New York State Asylum for Idiots
New York State Asylum for
Idiots, afteRwards
Syracuse State Institution for
Feeble-Minded Children, Afterwards
Syracuse State School for
Mental Defectives, afterwards
Syracuse State School,
Afterwards
Syracuse Developmental Center
Text Source: A
Short History of Hospitals in Syracuse, SUNY
Upstate Medical University: Health Services Library:
Historical
Collections:
http://www.upstate.edu/library/history/hospitals.shtml
The New York State Asylum for Idiots was authorized by the New York
State Legislature in 1851, acting upon a recommendation contained in
the 1846 annual report of the New York State Asylum for Lunatics.
Hervey B. Wilbur, M.D., was appointed the first superintendent and
remained in that position until his death in 1883. First located on
rented landed in Albany, it admitted its first "pupils" in 1851. The
cornerstone was laid in 1854 for a new building in Syracuse, and the
institution removed to Syracuse in 1855. After 1855 it was generally
known as either the New York Asylum for Idiots or just the State Idiot
Asylum, but in 1891 it was officially renamed the Syracuse State
Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, in 19__ the Syracuse State
School for Mental Defectives, and finally in 19__ just the Syracuse
State School. Wilbur collaborated with Edward Seguin, M.D., the
originator of the physiological method of training. Maria Montessori
was also Seguin's student and much of the "Montessori Method" is based
on foundations laid by Wilbur and Seguin in Syracuse. In its 85th
annual report (1935), the Syracuse State School rightly noted that it
was "the pioneer institution in the United States for the care and
training of mentally deficient children." Surgery was done in the old
building, and at least one child was born there. The School also
operated a farm and a number of satelite cottages. In the 1970s, the
Syracuse State School building was torn down and replaced by a
residential facility called the Syracuse Developmental Center. With the
growing emphasis on community living rather insitutionalization for
developmentally disabled persons, no new individuals were placed at SDC
and there has been a gradual movement of residents into the community.
In early 1998, there were about six persons left. SDC is to be closed,
and it is not clear what will happen to the building.
Submitted 17 March 2006 by
Pamela
Priest
Updated 22 April 2006 by Pamela Priest