A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAMARILLO STATE HOSPITAL

In the late summer of 1933 a groundbreaking was held in a rural area of Southern California. The ceremony was attended by community leaders, landowners, politicians, and other interested parties. “Little does it comfort us, though the public at large be prosperous and happy, if our less fortunate, broken, sightless or demented kindred are forgotten and neglected. The cry of human need is the first call that we must answer “. Those words may well have been remembered two years later as that first shoveling of earth commenced the construction of what would become California’s most famous psychiatric institution, Camarillo State Hospital. The date was August 15, 1933.

Located approximately 40 miles north of Los Angeles the planned hospital would be situated in a tranquil valley at the foot of the nearby mountains. To the east was a rift in those mountains named Long Grade Canyon. Westward were flat-lands stretching 9 miles to the Pacific Ocean. The closest community was the small town of Camarillo which was located just a few miles to the northwest. The town was named after the Camarillo family who at the turn of the century owned approximately 10,000 acres of land in the area.

For decades the head of the Camarillo family, Adolfo Camarillo, had been partnered with Joseph Lewis in developing the land for farming. In 1929 the State of California purchased a large section of this land in order to establish the new state psychiatric hospital. The federal Public 0 Works Administration, formed by FDR as a part of the ‘new deal’, joined with the State of California in the construction of the hospital. On October 12th 1936, with the new Governor Frank Merriam’s official dedication, Camarillo State Hospital opened its doors to the first of many thousands of patients.

Initially the hospital was comprised only of male patients who were housed in one very large single complex of units. This complex contained a multi-acre central courtyard, a cavernous dining hall, and was distinguished by a mission-like bell tower erected on its north facing side. By 1940 the patient population at CSH had grown so large that a second large complex was built just north of the original. A tree lined mall separated the one way streets fronting each complex. One factor in the rise of the hospital census was the admission of female patients beginning a year or so after the opening of the hospital. The female patients came to be housed in the north complex while the males continued to live in the one to the south

Image of newly constructed south complex. Image probably taken in 1935 and is shot from west to east. Town of Newbury Park is, in modern era, just a few miles past mountains in background. Both of the above images are interesting for the lack of roads and landscaping as well as other south complex building yet to be constructed

                Bell Tower Hall circa 1936

From the very beginning the most symbolic structure at Camarillo State hospital was the distinctive Bell Tower located at the main entry to the South Complex

Other facilities were soon added to the growing institution. A large two story honeycomb-like building was constructed just east of the two central complexes. This was called the ‘RT’ building. RT stood for ‘receiving and treatment’. This building would house the primary medical services of CSH. Within it were inpatient wards for the physically ill as well as outpatient clinics. The pharmacy, morgue, surgical suite, and many other departments were located within the RT building. The hospital's admissions department was permanently located there as well.

                                     The 'RT' Building. Hospital Administration Building is also seen at upper right in front of RT Building

Directly in front of the RT building a smaller two story administration building was constructed. The administration building was picturesque with tasteful landscaping and slightly more modern look than the older buildings. It would house the offices of the executive and medical directors of the hospital as well as other upper management personnel. Within the administration building were the medical records department and the hospital telephone operator.

                                                                              Camarillo State Hospital Administration Building

 To the west of the central area the basic services for the hospital were established. There multiple buildings housed the power generating plant, fire and ambulance services, maintenance department, key shop, motor pool, and other support functions.

                                      CSH Power Plant. Other ancilary services were located in structures to the right of the Power Plant

The residential communities near Camarillo State Hospital were relatively small during the early years. With more than 1,500 employees soon to be working at CSH additional housing for many hospital staff was constructed on the grounds of the institution. The staff ‘homes’ were located about a half mile northeast of the central complex in a small valley. Over the years many different types of buildings would come to be built for the homes. There was a small neighborhood of ‘stand alone’ houses constructed for administrators and physicians. There were also multi-unit buildings containing hundreds of residences for others either employed by CSH or otherwise affiliated with the hospital. The ‘homes’ became a mini-community over the years with its own history of events and scandals.

