Northern
State Hospital
February
20, 2016
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In
2011 we tried to visit the grounds of
Northern State Hospital, famous for (among
other things) its
'Spanish
Colonial Revival style, ensuring
integration between the built
environment and the landscape.'
Despite its closure in 1973, a number of
buildings remain in use so it's Private
Property - no visiting for us unless we
try to join the Jobs Corps.
Recently we learned that a portion of the
land was used by the Skagit County
Department of Recreation. There were
hiking trails which wound around the area
and a number of old buildings we could
explore. So on a rare Sunny Saturday
this year, off we went.
|
As
we drove along we could see the frost line
on the foothills of the Cascades.
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| Here
we are at the Recreational area.
There's a good view of the Dairy Complex
from the parking lot
While the actual hospital buildings are
still used, visitors are able to explore
these old barns and milking houses. |
As
we climb the hill we see the first two
milking houses and a silo. Some
buildings have fared better than others.
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| Suddenly
something flies into the blackberry bush
right beside us! It is a tiny Northern
Pygmy Owl. We've already decided that
this is the Highlight of the Day for us
both. |
This
little chap doesn't seem to be at all
worried that we are taking picture after
picture two feet away from him. We
snap away for a couple of minutes until
along comes the Buzzkill family. Crash
Bang Boom!
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First
a big dog arrives, and then its owners,
apparently oblivious to us, our cameras and
the owl. 'Ok
- too many people!' thinks the
little owl and off he goes.
Nevertheless, it was a fantastic experience,
probably once-in-a-lifetime.
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Tim
checks out the first barn, mossy roof and
all. How nice the buildings look
on a sunny day.
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'The
Northern State Hospital's farm not only
allowed the facility to be
self-sufficient, but was even productive
enough to help feed other hospitals in the
state. The farm had every animal one would
expect to see from cows to chickens, and
also canning buildings to preserve their
stores.
( From
the Atlas Obscura ) |
| I'm
on the outside looking in. 'In
addition to providing food and crops for
the facility, the farm also gave the
patients a place where they could work and
socialize. At its height, the dairy farm
was the largest of its kind west of the
Mississippi.' ( From
the Atlas Obscura ) |
The
buildings provided stalls and milking
facilities for the dairy herd, facilities
for the farm's horses and shelter for the
tools, implements and grain.
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'Originally
planned as a farm colony, Northern State
Hospital was known for its humane
practices during times when similar state
institutions were described as "snake
pits."
Patients received valuable vocational
training on the farm, dairy, printing
plant, greenhouse and other branches that
made the hospital largely self-sufficient.
' ( from
the Skagit River Journal )
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