M4H Project 52 - Week 10: Personality

I know this image is a repeat.... but I decided to choose it for this week's M4H Project 52.

Each time I'd try to figure out what I was going to do for this week's theme of "Personality", I kept thinking back to my visit this week to this stunning structure.... and I kept thinking about this image I captured. Not only does this image represent my photographic personality - my love of photographing architecture and abandoned structures - it symbolizes "personality" at it's core. This is a historic insane asylum. Not only is the Kirkbride architecture full of personality, but every patient that ever stepped through the doors of these infamous facilities were tagged with some form of personality (or mental) disorder. This structure is one of the few remaining Kirkbride's in the country. Most have been demolished. It's such a shame. These structures symbolize so much more than just a pretty photograph. They symbolize everything thing that happened within the walls and they symbolize every person who ever called them home. Even though these people were diagnosed with various personality disorders, they all had personality.... unique, genuine personality.... and they must not be forgotten.

Fergus Falls State Hospital - Kirkbride Historic Insane Asylum

I had the pleasure of touring and photographing this beautiful structure this past Monday!  I have been a long lover of these beautiful Kirkbride structures and am very intrigued by psychiatric history.  So this opportunity was truly a dream come true and I am so thankful to Maxine and Gene for being so hospitable.  If you know anything about these structures and their history (and their future), you will understand why Gene and Maxine are working so hard to try to save this stunning Kirkbride which is in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.  Many of these structures have been demolished, partially demolished or are in danger of being demolished.  Please visit their Facebook page - "Friends of Kirkbride" for more information about their passion to save this structure.  If you'd like to get involved (and I highly encourage you to do so), I do have information on actions steps which I will be scanning in and putting in a future blog post or visit their Facebook page.

I took about 600 images... it'll take me awhile to get through them all!  But I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite images (so far)!









Meet Gene and Maxine!

Keep checking back for more Fergus Falls images as I get through them.  I also have some images that I shot last summer of another stunning Kirkbride which is in Traverse City, Michigan.  This one is currently being renrenovated into shops, restaurants and condos.

Kalamazoo State Mental Hospital - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Apparently, what follows may be some forbidden photographs! Ooops! I'll tell you why in a second... But first, I have to tell you, I have such a fascination with state mental hospitals, especially the history of the treatment and the amazing Kirkbride architecture!!! So when Jeff and I went to Bell's on Saturday, I knew we were quite close to what is now called the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital and I sweet-talked Jeff into driving that way so I could snap a few photos! From what I have read, almost all of the Kirkbride architecture was torn down at this facility and only a single water tower remains. The tower itself is very impressive, although you could only see the top. We assumed that it sets in the center of a courtyard surrounded by the hospital walls that you now see. So, I set off to find a picture of it online and sure enough I found a blog that linked to the Bing map of it. That beautiful tower is indeed nestled between all those brick walls. Anyways, then Jeff told me "You could have had your camera confiscated." and I, in a very confused voice" said "What in the world are you talking about?" Well this blog post mentions comments on a flickr photo saying it's apparently illegal to take photographs on the grounds of state psychiatric hospitals in the State of Michigan due to patient privacy, but the comments go on to say that you can indeed take photos but not of the patients. Really? Do you really have to tell someone that? I suppose some people do not have common sense when it comes to those things. So, is there a law or not? I did a Google search and tried to find it on the Michigan State government website, but didn't succeed. Anyways, I think I will call there and ask their take on it..... because there are two photos I can think of that I REALLY wanted but didn't get.... although I am not willing to knowingly break the law to get them. Ha! For now, I guess I will just treasure and appreciate the few photos I did get (even though it was extremely crappy weather)! Without further ado, the "forbidden" photographs.....

The front entrance with the water tower behind:

Who visits for just 15 minutes? :) This sign was amazing and appeared to be very old. The black sign is tarnished and the white lettering is peeling.

Go left to be admitted! :)

Another view of the water tower:

And I played around some PSE actions on this one.... kinda fun how it turned out. Almost eerie. Love the dirty sidewalk.

Edited to add: The Kalamazoo Public Library has a local history section with some great photos of this hospital's history. You can view them here.