For The Incurable Insane. A Documentary.
I’m a documentary kind of guy, and I’m also a local kind of guy, so I was happy to run across this documentary on the Peoria State Hospital, once known as the Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane. The short is both gruesome in it’s portrayal of torture these human beings were subjected to and uplifting as the revolutionary Dr. George A. Zeller transformed their treatment to one of love, kindness, respect and self sufficiency.
It is just over 20 minutes long, so take some time over lunch or after the kids go to bed to watch a fascinating program that WTVP should be airing.
If you enjoy the documentary, you might also want to pick up a copy of the book Asylum Light: Stories from the Dr. George A. Zeller Era and Beyond which is available at the local bookstores. I also highly recommend you take a drive over to Bartonville to see the old grounds which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Part 1 of 3:
Part 2 of 3:
Part 3 of 3:
April 1st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Awesome. Absolutely fascinating.
April 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Thanks, that was amazing,. I appreciate your effort. I watched it while I “watched” the Final 4 previews this afternoon–they were just background noise– since your post was WAY better.
Thanks again.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
That was a great documentary! I am very interested in the state hospital. It seems some of the patients could have been alzeimer related. My mother had alzeimer disease. What a terrible thing to drop off a person, to be taken care of.
I lived in Bartonville for many years and had a photography business there.
The business building was built in the 1800’s and it is said that was the house of the first Sheriff of Peoria. I believe that there are spirits in that building, first hand. I have even had tenants tell me stories. Pretty interesting.