We can all picture the creepy old "mental asylum." It’s a popular image in film, television and the occasional horror novel. It’s a spooky and appealing archetype that people are drawn to. The pop history behind what has happened in these locations and the rumors of hauntings and creepy happenings is what keeps the populace interested in them.
Anoka is home to one of the first mental institutes built in this state. And today its collection of historic buildings is in jeopardy.
The First State Asylum for the Insane was built in 1899, funded by the state of Minnesota. It opened its doors in 1900 and was filled with patients from the overflowing hospital in St. Peter. By 1909, the Anoka facility was female-only.
While still participating in the limited science and therapies at the time, First State Asylum was one of the more humanely run mental institutions in the country. The patients were given exceptional care for the time. They were kept busy with farming, sewing and quilting, among other jobs. Along with the work, the women were seen at the on-site beauty parlor once or twice a week. Manicures and facial treatments as well as shampooing were performed on the patients. Movies were also a common treat, as well as picnics and religious services.
Actively part of community
First State Asylum was also an integral member of community. Not only did it provide hundreds of jobs to the people of Anoka, such as nursing, cafeteria staff, etc. The institute was invited to join in the city’s most popular civic celebration, the Anoka Halloween celebration. In 1941, the asylum, now known as Anoka State Hospital, had its very own float in the wildly popular Anoka Halloween Grand Day Parade. The float featured patients and nurses alike and was described as “outstanding in weirdness” by the local paper the following day.
Anoka State Hospital in the mid-20th century, while no vacation spot, still had humane treatment at the forefront of its care. In 1949, Minnesota Gov. Luther Youngdahl attended the Anoka Halloween celebration to speak about the end of the inhumane treatment of patients in asylums across the state. He gave a rousing speech calling for the end of statewide abuse and poor treatment to our mentally ill. Under a full moon on Halloween night at the end of his speech, Youngdahl lit fire to a pile of straight-jackets, canvas mittens and other horrifying restraints.
This beacon of mental health, this historic collection of buildings known as “cottages” is now teetering on the edge of possible destruction. While still in use, and now called the Metro-Regional Treatment Center, the institution has been given to Anoka County by the state of Minnesota. Anoka County, it seems, is failing to see the reasons to keep the buildings.
Concern about renovation costs
The cost of renovation is what is weighing on the mind of county officials. The roofs alone are estimated to cost up to $1 million to repair. However, it seems that the demolition of these buildings would cost just as much when looking at the safe disposal of the hazardous materials used to build the structures back in 1899. These materials, when not moved or altered in any way, remain safe once a simple sealing process is performed, but once moved around, become dangerous and require disposal in certain lined landfills. Once an Environmental Impact Study and Hazardous Audit are performed, more will be known about the environmental implications if these buildings were to be demolished.
I believe the history and the importance of this location greatly outweighs whatever the cost and plans for this location may be in the future. Anoka is a unique city. We are historic and proud of that fact, and clearly Anoka has given so much to the state of Minnesota where health care is concerned. The uses for these cottages are numerous and the funds can be raised to help save them.
City, community want buildings saved
The city wants these saved, the community wants these saved, and I believe the more people who know about the history of this location and the inherent beauty of these cottages will also want them saved.
Minnesota’s history is everywhere. However, it is quickly disappearing at every turn. I believe an unfortunate precedent would be set in the city of Anoka if these cottages were to be demolished only to make way for another chain retail location or another housing development.
Historical preservation is important, and a location with this much history deserves to be saved. Once we forget what we have been given we forget where we are going.
Roxy Orcutt is a writer who lives in Anoka and runs the popular website The Halloween Honey.
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