Dennis Webster

Having worked at Utica Psychiatric Center in the late 1970's I am closely familiar with the Old Main Building. When I started in 1975 two floors of the building were open; it closed in 1978. The author's review of the early years of the New York State Lunatic Asylum under Amariah Brigham and the advent of "moral treatment" were interesting as this was indeed state of the art for the era.
One does not think today of asylums as being progressive, but for the times this was certainly the widely-held opinion. In my time at the center there was a big push on a so-called "humanization" project that involved giving the wards in all the buildings a more pleasant, home-like (i.e. non-institutional) ambiance.

Utica Psychiatric Center and its neighbor across the river -- Marcy Psychiatric Center merged in 1978 with the Marcy center slated for closure. At the time there were thousands of patients in the two facilities, mostly the chronically mentally ill whose time there pre-dated the advent of psychotropic medications. The combined center -- the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center -- stopped taking new admissions (a function assumed by local hospitals) so the residual population was largely geriatric.

Before Utica closed there was a wonderful archive in the Dunham building that held old journals, back issues of the "Opal" publication and artifacts. On view there was a "Utica crib" -- a covered crib-like bed -- that was used for disruptive patients. Hailed in its time as a humane approach to out-of-control patients, it did not look at all humane. Webster points out that years later it was viewed as not an acceptable form of treatment. Indeed, many of the treatment modalities of the time and beyond (before the revolution of medications starting in the 1950's) look to us today as cruel -- e.g.s restraints, cold water baths, insulin therapy, lobotomies, electroshock treatment. These approaches reflected a sort of desperation to find some way to help people severely afflicted with mental illness.

One particularly interesting portion of the book is the reproduction of a letter from a former inmate that describes harsh treatment and abuse by some of the attendants. While most of the staff were (and are) kind and forbearing some indeed were (and are) cruel. The letter's author notes that there was a code of silence among staff and fellow patients that kept this abuse from the awareness of the institution's leadership for fear of retribution. Unfortunately, this circumstance continues even in modern day congregate settings.

The local community anguishes over the fate of the abandoned Old Main building. It is a marvel of mid-19th century Greek Revival architecture, but its potential for reuse is constrained by the cost of bringing it up to modern building codes and, perhaps more significantly, the lackluster economic vitality of this region of upstate New York that mitigates against interest in reusing this imposing structure.… (altro)

This is absolutely without question the worst book I have ever read. It has everything: truly unlikable characters, "preying mantis" sex, pointless violence and a disgusting plot to make it a total waste of my time and money. I wish there were some way to give it no stars.

Please note: Yes, I realize that this book is fiction and is not intended to represent the real past or present of upstate New York. I can only assume that the author set the story in a real village in New York because he holds some sort of grudge against them.

I would recommend instead books by [a:Miriam Grace Monfredo|55948|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1298160853p2/55948.jpg]like [b:Blackwater Spirits|823200|Blackwater Spirits (Glynis Tryon, #3)|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178696199s/823200.jpg|1962790], [b:North Star Conspiracy|625438|North Star Conspiracy (Glynis Tryon, #2)|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298161278s/625438.jpg|1298237], and [b:Seneca Falls Inheritance|97414|Seneca Falls Inheritance (Glynis Tryon, #1)|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298161118s/97414.jpg|1962795]; books by Rhys Bowen like [b:Murphy's Law|383512|Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Mysteries #1)|Rhys Bowen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174342699s/383512.jpg|852119] or British historical mysteries by [a:Laurie R. King|6760|Laurie R. King|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1269062114p2/6760.jpg].… (altro)

This is absolutely without question the worst book I have ever read. It has everything: truly unlikable characters, "preying mantis" sex, pointless violence and a disgusting plot to make it a total waste of my time and money. I wish there were some way to give it no stars.

Please note: Yes, I realize that this book is fiction and is not intended to represent the real past or present of upstate New York. I can only assume that the author set the story in a real village in New York because he holds some sort of grudge against them.

I would recommend instead books by [a:Miriam Grace Monfredo|55948|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1298160853p2/55948.jpg]like [b:Blackwater Spirits|823200|Blackwater Spirits (Glynis Tryon, #3)|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178696199s/823200.jpg|1962790], [b:North Star Conspiracy|625438|North Star Conspiracy (Glynis Tryon, #2)|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298161278s/625438.jpg|1298237], and [b:Seneca Falls Inheritance|97414|Seneca Falls Inheritance (Glynis Tryon, #1)|Miriam Grace Monfredo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298161118s/97414.jpg|1962795]; books by Rhys Bowen like [b:Murphy's Law|383512|Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Mysteries #1)|Rhys Bowen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174342699s/383512.jpg|852119] or British historical mysteries by [a:Laurie R. King|6760|Laurie R. King|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1269062114p2/6760.jpg].… (altro)