I worked at Pennhurst from 1970 to 1972. D building, then C2 on the hill, then back down to M1. It's sad seeing the disheveled clothes, the chipping paint, but the positive spin is quite a relief. I was struck by some training with Fonda's voice over talking about the aide repeating the child's name. I worked with the boy- his name was Randy Garner. He's repeatedly called Jeffrey. The aide tried. Most of us tried.
Just toured Pennhurst today and this definitely was a Asylum of horror, even the rooms triggered our tour guided who stayed in a place similar to Pennhurst and received some of the same treatments. Even the two ladies that run the museum portion and were former employees of the Asylum stated that there was a lot of abuse and neglect that went on there. They even stated that a lot of the patients there should not have been there. Some of the stories that were told were heartbreaking, the most shocking of it all over 6000 patients died there.
I was in Bridgewater state hospital in 1979 ,and if anyone stepped out of line the guards would beat you up and break bones and then say you were acting crazy it went on until and investigation and after that it stopped
I parked my car 20 minutes from Pennhurst. I walked up the road towards it and I can say already that road was fucking creepy. I saw the asylum from a distance but decided not to go. It was as if something or someone was warning me to turn back.
Here's a bit of news about this film. It has been nominated for, and accepted into, the archive collection of the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
I’ve watched “Suffer The Little Children” and I didn’t know this existed. It looked they actually cared for the residents and trying their best to push themselves to independence.
Yes it was a place where some were helped, that was the point but much much more of it is horrible and abusive. People were murdered here, raped, abused, and forgotten. Wanting nothing more than to escape, which would not come
Right! Excellent point. Professionals in the field might have been moved, about a millimeter, but the legislature and the public did not see, did not know, and ... would they have cared? Great comment.
This video and suffer the little children both make cry because i can relate to all the patients there at pennhurst and other mental hospitals why myself has mental issues too and i keep thinking that if i was alive around this time i 100% probably would have been put in a place like this so u can say i feel a connection to all of them somehow
We are still trying to reach Jane Fonda to let her know her father did this. We found it in a cardboard box, an old 1 inch celluloid reel, 10 years ago in the PA state archives.
@@strethco64 Have you considered putting a personal ad in an L.A. paper perhaps? Or perhaps on a fan page on social media? Or maybe contact a local (to you) news station and see if they are able to assist.
Chris, all the buildings had letters until the late 60s, when the impersonal letters were given names of Pennsylvania relevance - like P became Philadelphia Hall, D became Devon, and M became Mayflower. Mayflower is adjacent to the famous iconic image of Pennhurst, the Admin building, and now houses the rapidly expanding Pennhurst Museum. Thank you for your interest.
@@strethco64 As a person who has studied Pennhurst for years, my jaw dropped when I noticed it was there because I never thought I'd see it so not ripped up. Also, could we conclude that the M building was the Mayflower building?
@@allaninaet2835 Yes, M = Mayflower, just as - in those days - Q was Quaker, L was Limerick, and so on. We should share thoughts outside of RUclips if you've studied Pennhurst so much. A museum is growing in Mayflower!
Yes, isn't it ironic? PA still has 4 state "Developmental Centers" in operation. About 200 folks in each one, roughly. The Office of Developmental Programs has announced a policy of closure in 3 years, but the blowback from families and state employees unions has been intense.
It is very complicated, some folks don't want to leave because at the end of the day it is familiar and leaving represents the unknown. At least the protections are better now and they are working on closing them.
Yes! I didn't see this until today. But yes. (Strictly speaking, I never worked at Pennhurst. I was out there doing the scientific work to be able to figure out if they were better off after leaving. I worked for Temple U.)
@@JJfromPhilly67 That's so right, JJ. Things have changed a lot. But it was always complicated and heart breaking. And yet the vast majority of folks who left were far, far better off. Even the oldest folks! And that was a big surprise to the researchers who visited every person every year for 15 years and surveyed every family.
