Thursday, February 14, 2019
Monday, January 21, 2019
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
PENNHURST 2018
HAPPY HALLOWEEN !
This is the very first picture I had ever taken of Mayflower Hall, Pennhurst. True, its a bit gritty. I took it with a disposable camera.
This building alone set me off on a path to begin writing about Pennhurst State School & Hospital (1908-1987).
What I found was sad, indeed - though not all bad.
Author Tamera Lawrence
AMAZON.COM
https://www.amazon.com/Pennhurst-Ghosts-Mayflower-Tamera-Lawrence/dp/1478755881
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL & HOSPITAL
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Located in Chester County, Pa - Pennhurst was once a home to people, who our good state decided, didn't matter. These souls needed to be tucked away, out of site, out of mind.
Want to know more about Pennhurst? Checkout my books below.
A common misconception is that Pennhurst was a place meant for the criminally insane.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Pennhurst was originally a segregated community meant for the physical and mentally handicapped. A common belief was that someone labeled as "Retarded" would someday become a criminal. So these people were placed into Pennhurst to try and teach them a vocation. It was thought that residents would benefit from being with others like themselves. But in fact, many residents regressed. Lack of staff and money took its toll on patient care. Overcrowded conditions grew worse. Orphans were added to the mayhem.
Children lived at Pennhurst. Many of them grew up within the compound, lived to adulthood and eventually died there. It's not hard to walk around in one of the buildings, and imagine what a child's life consisted of. Concrete walls. Floors. No homelike comforts. It can be pretty depressing when you view it that way.
Pennhurst was a huge complex of massive brick buildings with an upper and lower campus for the men and women. Everything for daily living was within the compound, a school, hospital, auditorium, laundry, dietary and of course, housing - also called "Cottages" - sounds homey, doesn't it? But if was anything but comfortable.
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| Old Pennhurst uniform (now missing from the site) |
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| Philadelphia Building 2017 |
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| Mayflower 2016 |
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| Tim and I on 3rd floor of Mayflower |
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| Wheelchair on 3rd floor that often sounded like it was rolling down the hallway. But alas, no rear wheels. |
Thank you!
*Author Tamera Lawrence
Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting
Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II
(amazon.com)
Saturday, September 29, 2018
PENNHURST CAR SHOW 2018
SEPTEMBER 29, 2018
Pennhurst Fuel & Fire Auto Car Show
With rain, seemingly, a daily threat in Pennsylvania, the last Saturday of September turned out blue skies and cooler temperatures. Owners were good sports about displaying their prized possessions on the grounds despite lurking puddles. Added to the mix, a Vintage Pinup Contest was held adding to the ambiance. Trophies were given out to the winners of the event. The car show benefited The Liberty Fire Company of Spring City, Pa.
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| 1966 Mustang owned by your's truly |
Yes, there were even a few creepers in some of the cars. YIKES!!!
AUTHOR TAMERA LAWRENCE
GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING
PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER 11
AMAZON.COM
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
GHOST TRAIN
Used during the civil war era, the Colebrookdale Railroad is
up and running again in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
The newly restored railway is located a stone throw away
from where a major tragedy took place thus bringing with it a ghostly allure to
current day visitors.
On January 21, 1908 the local Rhodes Opera House in
Boyertown was overfilled to capacity with men, women and children. The play
that night was eagerly anticipated, and a strong turnout came to watch. But
during the evening, an actor knocked over a kerosene lamp used for lighting,
which set a curtain on fire. People were trapped due to improper exits and doors.
Within 15 minutes, 171 people were killed in a horrific manner – some fused together,
mostly above the waist. What a gristly undertaken for the volunteers and
undertakers to have to separate and identify the forms.
Added to the tragedy,
a local fireman was also killed when responding to the alarm.
Local basements were used to temporarily house the bodies
until burial. It was truly a disturbing
event for Boyertown. Thereafter ghost stories cropped up in mere days. Many people claimed the Specter of a headless
man was seen walking along Main Street – apparently this was a Monday event.
Over the years, more ghostly tales have followed - many from homeowners now living in homes once used during the Rhodes fire tragedy. The Colebrookdale Railroad hosts a Eerie Unlimited train ride which brings some of these tales to life.
Having taken a trip on this lovingly restored railway, I recently
had a chance to interview one of the volunteers about the restoration of the trains.
To my surprise, I found out that some of the artifacts being incorporated and
used for restoration were donated by none other than Pennhurst. The miscellaneous
items – missing bits and pieces needed for some restoration- were found in some of Pennhurst’s basements. Having written two books about Pennhurst, this
immediately intrigued me.
So, if you have a chance to ride the Colebrookdale Railway,
its worth a trip. You can even treat yourself to a delicious dinner.
Check out their schedule of events.
The Dining Car:
Author Tamera Lawrence
Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting (Amazon.com)
Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II
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