Violet State Training School
This state-run training school and hospital was established in 1888 as the Asylum and Training School for the Feeble-Minded. Indigent children ages 7 to 17 were not charged for their stay at the institution but other patients were charged $250 at the time. Only white children were taken in by the institution in its early days. The children were taught to do tasks on the surrounding farmland of the campus with the hopes that it will cure them by their release at age 17. The training school continued to expand in size and the land was excavated for new buildings by patient labor.
In 1900, the training school added new buildings to serve people of color. The buildings were funded through private donation. The 1940's saw a large patient population within the institution. Classrooms and dormitories were now held within the same buildings, going against their initial intention. The scope of treatment of preparing the patient for eventual release was changed to institutionalizing the patient for their entire life. All age restrictions were lifted in 1950 and the facility also began to take on physically handicapped as well.
Just before the period of deinstitutionalization, the training school saw transfers from other nearby hospitals. Only a few years after the patient incline, it slowly declined. Many of the long-term care buildings were abandoned and demolished in the 1970's. In a 1989 investigation, many of the remaining original buildings were forced to be condemned. All services were confined to the modern section of campus. The state decided to close the entire facility in 2009 after two incidents of arson in the older buildings. Half of the campus was purchased by a nearby university and razed. The other half sits abandoned, heavily guarded by multiple 24/7 security officers and police.
Read MoreIn 1900, the training school added new buildings to serve people of color. The buildings were funded through private donation. The 1940's saw a large patient population within the institution. Classrooms and dormitories were now held within the same buildings, going against their initial intention. The scope of treatment of preparing the patient for eventual release was changed to institutionalizing the patient for their entire life. All age restrictions were lifted in 1950 and the facility also began to take on physically handicapped as well.
Just before the period of deinstitutionalization, the training school saw transfers from other nearby hospitals. Only a few years after the patient incline, it slowly declined. Many of the long-term care buildings were abandoned and demolished in the 1970's. In a 1989 investigation, many of the remaining original buildings were forced to be condemned. All services were confined to the modern section of campus. The state decided to close the entire facility in 2009 after two incidents of arson in the older buildings. Half of the campus was purchased by a nearby university and razed. The other half sits abandoned, heavily guarded by multiple 24/7 security officers and police.
