Worcester State Hospital

By Madeline Ryan, Katherine Anderson,

Book cover of Worcester State Hospital

Book description

The Worcester State Hospital offered a novel and compelling promise: that insanity could be cured by humane treatment in a therapeutic setting. Patients would enjoy its idyllic landscape, genteel interiors, wholesome food supplied from its farm, and the individualized attention of medical professionals. The hospital's reputation as a model institution…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Worcester State Hospital as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I personally recommend this book as it tells the story of one of the biggest asylums in the United States and it’s in my home state of Massachusetts.

Worcester State Hospital has since been torn down but at its time, it was the pinnacle of the ideal insane asylum. The hospital covered acres of the Central Massachusetts city with its working farms, landscaping, and Kirkbride architecture.

Worcester State Hospital was one of the models used for what the perfect asylum should be. This book tells of its history and includes stories of those who worked here. Sadly, all that remains…

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