Challenges: The Norwich State Hospital Closure with Unpublished Facts and Fallout

By Wilfred Zinavage

It is intended to challenge you, the reader, to come and see for yourself the results of an institution shutdown over twenty years ago by the federal government. It also points out areas of interest to tourists to see for themselves the destruction of the city center and how it is trying to recover. It is meant for the policy decision-makers and

• Language: English
• Publisher: LitPrime Solutions
• Release date: Jan 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887031323

Wilfred Zinavage

Raised on a farm in Baltic, Connecticut, (near New London, "the submarine capital of the world"), Wilfred Zinavage joined the U.S. Navy at eighteen. Trained as an Aviation Electronics Technician, he became an air crew member and flew on the Navy's first nuclear bomber (the P2V-7 Neptune bomber). Hand-picked along with seventeen other specialists, he later became one of the Navy's first in-flight technicians on the world record-holding P3C aircraft. At the peak of his career, he was involved in several secret projects. He still suffers nightmares from his military experiences. After his twenty-year military career, Zinavage retired back to his home with his young family. As a civilian and until he retired once again, he held many titles. He was a first aid instructor, actor, songwriter, biomedical technician, and armed nuclear security officer, Town Selectman and even a write-in candidate for Lieutenant Governor. He earned a college degree from Eastern Connecticut State University in general studies and lacked nine credits from becoming an electronic engineer. In his spare time, he became a TV show co-host on public cable access television and stays active with the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion. He has authored books entitled, The Zinavage Legacy and Challenges.

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Published by LitPrime Solutions 01/11/2023

ISBN: 979-8-88703-130-9(sc)

ISBN: 979-8-88703-131-6(hc)

ISBN: 979-8-88703-132-3(e)

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Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Special Therapeutic Procedures June1953

Hydrotheraphy June 1953

Physicians Monthly Report June 1953

Special Summary Enteric Service June 1953

Special Psychiatric Examination and Diagnostic Procedures June 1953

Special Report June 1953

Laboratory Report June 1953

Report of Autopsies And Deaths June 1953

Causes of Death as Shown on Death Certificates

Report of X-Ray Department

Social Service Report June 30, 1953

Out Patient Service Backus Hospital Clinic

Report of the Hospital Dentist June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report JUNE 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report June 1953

Occupational Therapy Report Report of the General Library June 1, 1953–July 1, 1953

Medical Library Monthly Report June 1953

Accident Report June, 1953

Analysis of Accidents

Hospital Chaplain’s Report June 1953 (Protestant)

Public Relations June 1953

84 Employees Entered the Service During June 1953

49 Employees Left the Service During June 1953

2 Employees Reassigned During During June 1953

Sick Time June 1953

Leave Of Absence June 1953

Norwich State Hospital Personnel Department Monthly Activity Report June 1953

Psychological Laboratories Report for June 1953

Report of Nursing Service June 1953

Report of the Hospital Barbers and Beauty Salon June 1953

Maintenance Summary Report JUNE 1953

Report of the Hospital Florist

Farm Report June 1953

Norwich State Hospital Norwich, Conn.

Norwich State Hospital Per Capita Cost Per Patient

Norwich State Hospital June 28–July 4, 1953

Supper Menu, As Served

____Te Supper Menu, As Served July 20–Aug 1st, 1953 Norwich State Hospital

Norwich State Hospital _______Menu, As Served

Norwich State Hospital June 28–July 4th, 1953 ____Per Menu, As Served

Norwich State Hospital June 28TH,–JULY 4TH. 1953 ___ Supper Menu, As Served

Statistical Report for Month of July 1953

Activity Report of the Acute Medical and Surgical Service (LIPPITT), Infirmaries (Kirkbride, Galt, Ray, and Seymour 2), and Tubercular Service (Seymour 1, 3, 4). July 1953

Special Therapeutic Procedures July 1953

Special Diagnostic Procedures July 1953

Hydrotherapy Report July 1953

Physicians’ Monthly Report July 1953

Special Summary Enteric Services July 1953

Surgical Report July 1953

Report of the ________ ______ ____ July 1953

Report of Autopsies and Deaths July 1953

Causes of Death As Given on Death Certificates and Ages at Death

Report of the Hospital X-Ray Depratment July 1953

Social Service Report July 31, 1953

Social Service Report

Report of the Hospital Dentist July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report July 1953

Occupational Therapy Report Report of the General Library July 1, 1953–August 1, 1953

Medical Library Monthly Report July 1953

Accident Report July 1953

Report Of The Hospital (Protestant) Chaplain July 1953

Public Relations July 1953

23 Employees Entered The Service During July 1953

21 Employees Left the Service During July 1953

7 Employees Reassigned During July 1953

Sick Time July 1953

Leave of Absence July 1953

Norwich State Hospital Personnel Department Monthly Activity Report July 1953

Psychological Laboratories Report For July 1953

Report of Nursing Service July 1953

Report of the Hospital Barbers and Beauty Salon July 1953

Maintenance Department Summary July 1953

Report of the Hospital Florist July 1953

Farm Report JULY 1953

Norwich State Hospital Norwich, Conn.

Norwich State Hospital Per Capita Cost Per Patient

___State Hospital Breakfast Menu, As Served

___State Hospital Dinner Menu, As Served

The Challenges

Recommended Literature for Reference

About the Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the many doctors, nurses and the employees who were affected by its closure. It is also dedicated to the families of the patients and to future planners.

Introduction

Warning! Do not read this book if you are not naturally curious, enjoy history, want to learn, and meet challenges. If you’re a medical professional, you will be able to understand it a little better than most.

In 1904, near the City of Norwich, Connecticut, the State of Connecticut opened a facility called Norwich Hospital for the Insane. Later, it was known as the Norwich State Hospital. Sadly, it completely closed in 1996.

In book number 3 by Bill Stanley Books in 1997, (these books are no longer in print), Mr. Stanley describes a long-ago time,

It was in the 1970s when, on reflection, it seems to me the world went mad. One of the do good policies was that mental patients had rights and that if they were no threat to themselves or to anyone else, they would be released. We now know that they were released into the streets of Norwich. Throughout all of the nation, the same thing was being repeated. From New York City of Los Angeles, and in any small town with a state hospital nearby, patients were released and hospitals closed. Today, when I read the newspaper accounts, watch television, and listen to reported talk of the homeless problems, I am convinced that at least 80% of the homeless are in reality mental patients that we, as a civilized society, should be caring for.

From the time Mr. Stanley wrote this until this present date, I cannot help but wonder if some of these people didn’t infiltrate our political system. For example, the City of Norwich has a mass transportation center next to a sewer plant, a rusty railroad bridge that was once a main line, and a former transportation railroadcenter now occupied by the Norwich Bulletin. Near to it is an abandoned YMCA building, "there are several other examples that local residents know about. As to the political climate in our state at the present time, it cannot help but make one wonder what the future will bring.

I present the next two statistical reports, dated June and July 1953 (author[s] unknown), which are completely uncensored or edited, as a glimpse into the past. (Note I had to add page numbers.) I believe these reports were not meant to be seen by the public and were produced only for the supervisors and administrators to read. Fortunately, they were rescued from the trash and lay dormant in an attic for decades. Note that the June report is missing pages 1 and 2, most likely from an accident. Some minor issues occurred during the reproduction, and the ink faded over time. These reports open a window for historians and medical professionals as well as the curious to glimpse what life was like in a mental health facility in the