How Thin the Veil: A Memoir of 45 Days in the Traverse City State Hospital

by Jack Kerkhoff, Ray Minervini (Introduction)

“So this is my homecoming. This is my return to the town where I spent the happiest days of my youth. Picture a slightly decrepit, snow-covered state hospital. A depressed writer checks himself into the asylum and is placed in the ward for alcoholics and the mildly insane. Under the care of a wise and patient, chain-smoking doctor, our hero examines his suicidal motivations, while at the same time keeping a writer’s eye on the inmates and their almost universal malady of “woman trouble.” As the snow comes down and Christmas nears, “woman trouble” takes on new meaning when the author falls in love with beautiful, child-like Suzy from Ward Eleven. This memoir, originally published in 1952, takes a hard-boiled look at mental health treatment before the collapse of the state-sponsored system. Bawdy, inappropriate, deeply romantic and rich in captivating characters, How Thin the Veil takes the love story to where it’s never been before.

Genres: Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

Reviews

[Emma B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject matter was interesting. Unfortunately it was difficult to get through due to the fact that I found the author's style of writing to be very bland.

[Kevin Deyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think because I live in Traverse City and have spent much time walking the grounds of the former state hospital and visiting the shops and restaurants now there that I can appreciate this more. For anyone who is familiar with the historic buildings, this book definitely gives a human voice to what went on there and is worth a read.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and rare memoir of a peek inside the walls of the Traverse City State Hospital in the early '50s. This particular state hospital opened in 1885 under the name Northern Michigan Asylum and closed in 1989. Such facilities were built prior to psychiatric medication and used the Moral Treatment movement as their basis for care. Hospitals were self sustaining with social events, exercise, routine, and farms to grow their own food and provide work for patients who benefited from having purpose. Author Jack Kerkhoff shows the reader who lived, loved, and suffered in Building 50. Yes, sometimes there was love.

In the 1990's, Michigan Governor John Engler began closing the state psychiatric hospitals. Many buildings were left in ruin for decades. Ray Minervini provides the introduction for the 2016 edition of How Thin the Veil, originally published in 1952, and explains the renaissance of this shuttered, sprawling campus into a condominium, apartment and small business community.

[Jamie Bronstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very dated personal narrative by a reporter who was institutionalized briefly in Michigan in the 1950s. Kerkhoff had lost his first wife and one of his two adult daughters and became an alcoholic and attempted suicide before being admitted, but he wrote his narrative with good humor, clearly crafting a persona as a successful patient.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last summer, we visited Traverse City as we toured Michigan. As always, I checked out Tripadvisors’ best things to do in [city]. Number 1 in Traverse City is “The Village at Grand Traverse Commons”, an “old state asylum that is being renovated into shops, restaurants, wineries and more”. Best of all, it was an easy bike ride from our campground! I wish I could show you a picture of the place. It is regal and HUGE! So we went. I’m not sure exactly what I expected, but the “shops, wineries, restaurants and more” were very modest compared to the size of the buildings, but hey, the developers (they’re on their third I think) are trying and it’s a noble cause to be sure. But if the retail was disappointing, the building itself (built in 1881) and the mini-museum the developers have added was fascinating. Then I saw they have a tour and the timing was good for us. It was $25 each (ouch!) but hey, we’re on vacation, and it’s definitely a unique attraction. The tour was actually pretty good. The guide, like many Traverse City residents had direct connection to the asylum since her father worked there (the asylum was closed in 1989). We only got to see one unrestored building, but the talk of psychiatry before meds was interesting.

Which brings us to this book. As the subtitle states, it is “A memoir of 45 days in the Traverse City State Hospital”. The author, after attempting suicide twice, checked himself into the hospital, and being a journalist, wrote this day-by-day account. The book was originally published in 1952, so I’m guessing his stay was, say, around 1950. The book is just a memoir, not a documentary or expose, so we only see what happens on floor D-3, which I would characterize as similar to the minimum-security section of a prison. The patients on D-3 were allowed out on the grounds, and even into Traverse City. There was a canteen which they could buy food, and men and women could meet. If you were unruly on D-3, you would be sent to D-4 or one of the cottages (which we saw on the tour). The most startling revelation in the book was how little treatment anybody received, and how well they were treated by the State (the author, by voluntarily checking in, was charged $2.30 a day, about $30 in today’s dollars). But these were the days before any psychotropic meds. Thorazine was introduced in 1954, lithium in 1949. The only treatments mentioned in the book were the “shock” treatments, electroshock and insulin shock. The author, for example, only got what I would call a teensy bit of “talk therapy”, more like pep talks from a wise doctor. Still they kept him for 45 days. Most of the book is a somewhat depressing (and sometimes tedious) day-to-day account of the travails and antics of the other men on D-3. The author did have a romantic affair with a woman named “Suzy” about which I could not stop thinking of James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” song, coincidently about “Suzanne”. It was very cool to read about the dances, after we toured the wrecked and disintegrating dance hall at the hospital.

