HISTORY 2
Image of the newly built State Hospital taken in the mid 1930s. Probably before the facility became active. The photo is somewhat disorienting until it is noted that the entire North comlex has yet to be built.
Image from theHospital near the time of it's opening, exact date unknown. Possibly the Bell Tower collonnade
Camarillo State Hospital was 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. Unfortunately The Family was among many the units closed as the State Hospital began to downsize in the 1970s. 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) tells 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 mentioned 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
In 1951 the first Psychiatric Technician class was graduated at Camarillo State Hospital. Below are remakable photos of two of the new graduates receiving their diplomas. The person presenting the diplomas is Rev. Grice. Next to him is Mary Wilkerson who was the Director of Nursing at the time. Also standing beside the graduates is Joe Messinger, the instructor. The photographs are both courtesy of Virgie Yates who worked at the Hospital for 45 years. |
Virgie Yates receives Psychiatric Technician diploma in 1st CSH Psych Tech graduation-1951
Kathryn Yates receives Psychiatric Technician diploma in 1st CSH Psych Tech graduation-1951
The graduation ceremonies in the above photos took place in the newly constructed (in 1951) Recreation Hall in the Employee 'Homes' section of the hospital grounds. This was the 1st building on the right side of the street as one would enter the 'Homes' area (see image below). That building was used as the P.T. program classroom until the early 1980s. Later it would be utilized by the CCC program. When I asked Virgie yates about the building he provided a very interesting portrait of employee life at Cam at mid 20th century: "...That was quite an addition to the homes area. There was only Home 2, 3,4, and newly constructed 5 at the time the Rec hall was constructed. Our rent was $8.25 per month for a married couple which included clean linen that was exchanged, soap, toilet tissue, etc issued every Thursday from an area in Home 2. The Employees Dining Room which was located across from the Chapel next to the main kitchen was open for all meals with complete service. The menu included complete breakfast entree, lunch and dinner included soup/salad and such items as Pot Roast, Leg of Lamb, Roast Pork, occasional steak, and dessert. The meal ticket books sold for $11.00 for 30 meals. That was deducted from your paycheck which was $160.00 a month when I went to work in 1949. Paychecks were issued from the Supervisors Office somewhere between the 1st and the 5th of the month. Home "1" also existed when the Rec Hall was constructed..." Virgie Yates 