okie, did you check the dates on my last post?

mkfarnam wrote:okie, did you check the dates on my last post?

Yes now I see, 1998...forgive me...been a long day and guess my eyes are tired. I wish there was someway I could help you with your searches...if there is let me know.

okie wrote:

mkfarnam wrote:okie, did you check the dates on my last post?

Yes now I see, 1998...forgive me...been a long day and guess my eyes are tired. I wish there was someway I could help you with your searches...if there is let me know.

no it's 1898..

ronl wrote:reunion on July 30.
thats a thursday. Thats an odd day, are you sure you got the year right, lol

I would not be able to go even if they paid my way.
On Monday, July 27th I go into the hospital to have a heart cauterization, and maybe a stint or bi-pass.

Mike I will keep you in my thought's for a successfull procedure.
You know I may not have gotten the year right. I will check that before I logout and post the link for you.

http://www.record-eagle.com/ourtown/loc ... 65709.html

Here is the link for reunion post.

Ron forgive me, I will keep you in my thoughs for a successfull procedure

Mike is see the date is 1898.

LOL now that I have messed the entire site up..I will leave. Good night

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Okie you got it right, see
Published: July 20, 2009 06:55 am
Reunion for State Hospital employees
TRAVERSE CITY -- Former employees and retirees of the Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital/Traverse City State Hospital and all State Employee Retiree Association members are invited to a reunion on July 30.

The get-together will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Blair Township Park, County Road 633, Grawn. Attendees should bring a dish to pass and a lawn chair. Meat, paper products, coffee and lemonade will be furnished.

For more information, contact Bob Maddox, 276-9114 or maddox@coslink.net.

Donated Clothes:
Above the canteen next to the library was a room set up with donated clothes. Most of these were from people who has passed on. Most clothes were from the 1940's and 50's.
I remember us kids use to get the hats men wore in the 1950's and take them back to Hall-18 and soak in water and with our fist stretch out the tops to make hill billy hats, for some reason this is funny to me.
In winter we use to get the sweaters because it was always cold on Hall-18.
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Tight Pants:
For a brief time in 1966? we use to have Jason (Jason was in his late 20's and was in charge of the clothing room on Hall-18) sew our pants so they fit real tight, I do not recall why, but we all did it and I remember them being so tight I could not sit down.

I remember that. I think it was called "the thrift shop", I'm not sure.

Churches donated to that too. I remember climbing under those long dresses they had hanging in there They even had sqaure dance dresses.

I remember in school once a week we had forced square dancing lessions in the recess room, they were real korney.
"Swing your partner round and round put her in the tolet and flush her down", hehehe

ronl wrote:I remember in school once a week we had square dancing lessions, they were real korney.
"Swing your partner round and round put her in the tolet and flush her down", hehehe

You shouldn't say that

I had an Uncle who lived in TC back then. He was a square Dance caller.
He may have lived in Acme or Interlocken at that time.

On rainny days in the summer we use to go to that building accross the street from our school building 33?, and it had foos ball, pool tables and other games and it was run by the lady who ran the bandstand. I remember being the checker king, unbeatable. Both Girls and Boys went there and we would have a day of it. We use to listen to records and sometimes the girls would fast dance. I recall the dance, they would turn their feet in, than turn their feet out than kick.

Do you remember when portable record players came out? It seems like everyone there wanted one.

Yes I had one it took 4 D size battery's, and I remember putting them battery's on the cast iron radiator/heater to get a little more out of them. My record player was a truetone.
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I have to correct you on this:
 

in seclusion. I can never forget the sound of the big steal door slamming

The doors were heavy wood doors and on the inside of the door was 1 inch plywood.
remember the skeleton keys they used to lock us in seclusion.
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The steel doors were on the exits. At each end of hall-18 and where it connected to the mess hall and that was Hall-16 too.

Mail:
When I wrote letters I could not seal them, they were subject to editing by the staff, if they got delivered at all. I seem to recall the incoming mail was also read before I would get it.
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Noise:
When ever 60 kids are in 1 room a loud noise would be present. In the mess hall talking was forbidden. When I was in room 44 that was the sort of quiet room behind the staff closet down the little hallway, It was the best room to be in for peace and quiet. I think thats why I hate going to places with lots of people today, its the noise level. On hall-18 you could not escape the noise.
The sound of pool balls smashing together was also annoying.

I always wondered why my Mother only got half of the letters I wrote to her.
Then later I heard about what Ron just mentioned.

You were only allowed visits once a month. I remember sundays, everyone expecting a visit that week, quietly sat in the dayroom just waiting for the phone to ring (2rings) at the nurses station.
click image for a full-sized view

When I was waiting I would get chills ever time the phone rang, hoping it was my family.

First they had to call Administration bldg to let to let them know they were coming and then when they arrived the Adm, would call the nurses station.
My family lived 50 miles south in Cadillac. Back then it took 45min, to an hour to get there.

Visits were a privlege you had to earn. They always threatened us with cutting or visits if we would or wouldn't do something.
click image for a full-sized view