                                                                  Aerial view of employees housing. The 'Homes' - Image circa 1990

During these early years much of life at Camarillo State Hospital was self contained. As part of their vocational therapy during those years many patients helped plant, nurture, and harvest crops from the fields located on the hospital grounds. Much of the produce from these fields would be used by the hospital itself with the remainder then sold. The facility also had its own dairy. As the years passed a swimming pool was added as well as a multi-purpose auditorium which hosted many activities ranging from movies and dances to official hospital functions. For years a hospital band comprised of patients and staff would entertain audiences throughout the hospital. A coffee shop ‘The Canteen’ was built at the northwest corner of the complex which served both staff and patients. There was a small bowling alley in the south complex and, in later years, a television studio.

                                             Hospital Swimming Pool

                                                           Canteen

In the late 1940s CSH began to treat children with psychiatric disorders. It was soon obvious that the younger children would benefit from being housed in a setting separated from the adult patients. Thus began construction of the Children’s Units (CU) complex. A section of land about halfway between the main complex and the employee ‘homes’ was chosen for the construction site. Work was completed there in 1955. The CU facilities were strikingly different in appearance than the other buildings at the hospital. They were for the most part all red brick structures set along a circular drive. CU was, in many ways, a hospital within a hospital. It had a dining room, swimming pool, playgrounds, elementary/middle school, and even a petting zoo. Generally the ages of the patients there were between 6-15 years. In later years young autistic patients were also included on a unit in the CU compound.

                         Photo of one of the Children's Units 'CU' which was located in the Children's Program facility east of the central hospital complex

Adolescent patients were housed in the Adolescent Program which, for most of the hospital’s existence, was located in the northern section of the north main complex. Eventually they too would have many separate facilities including a high school. During the final years of CSH the adolescents would be housed in units in the bell tower area of the south complex.

                                                                                        Plaque located at entryway to Adolescent Program

Wide-ranging changes occurred at Camarillo Sate Hospital in the 1950s and 1960s. The advent of the use of the major tranquilizers and other medications allowed for far more effectiveness in therapy at CSH as well as other psychiatric facilities. Episodes of violence decreased and became more the exception than the norm. There was a give and take to the use of these substances however. There were often undesirable side effects of the drugs and sometimes overmedication of patients occurred as well. At CSH, as at other mental institutions, there were other more disturbing procedures performed during the mid-20^th century. For a number of years lobotomies were administered at the hospital resulting in irrevocable damage to those patients. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was also used at Camarillo. Although it was an effective intervention in some cases, the overuse of it both therapeutically and punitively contributed to its cessation at the hospital by the 1970s.

                           Advertisements for 'new' psychoactive drugs. Ritalin ad from 1956, Thorazine ad from 1957, and Stelazine ad from 1959

The most fundamental change at Camarillo State Hospital occurred in 1967 when the hospital began to house patients with developmental disabilities. The main north complex was chosen to house the ‘DD’ population. Patients suffering from mental retardation, autism, organic brain disorders, and other disabilities comprised this group. Some were profoundly affected by their disorders and were very low functioning. They would require constant supervision and assistance to perform even simple activities of daily living. Many others were high functioning and were able to lead relatively happy lives at the hospital. Educational programs were created for these high functioning patients including a variety of vocational programs. There were workshops in the north complex where they would learn arts and crafts as well as other skills which helped prepare them for entry into the outside world. Some of the items the DD patients produced in the workshops became popular in the communities beyond the hospital grounds. In particular their wind chimes as well as small ‘pebble people’ (collections of stones with painted faces) were in steady demand. Of major importance to all patients and staff on the DD side were the Special Olympics activities. The Special Olympics programs gave to all a sense of enjoyment, accomplishment, and pride.

