 inches (46 cm) deep, 8 feet (2.4 meters) long, and 3 feet (0.9 meters) wide.
Doctors used the Utica crib to help control and calm patients who were very agitated. Even though some people criticized its use, some patients found it helpful. One patient who had slept in the Utica crib for several days said he had rested better. He thought it was useful for "all crazy fellows as I, whose spirit is willing, but whose flesh is weak."
However, not everyone agreed about the Utica crib. In 1878, some doctors from other hospitals recommended it, saying it was "practical and safe." But Dr. Hammond and Dr. Mycert from the Utica State Hospital strongly disagreed. Dr. Mycert called it "barbarous and unscientific." He even compared the Utica crib to a coffin. Dr. Hammond noted that sometimes patients died while in the Utica crib. Some of these deaths happened because attendants thought patients were just out of control, but they were actually having serious health problems like a heart attack or a stroke. Because of these concerns, all Utica cribs were removed from the Utica State Hospital on January 18, 1887, with the help of George Alder Blumer.
Images for kids
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Left side (East end) of Main Building
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Center of Main Building
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Right side (West end) of Main Building
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Front of the Utica Psychiatric Center Doctors House
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Front view of the Utica Psychiatric Center Doctors House.
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Utica Psychiatric Center Doctors House - Rear Right
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The rear of the Utica Psychiatric Center Doctors House.
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Utica Psychiatric Center Doctors House being demolished during the summer of 2015.
