The Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital (KRPH) is the largest mental health institution in

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. It was built under the Kirkbride Plan.

History

The Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital officially opened on 29 August 1859 under the direction of Dr. Edwin Van Deusen, although three women patients had been admitted prior to that time. The first male patient was admitted in 1860. It was originally known as the 'Michigan Asylum for the Insane' and was renamed the 'Kalamazoo State Hospital' in 1911. Its name was changed to the 'Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital' on 1 January 1978 and in July 1995 it assumed its present designation, the 'Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital'. Many local residents commonly referred it simply as the 'State Hospital'. The facility has continuously expanded and now stretches almost along Oakland Drive, which was originally known as Asylum Avenue. It is bounded by Howard Street on the south, and by the campus of

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...

on the north. Almost all the original and historic buildings have been demolished and new, modern ones have been built in their place. This includes the original hospital building, which originally was covered with vines and had a more pleasant appearance. The

water tower A water tower is an elevated structure supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system, distribution system for potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection. Water towe ...

was designed by B.F. Stratton and was constructed in 1895 by contractor Benjamin Roe. It quickly became a local landmark and played prominently in the history of the city. In time, two working farms were opened for the care and rehabilitation of patients and were located about to the north and south of the main campus. Later,
former state tuberculosis sanatorium
on Blakeslee was taken over by the hospital and utilized for the treatment and care of elderly patients. Another landmark on the main campus is the ' gate cottage' situated near Oakland Drive at the entrance to the hospital grounds. The gatehouse is 'carpenter gothic' in style, featuring board and batten siding, a steep roof and '

gingerbread Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a moist loaf cake to forms nearly as crisp as ...

' ornamentation. The house had been furnished with Victorian furniture and now serves as a museum. When first built, it was used as the porter's residence and later housed 12 women patients for a time.

Notable people

Patients

Louise Little Louise Helen Norton Little ( Langdon; 1894 or 1897) was a Grenadian-born American activist. She was the mother of Malcolm X. Early years and family Louise Norton Langdon Little was born in La Digue, Saint Andrew Parish, Grenada to Ella Lan ...

(1894-7–1989), activist and mother of Malcolm X; admitted after a mental breakdown and released by her children 24 years later * Danny Arthur Ranes (1943–2022), serial killer; was admitted for 10 days after attempting suicide

Staff

* Jason E. Hammond (1862–1957), educator; was a trustee *

Bertha Van Hoosen Bertha Van Hoosen (March 26, 1863 – June 7, 1952) was an American surgeon devoted to women's health issues and the advancement of fellow women surgeons. Among other notable achievements, Van Hoosen was the first president and a founder of the Ame ...

(1863–1952), surgeon; trained at the hospital *

Cornelia B. Wilbur Cornelia B. Wilbur (August 26, 1908 – September 20, 1992) was an American psychiatrist. She is best known for a book, written by Flora Rheta Schreiber, and a television film, both titled ''Sybil'', which were presented as non-fiction account ...

(1908–1992), psychiatrist; first female externhttps://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/ajp.155.9.1274

References

Sources

* * {{authority control Hospital buildings completed in 1859 Psychiatric hospitals in Michigan Kirkbride Plan hospitals Buildings and structures in Kalamazoo, Michigan Hospitals established in 1859