New York State St
Lawrence State Hospital
From 1890 when the St. Lawrence State Asylum received its
first patients, until about the end of WW II, it was a completely
self-sufficient entity complete with its own water supply and electrical
generating plant.
It grew all of its own vegetables, fruits, and meat, as well
as operated a canning plant. Surplus
milk and livestock, as well as hay and potatoes were sold to the public. There were sewing shops which produced
clothing, and shops making brushes, brooms, shoes, and tin ware. A logging operation operated on the hundreds
of acres of land owned by the state.
It had its own fire department and police force. There was a hospital for the patient’s care,
as well as an affiliated school of nursing.
A library was maintained.
After the war returning veterans, among others, began to
overburden the complete state mental health system. Due to this, and other causes, the entire
farm operation ceased operation in 1959.
Some of the buildings associated with this operation yet stand after 55
years of disuse although they are deteriorating with no upkeep. It will be but a few more years until they
are gone from this once thriving business.
These buildings yet survive among the newer modern brick and
mortar specimens.
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