To be honest, I’m not sure I would have liked this book so much if I hadn’t been at the hospital myself. Otherwise, I would probably only recommend it to someone researching psychiatric care before 1950, or the demise of the state-run asylums around 1980-1990. Closing the hospitals and turning the patients out on the streets is not covered in this book (obviously) but the book is a fascinating window into the change in cultural attitudes toward the mentally ill.

[Steven May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keekhoff provides us with a good picture of what treatment was like in Michigan’s mental health system in 1950,s. The system has improved but also left to many people abandoned from their institutional families with out sufficient resources.

[Megan Trempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was good. did a tour this summer of the Commons in TC and it didnt disappoint. this was one of the better books I have read so far on the going ons while a patient there. very positive...I enjoyed that

[Ryan Stambaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kerkhoff deserves tremendous credit for writing this book in 1952. Even today the topic of mental health and suicide can be tough to talk about.

That being said, this is much more a journal of his 45 day stay than a study of the state of mental health care circa 1950's. You do get glimpses here and there. It's just that the thrust of the book isn't really inward looking.

The people you meet, from hospital workers to patients, you meet from the outside. And Kerkhoff rarely goes deeper than surface level save for a few instances.

Still, I did connect with some of the people mentioned and found myself wanting to know how they all ended up doing in life.

The book kept my interest, but is likely to be enjoyed thoroughly only be a select few.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting account of the author's experience at the Traverse City State Hospital. Throughout reading I had so many questions about mental health treatments during the 1940s and 1950s, and most of those questions went unanswered by the memoir (but thank goodness for Google!). That was not the point of the story, though, and once I was able to step back and focus just on the author's experience, I am glad he shared his story. I love visiting places and then getting to read about them, and this was no exception. It was great to visit The Village (as the buildings are now called) and then read about the building's former life.

[NP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting inside look at what it was like in mental hospitals in the 50's. If you're interested to hear about daily life in a mental hospital, then this is a good book for that. I found it entertaining enough from that perspective. I have many issues with the book, but I did find the book engaging enough to finish.

As for the actual story, it's pretty boring. I understand that it's a memoir and maybe the author didn't want to get too deep into his own life in the book, but for a book about romance, depression, and mental health, it was oddly surface level. This read more like a rundown of all the witty little things the author said to the nursing staff instead of actually describing the emotional ups and downs of how things affected him. Whenever something dramatic would happen to him there might be the slightest line about how he was sad, but he was immediately back to entertaining the nurses and carrying on with his buddy. His examinations of his mental problems were also extremely basic. This left the book feeling pretty shallow, and I was unable to connect to any of the characters.

Speaking of characters, there were too many to understand who the author was talking about. I could never get invested in them because I couldn't remember who they were. The author says he changed the names of the people in the book, so I don't know why he would choose to name two people who are often in the same sentence "Frank," and "Franklin."

My biggest gripe with this book is how sexist it is. At first, I thought he was being blatantly sexist as a thematic element to show how bad the other characters were, but then I realized it's just plain sexist. According to the author, nearly all the men in the hospital were there because of either an overbearing mother or wife. Even the female nurses don't like being in the women's ward. They like hanging out with the male patients better — surely because of the unending supply of chipper little witticisms from the supposedly depressed author. There is also a female character who is described as ugly and unclean but possessing such sexual energy that the MC devolves into bawdy comments with his friends that are too much for him to record in the book. Ew. If the author meant to show how awful and sexist other people were, he did not succeed in making it seem like he thought it was wrong.

As I said, this book had many issues (and a few typos), but despite that, it was still readable and interesting from a historical slice-of-life perspective.

[Angelika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend this book if you have an interest in the old Traverse City State Hospital, or mental health care in the 1950s. Pretty plain writing about an individual as he saw things, without much insight into mental illness.

[Mollee Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this to be something different than it was. That’s not the writers fault. It’s mine.
I loved that I’ve visited the hospital though and could envision some of the places that were mentioned.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good memoir. Nothing exciting but it was fun to hear a few stories of northern Michigan.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the Traverse City State Hospital during the early 1950's when the author, Jack Kerhhoff, admitted himself as a patient after having suicidal thoughts. He spent 45 days there and tells of his experience and describes some of the other patients and doctors. There is love story component too.

The hospital was closed in 1989 and since then part of it have been renovated and turned into apartments, office spaces, and a shopping center. They also offer tours of the grounds and give visitors a look at what the buildings used to be, mental health treatments used during the time the hospital was open, and a good explanation of the architecture and more. I highly recommend taking one of the tours if you are in the area.

I enjoyed the book since I have visited the area. I find stories about mental health challenges interesting. However, it was hard to keep the characters in the book straight. The story was somewhat slow moving. And I wish the author would have told us if he kept in touch with any of the friends he made. And I would have loved to hear more about his life after he left.