                                                        Special Olympics button, circa 1977. S.O.B. stands for 'Special Olympics Booster'

Camarillo State Hospital was at one time among the most progressive facilities in California in the treatment of persons with alcoholism and chemical dependency. During the 1970s a program for chemical dependency called 'The Family' began operation. Many of the techniques used in The Family were based on the original Synanon treatment model established before that program devolved into a cultish organization. The family was remarkably successful for it's time with many former 'family' patients becoming well integrated into society as a whole. A number of them even actually went on to become professionals and paraprofessionals employed at CSH itself. The long running Alcohol Treatment Program Unit also opened it's doors in the 1970s and would go on to treat thousands of people with both alcohol and drug issues for many years. Most patients on both of the chemical dependency units units were non-psychotic and nearly all would leave the hospital once their individual treatment programs were completed. Often the stories of former patients from these units as well as those from other programs can be of assistance in educating the general public in the variety of experiences of patients and staff at the hospital. While there were certainly many very difficult, violent, and tragic occurances at the institution there were also many positive and beneficial ones. Sue Gallagher, a former patient from the Alcohol Treatment Program (which was housed on Unit 14) told of her stay at Camarillo in 1980 :

"... i just loved Camarillo. it was beautiful. I  was the activity person to get everyone motivated to do exercises in the morning and I thought unit 14 should put on some skits for the whole hospital  in the auditorium for those who were aloud to come. I played Eva Valesques. and i wore a black Beatle wig on another skit. The crowd was laughing so hard. It seemed unit 14 got a big kick out of  the whole experience too. It seemed everyone recognized us at the canteen and the mess hall. In the patients eyes thought we were celebrities. Little did they know we were screwed up bad addicts/ drunks trying to stay sober. The short time i was there, i really did not want to leave that serine place. I remember sitting on a wood bench  where all i could see was beautiful passion flowers every where and a old blue tiled water fountain in need of work. but, still the architect and surroundings and the salmon colored paint on the windows which arched doorways. and the awesome murals in the mess hall..."

                                                 Fountain located near the belltower and unit 14 referred to in above quote

Probably the most well known patient at CSH over the years was Charlie Parker. Long plagued by alcohol and drug problems the great jazz saxophone master spent six months there beginning in August 1949. This followed an arrest for setting a hotel room on fire with a cigarette then running through the lobby wearing only his socks. During his stay at Camarillo Parker played with the Hospital band on Saturday nights and tended a lettuce patch. Patients at that time worked in various agricultural jobs as part of the therapeutic environment. Parker’s then wife, Doris, moved to California and worked as a waitress so that she could visit him three times a week. Charlie Parker wrote the song, "Relaxin’ at Camarillo “ in reference to his stay at the Hospital

                                    Charlie Parker with Miles Davis

                                                 "Relaxin' at Camarillo"

Through many years the patients at Camarillo State Hospital were assisted by a group of people often overlooked. These were the people who freely gave of themselves in service with the Volunteer Services Department. Whether it was a record album, a pair of socks, or merely companionship, these people often added the extra care and attention which could make hospitalization a positive, or at least bearable, experience for a patient.

Operating the State Hospitals was expensive and since the mid 1950s California had been examining ways of either eliminating the facilities or at least significantly cutting back on expenditures for them. The changes made by the enactment of the LPS act as well as other legislation led to the formation of a plan to de-institutionalize the state hospital patients. The ‘plan’ was to have smaller community treatment centers established and to gradually shift responsibility for the patients to them. Unfortunately due to funding shortages across the board most of the envisioned community facilities never materialized. Patients were released in steadily increasing numbers into communities that were seldom prepared to meet their needs. The mentally ill patient population at Camarillo had greatly decreased by the late 1970s and over the next few years many units would be shut down forever. Programs considered expendable were curtailed. One of these was the ‘family’ prototype drug treatment program . Although it had been shown to be effective it could no longer be maintained and it was closed in the mid-1970s           

The 1980s brought a continuation of cutbacks at the hospital. State and federal budgets for mental health treatment were severely diminished and by 1990 the reality that the hospital might not survive was becoming apparent to all. Staff morale had been declining for some time but as the first years of the 1990s passed it plummeted. By the mid 1990s the rumors of closure had escalated to the point where many of the staff were investigating options for employment elsewhere, both in the state and private sector. Finally, it was announced that the state hospital at Camarillo would close in 1997. During the first six months of that year the patients remaining at the hospital were steadily removed. The DD patients were transferred to other state, county, or private facilities. Of the remaining adult and juvenile psychiatric patients as many as possible were placed into the community. The most unmanageable and profoundly ill were transferred to alternate state hospitals. Most went to Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk California. After 61 years Camarillo State Hospital was permanently closed during the summer of 1997.