Norwich State Hospital Series: Physicians Speak Out

Several former workers at the Norwich State Hospital have spoken out on their experiences. 

One former employee of the facility, Steven DePolito, made a documentary of his experiences working there.

According to a Jan. 18, 2007, article in the Boston Globe entitled “Former Norwich State Hospital Worker Preserves Memories on Film," DePolito said he remembers first visiting the facility as a 5-year-old boy to see his dad, a cook at the Lipitt Building, where lobotomies were performed. 

DePolito later grew up to be a hospital mental health worker and his 57-minute documentary entitled "Brewster's Neck: Memories of Norwich State Hospital" is currently in libraries throughout southeastern Connecticut. The video illustrates the bond that he said employees, and some patients, had at the facility. Sixteen workers and one patient were interviewed in the documentary which was shot by then security officer David Williams.

The video features a tour of the many tunnels that connected NSH’s 26 buildings together. 

Working in a hospital was always a way of life for DelPolito since his dad, mom, stepmom, two aunts, two uncles, and brother worked in hospitals and he met his wife in one.

Former worker Fred Potter, a staff member who daily placed patients in restraints, defended the practice stating it ensured that a safe environment could be provided for all. 

Psychologist Dr. Van Der Velde, who worked at NSH in the 1960's and helped developed lithium to treat manic depressive patients, said employees would buy Christmas gifts for patients in their ward even though they had little to come and go on. 

A blogger nicknamed "Childhood," whose real name is Wendy Andrews, said on a message board, that her father was a NSH psychiatrist and their family lived in faculty housing. 

Patients went through a rehabilitation program allowing them to work as housekeepers and gardeners, Andrews explained. 

She claims that the hospital utilized a nearby hog farm to rehabilitate patients for work experience and pork was donated to the hospital's kitchen.

Even when the facility first opened in 1904, a rehabilitation program was in place to assist patients. 

According to the book, "Alcoholism in America: From Preconstruction to Prohibition," some patients were transferred to a state farm where they prepared food, tended the furnace, maintained farm buildings, managed livestock, poultry and an assortment of crops.

These workers were treated different than the “insane” and some received experience in construction projects such as the enlarging of the hospital's dam and reservoir.

As our series continues, be sure to “Like” the Norwich State Hospital page on Facebook for photos, posts, and videos regarding the unique history of this mental health care facility.