Our father who was born in 1908 would threaten to sent us to a state home if we didn't behave ,my dad said we would have to work thier and if we messed up they would put our head through a wall or get beatings everyday
Hello, Joshua Coons, and no, not exactly. I never worked at Pennhurst. I worked at Temple University doing research on what happened to the folks who moved out of Pennhurst. Hint: Wonderfully.
Yes, MommyCassReborns, well said. Plus gayly painted for young blind folks - ??!! The film really didn't capture the "stimulation" activities undertaken, either - probably because no one knew what the heck they were doing - even though teaching techniques had been devised & documented since the time of Helen Keller. Still, it's an historic gem because it showed a glimmer of realization that these people weren't to be discarded and ignored.
In the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. We were examining contents of boxes that had been moved from Pennhurst Center to the Archives when Pennhurst closed. We found a canister of 1 inch film with the title taped to it. We did not know what it was, so took it to a professional conversion company to digitize it.
It seems like they did very little different for the kids in the 'habilitation program'. they fed them better on plates with spoon and fork. they keep capitalizing on the 'gayly painted walls' which is these sad paintings that looks like a weak attempt. They gave them base therapy that they should have had and, a dentist. This is beyond tragic that this is considered a 'special program'. And furthermore look how the kids do not have proper clothes and socks. This is unfathomable.
Suffer the Little Children was 1968. Only a year This is a BS view of the place. Probably made by the operators and people in charge of the place. They basically gave a phony depiction of daily life at the hospital. They made sure they didn’t film any of the filth and overcrowding. It’s all lies to make the public think everything here is in the up and up, when in reality this place was a hell hole. The documentary “Suffer the Children” gave a real look inside the walls of this place. Can’t tell me that this hospital/asylum went from this and everything running nice and everyone being treated properly, getting the attention they needed sheets all cleaned and running like a place where the patients could thrive in 1967. Then only one year later when Suffer the Little Children was made the place was filthy, people grossly neglected, patients ignored sitting in urine and feces, an absolute living hell for the patients. This video pisses me off. It shows how they knew this place wasn’t being ran properly so they had to lie and cover up what they actually did to not get in trouble and to keep their funding and jobs despite the fact these mentally challenged patients were being treated horribly. Maybe this is what Pennhurst was supposed to be like. How they did intended it to be ran. Fact is it wasn’t like this at all. It was all lies.
Probably not. This film was made around 1966 or so, and until the late 1960s, Quaker (then called Q1) was what was called a "crib ward" building. There were about 75 people there in cribs, ages 1 to 30. A nightmare place of enforced inactivity, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short."
To buttons&gadgetsdr1, I'd like to get in touch, an interview with you, via Zoom, might make an impact on the chronic community underfunding dilemma. stretcho64@aol.com
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I worked at Pennhurst from 1970 to 1972. D building, then C2 on the hill, then back down to M1. It's sad seeing the disheveled clothes, the chipping paint, but the positive spin is quite a relief. I was struck by some training with Fonda's voice over talking about the aide repeating the child's name. I worked with the boy- his name was Randy Garner. He's repeatedly called Jeffrey. The aide tried. Most of us tried.
Never heard of this broadcast before about pennhurst and I've studied it extensively. Glad to see this view as well
Thank you for this comment, carter 1. I was there in 1971, and it was bad, in spite of many loving and caring workers.
This is so very different from, "Suffer the Children". To see how Pennhurst tried to help, even when things were against them.
Just toured Pennhurst today and this definitely was a Asylum of horror, even the rooms triggered our tour guided who stayed in a place similar to Pennhurst and received some of the same treatments. Even the two ladies that run the museum portion and were former employees of the Asylum stated that there was a lot of abuse and neglect that went on there. They even stated that a lot of the patients there should not have been there. Some of the stories that were told were heartbreaking, the most shocking of it all over 6000 patients died there.