[Karen Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review

Forty-five days in the Traverse City State Hospital is broken into 45 chapters in the book. Each chapter describes the daily activities in the State Hospital. After awhile it starts to become boring reading the same material in each chapter. The only thing that keeps you reading is the love story between two patients. The ending is a bit disappointing. Since the book is true, it would have been nice to have a follow up of the patients especially the two patients in love. The time period of the book takes place in the 1950's. It was amazing to read of the reasons why patients were admitted to the hospital in the first place, some of the functions that were carried out by the nurses, and the hospital rules. Things sure have changed over the past 70 years. The book reminds me a bit of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

[Jessica Biggs]

I purchased tbis book during a visit to the area where the Traverse City Hospital used to stand. My favorite book store in TC had this book on display and I thought it would be similar to something like Girl, Interrupted or The Bell Jar. Instead it reads more like a daily diary of occurrences in the hospital. The writer seems to stay emotional distanced from the other patients and his own experiences in his writing. This book has been credited for saving the hospital to turn into a center for condos and commercial establishments, which is great since it’s obviously touched so many lives. And while a story based in a mental hospital will never be an easy read, tbis one wasn’t even particularly interesting to me.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read this book for two main reasons.
1) I have visited the former state hospital in it's new life of housing, shopping and restaurants and thought it would interesting to read about what it was like there when it was a mental hospital.
2) I am "in the field" as we say in the mental health/substance use treatment world. Everything about mental health interests me.
What I had a hard time with was the open talking about every one else's case that went on throughout. Until I reminded myself that this took place way before HIPPA.
I recommend this one to anyone who wants a realistic look at life inside a mental hospital decades ago.

[Keri Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

While taking the tour of the TC State Hospital in the fall of 2019, our amazing guide (Vanessa) recommended this book. It gives an intimate glimpse into life at the State Hospital in the early 1950s. By the end of the book the reader feels like they too are saying goodbye to the staff and the residents. There is so much raw emotion as Jack struggles with his depression during his recovery. The realization he comes to as the reason for his actions is one that so many can relate to. I only wish more had been said of what happened to Suzy after Jack left and how Jack faired once he got to California.

[Katie Poz · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s just something about this book for those who were born, raised, or live in traverse city. It was an interesting view inside the walls of the state hospital that is now long gone and turned into buildings for restaurants, shops, breweries, wine bars but it’s a good read to remind what use to be there. His reflection of wanting to find things in town that reminded him of his earlier days but everything had changed is something I resonated with as someone who has seen things come and go watching this town change. It’s a quick and my opinion worth the read if you were ever interested in the happenings of the state hospital

[Ashley Canuteson · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a recent visit to Michigan, I toured the Traverse City State Hospital (Northern Michigan Asylum) and was drawn to its history. The hospital was built on the “Kirkbride Plan” and seemed to be an incredible support for so many people during the 104 years it was open. This memoir shares the story of Jack Kerkhoff during his 45-day stay at the hospital in the early 1950s. I enjoyed it mostly because of the interest piqued by my recent tour of the facility.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up when visiting today's version of the Traverse City State Hospital--a complex with shopping, dining, and office space. I found the idea very interesting. Unfortunately the execution was just a bit lackluster. While Kerkhoff talks about his time as a patient in detail, there's no real resolution. The reader, at least this one, is left with a lot of questions and no real sense of completion when the book ends. Overall, it fell a bit flat for me.

[Hannah Bever · Rating 4 out of 5]

After taking the asylum tour I knew I had to pick this up from the gift shop. The writer’s style was a little bland, but having a first person perspective of what a stay in the asylum during those times was really interesting. Seeing his personal growth happen (and his self awareness of it) as the book progressed was nice to see, and once I finished the book I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend.

[Catherine Yezak · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at life in a mental hospital. Jack stayed in the Traverse City State Mental Hospital in the early 50s. He writes about the people, their problems, the staff, and how all of them were able to help him make sense of not only his life, but habits he had been carrying since he was a child.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Saying to hell with everything is kind of giving up. There's always something that's left."

Crazy how the Traverse City State Hospital is now a shopping center. So appreciative for my sisters-in-law and brother-in-law willingly going on a history scavenger hunt over the summer around the campus so that I could experience the grounds. This was a great book to find.

[Elaine Nikula · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw the sprawling buildings of Traverse City State Hospital, I was intrigued and wondered what kinds of stories were hidden behind those walls. This book helped to open the doors and let me peek inside. It is an interesting story if you have patience for the authors slow and bland style of writing.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it somewhat interesting how a state hospital operated in this time period. I googled the treatments to actually see how they were performed. I would have liked to know "the rest of the story". How did Jack do the rest of his life? Did he stay in contact with Suzy?

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

This was a good read for me as I had visited Traverse City and the property where the hospital was a couple years ago.
It is a bit slow but I was still interested in the story..

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite depressing. Today's advances are so much better.

[Blesie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into psychiatric hospitals in the sixties. Too many characters to keep straight.

[Robin Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1952 the T.C. state mental hospital was the place for all kinds of ailments... not necessarily mental.