Hi Judi,
My husband's grandmother, a Psychologist, was a director at the "State
School"
in those early years.
The "State School", actually the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center was
located on State Street in 1925. It was/is a home for the developmentally
disabled, and in the 1920s I believe most of the residents were what today would
be known more as high functioning, mildly mentally retarded. There was a farm
which was, I believe, farmed primarily by the residents in those years. The
"State School" is no longer located on State Street, and the old buildings have
been destroyed, with one exception.
Today, the new center is located on the land where the farm used to be. The
residents today are largely severely and profoundly mentally retarded. I was
told this shift was primarily due to our present day focus on assisting the
mentally retarded in living on their own and in smaller home-style living
environments. It is likely true that many people who would have been residents
at the center in the early years, would not have been institutionalized with
today's approach and standards.
Fort Wayne State Developmental Center, 4900 Saint Joe Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana
PH: (219) 485-7554.
I hope this helps.
Respectfully,
-Ann McRoden Mensch, Professional Historical Genealogist
-Researching at The Allen County Public Library
http://home.att.net/~mensch-family/Resume.htm
ACPL Resources
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/genealogy.html
+Local Catholic Church History and Genealogy Research Guide and Worldwide
Directory
http://home.att.net/~Local_Catholic/
American Local History Network
State pages for IN, MA, NH, VT and MN
Indiana Local History <-> Genealogy
http://home.att.net/~Local_History/IN_History.htm
Massachusetts Local History <-> Genealogy
http://home.att.net/~Local_History/MA_History.htm
New Hampshire Local History <-> Genealogy
http://home.att.net/~Local_History/NH_History.htm
Minnesota Local History <-> Genealogy
http://home.att.net/~Local_History/Minnesota.htm
Vermont Local History <-> Genealogy
http://home.att.net/~Local_History/VT_History.htm
JAYANBOB(a)aol.com wrote:
Hi,
Can anyone tell me about the "State School" in Fort Wayne, IN in 1925 -
it's
history and conditions it treated? Thank you in advance. Have a great day!
Judi G.