I was in Bridgewater state hospital in 1979 ,and if anyone stepped out of line the guards would beat you up and break bones and then say you were acting crazy it went on until and investigation and after that it stopped
I parked my car 20 minutes from Pennhurst. I walked up the road towards it and I can say already that road was fucking creepy. I saw the asylum from a distance but decided not to go. It was as if something or someone was warning me to turn back.
I saw that "dental room" in a "abandoned pennhurst video" yesterday, beautiful and sad to see it how it was👍..
Here's a bit of news about this film. It has been nominated for, and accepted into, the archive collection of the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
I’ve watched “Suffer The Little Children” and I didn’t know this existed. It looked they actually cared for the residents and trying their best to push themselves to independence.
That was the state of the art of the time. Noble efforts.
Yes it was a place where some were helped, that was the point but much much more of it is horrible and abusive. People were murdered here, raped, abused, and forgotten. Wanting nothing more than to escape, which would not come
Right! Excellent point. Professionals in the field might have been moved, about a millimeter, but the legislature and the public did not see, did not know, and ... would they have cared?
Great comment.
I completely agree with you. So many were put there and just forgotten by everyone.
This video and suffer the little children both make cry because i can relate to all the patients there at pennhurst and other mental hospitals why myself has mental issues too and i keep thinking that if i was alive around this time i 100% probably would have been put in a place like this so u can say i feel a connection to all of them somehow
Like i myself have learning disabilites bi polar major depression and now ptsd so u can say im literally a walking mental patient
And i also have anxiety trust issues etc
Thank you, Diana. I understand.
Beautiful
7:53 she’s beautiful😍😍😍😍
Tremendously touching. Thank you for sharing.
We are still trying to reach Jane Fonda to let her know her father did this. We found it in a cardboard box, an old 1 inch celluloid reel, 10 years ago in the PA state archives.
@@strethco64 Have you considered putting a personal ad in an L.A. paper perhaps? Or perhaps on a fan page on social media? Or maybe contact a local (to you) news station and see if they are able to assist.
Beautiful. Makes me want to work there. Who's the piano player?? Beautiful
Thank you.
Dr Conroy. Thank you so much for sharing. I never knew this existed. My question is which building was M ward in
Chris, all the buildings had letters until the late 60s, when the impersonal letters were given names of Pennsylvania relevance - like P became Philadelphia Hall, D became Devon, and M became Mayflower. Mayflower is adjacent to the famous iconic image of Pennhurst, the Admin building, and now houses the rapidly expanding Pennhurst Museum. Thank you for your interest.
@@strethco64 I thought it was Mayflower just wasn't sure. Thank you sir. I appreciate it
A big ty!!!!!!!!! Very sad how they were treated so bad under staff should been shut down this is a joke right? never was like this.
When they wacked the kid I started crying
@7:28 You can see the old dental chair that's famous in paranormal shows
Yes, there's one of those notorious chairs. I hadn't noticed it before. Thank you!
@@strethco64 As a person who has studied Pennhurst for years, my jaw dropped when I noticed it was there because I never thought I'd see it so not ripped up. Also, could we conclude that the M building was the Mayflower building?
@@allaninaet2835 Yes, M = Mayflower, just as - in those days - Q was Quaker, L was Limerick, and so on. We should share thoughts outside of RUclips if you've studied Pennhurst so much. A museum is growing in Mayflower!
Yes, isn't it ironic? PA still has 4 state "Developmental Centers" in operation. About 200 folks in each one, roughly. The Office of Developmental Programs has announced a policy of closure in 3 years, but the blowback from families and state employees unions has been intense.
Are you the James Conroy who worked at pennhurst around the 70's
It is very complicated, some folks don't want to leave because at the end of the day it is familiar and leaving represents the unknown. At least the protections are better now and they are working on closing them.
Yes! I didn't see this until today. But yes. (Strictly speaking, I never worked at Pennhurst. I was out there doing the scientific work to be able to figure out if they were better off after leaving. I worked for Temple U.)
