Madhouse: The Hidden History of Insane Asylums in 19th Century New York

by Michael T. Keene

THE YEAR WAS 1869, HER NAME WAS MARY ROTE. ...SHE ARRIVED BY STEAMBOAT AT OVID LANDING, SHACKLED AT THE WRISTS AND TRANSPORTED BY ARMED GUARDS..... Mary Rote HAD SPENT the previous TEN YEARS CHAINED TO A WALL IN MADISON COUNTY, New York OFTEN NAKED AND SUSPENDED BY HER THUMBS.

DESCRIBED AS DEFORMED AND DEMENTED, SHE WOULD BECOME WILLARD INSANE ASYLUMS.... FIRST PATIENT

127 YEARS LATER IN 1996 THE WILLARD INSANE ASYLUM WOULD FINALLY SHUTTER ITS DOORS WHEREAPON A HORRIFYING DISCOVERY WAS MADE..... BURIED NEAR THE FACILITY WERE OVER 5700 BODIES.... LYING IN UNMARKED GRAVES.....ALL FORMER WILLARD PATIENTS

***DRAWING UPON CONFIDENTIAL HOSPITAL ARCHIVES, PRIVATE PATIENT LETTERS AND NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS OF THE DAY, I WILL NOW TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY INSIDE A WORLD OF MADNESS.

***WHAT TERRIBLE SECRETS WERE UNCOVERED AT ROLLING HILLS ASYLUM?

***WHO WAS THE GRAVE DIGGER LAWRENCE AND WHAT WAS FOUND BURIED NEAR THE ROCHESTER INSANE ASYLUM?--

***WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BEAUTIFUL NELLIE BLY INSIDE THE LUNATIC ASYLUM ON BLACKWELL ISLAND--

***WHAT WAS THE NOTORIOUS DEVICE 'THE UTICA CRIB' USED FOR?

***WHO HAUNTs THE BUFFALO INSANE ASYLUM even TO THIS DAY?

SHOCKING TALES OF NEGLECT, ABUSE AND EVEN TORTURE WILL BE REVEALED HERE SOME FOR THE FIRST TIME... BUT ALSO WE WILL HEAR OF REMARKABLE STORIES, OF INSPIRATION, HOPE AND HEALING

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Mental Health

178 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Author, film producer, financial advisor, folklorist, hockey puck (not necessarily in that order)

Reviews

[Ashley Senske · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's an overall good overview of various hospitals in NYS - more of a starting point to the topic versus a super deep dive. I felt some things were repetitive from hospital to hospital as far as describing them or their practices, and I would have liked more on specific patients - those were my favorite parts. It generally does a good job at humanizing everything around this topic vs romanticizing.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short book. 128 pages. Very basic and quick description of several asylums in New York in the 1800's. No real details. Quick read. Kinda drab in my opinion. I will likely try another book to learn in more detail about life in a "Mad House" in the 19th century. This book definitely didn't do that. Well, at least it only took a couple evenings to read it. On to the next...

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good addition to research on the subject. I appreciate the book's concentration on New York State institutions.

[Mary Rugg Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an interesting historical perspective on the treatment of mental health in New York State, but ultimately, left me with more questions. It also could benefit from some editing.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history of NYS psychiatric hospital

[Momma Aimee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor.

Reads like high school term paper.

[Stephanie Molnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a perfectly fine book. Not exceptionally well written, but that's to be expected from a smaller press publisher.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Definitely interesting & good material, but glossed over a lot due to the short length.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever drive by a former insane asylum and wondered, if the walls could talk, what stories would be told...this book is a good way to start. This book is a brief history of approximately sixteen of New York State's most famous and curious institutions. There are tales of the Bloomingdales Asylum for the Insane, which was on the site of present-day Columbia University in NYC. You can read of strange happenings behind the walls of the dreaded Willard Asylum in Central New York. The list goes on.
The book is full of interesting facts and details that aren't usually found in regional histories. One chapter that I found especially interesting is the story of the NYS Inebriate Asylum at Binghamton (I once lived a short distance away). This is where the first lobotomy was performed.
One could always use the book as a guide to reputed 'paranormal' sites. Many of these former hospitals, if not all, are considered to be haunted by ghost hunting groups.
If you're interested in the dark side of 19th century approaches to mental illness, this is a great book to begin your research.

[Jason Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to find some useful information here for a book I am writing, but I also had to verify other claims that turned out to be incorrect. My advice, never take the word of an author as an absolute fact just because the information is in a reference book. Everyone makes mistakes. Do plenty of research and double check your facts before putting it out there for the world to see. I have made the same mistake myself, so I speak from experience.

[victor harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting tour of the mental institutions in New York State with focus on how they were established in the 19th century and the rather draconian treatment of inmates. Adds anecdotes about famous or infamous inmates who inhabited those facilities. Broken down into easy to read small chapters.