@@JJfromPhilly67 That's so right, JJ. Things have changed a lot. But it was always complicated and heart breaking. And yet the vast majority of folks who left were far, far better off. Even the oldest folks! And that was a big surprise to the researchers who visited every person every year for 15 years and surveyed every family.
Our father who was born in 1908 would threaten to sent us to a state home if we didn't behave ,my dad said we would have to work thier and if we messed up they would put our head through a wall or get beatings everyday
Hello, Joshua Coons, and no, not exactly. I never worked at Pennhurst. I worked at Temple University doing research on what happened to the folks who moved out of Pennhurst. Hint: Wonderfully.
Yes, MommyCassReborns, well said. Plus gayly painted for young blind folks - ??!! The film really didn't capture the "stimulation" activities undertaken, either - probably because no one knew what the heck they were doing - even though teaching techniques had been devised & documented since the time of Helen Keller. Still, it's an historic gem because it showed a glimmer of realization that these people weren't to be discarded and ignored.
Where did you find this
In the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. We were examining contents of boxes that had been moved from Pennhurst Center to the Archives when Pennhurst closed. We found a canister of 1 inch film with the title taped to it. We did not know what it was, so took it to a professional conversion company to digitize it.
Jim Conroy thank you sir for takin the time to turning the reel to a movie I can watch. That all can watch.
It seems like they did very little different for the kids in the 'habilitation program'. they fed them better on plates with spoon and fork. they keep capitalizing on the 'gayly painted walls' which is these sad paintings that looks like a weak attempt. They gave them base therapy that they should have had and, a dentist. This is beyond tragic that this is considered a 'special program'. And furthermore look how the kids do not have proper clothes and socks. This is unfathomable.
So I guess 67' was okay but it was downhill from there. What happened between this and "Suffer the Little Children"? (early 70's).
Suffer the Little Children was 1968. Only a year
This is a BS view of the place. Probably made by the operators and people in charge of the place. They basically gave a phony depiction of daily life at the hospital. They made sure they didn’t film any of the filth and overcrowding. It’s all lies to make the public think everything here is in the up and up, when in reality this place was a hell hole. The documentary “Suffer the Children” gave a real look inside the walls of this place. Can’t tell me that this hospital/asylum went from this and everything running nice and everyone being treated properly, getting the attention they needed sheets all cleaned and running like a place where the patients could thrive in 1967.
Then only one year later when Suffer the Little Children was made the place was filthy, people grossly neglected, patients ignored sitting in urine and feces, an absolute living hell for the patients.
This video pisses me off. It shows how they knew this place wasn’t being ran properly so they had to lie and cover up what they actually did to not get in trouble and to keep their funding and jobs despite the fact these mentally challenged patients were being treated horribly.
Maybe this is what Pennhurst was supposed to be like. How they did intended it to be ran. Fact is it wasn’t like this at all. It was all lies.
I’m confused. Suffer the Little Children was 1968. This looks like a PR scam.
:(
I wonder if Quaker hall is in this
Probably not. This film was made around 1966 or so, and until the late 1960s, Quaker (then called Q1) was what was called a "crib ward" building. There were about 75 people there in cribs, ages 1 to 30. A nightmare place of enforced inactivity, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short."
Jim Conroy how many sections of Quaker hall were there and why did they call it Quaker hall
Jim Conroy I’m interested in the Quaker building because you said a long time ago on ghost adventures that Quaker hall had the worst activity
Jim Conroy can you tell me what happened to Johnny in suffer the little children
@@julianG1212 I've always wondered too. I don't know his last name, so haven't been able to track him.
Sill too crowded and it is not a house.
To buttons&gadgetsdr1, I'd like to get in touch, an interview with you, via Zoom, might make an impact on the chronic community underfunding dilemma. stretcho64@aol.com
DO THEY LEGIT HAVE A WHIP TO KEEP THEM MOVING????
Grave Yard they did. That’s how evil they were to the patients
@@annikavandermale9528 You and the poster are both morons.
Sounds like propaganda
Yikes