Lisa! I LOVE this piece! And I particularly love this portion: "If you’re a believer, their history of misery, rage, and death - many patients, after all, died at these institutions, often as a result of mistreatment - makes for a perfect breeding ground for ghosts. If you’re a skeptic, these places represent a sort of collective horror and shame at a past age, and even the most cynical of non-believers can’t help but feel a melancholy tinged with the eerie while visiting these spots." Are you a believer, or a skeptic? And what is it about the late 19th century that promoted "nature cures"? And why did things turn so ugly in the 20th? I'm thinking, too, about the treatment of alcoholism here. In the 19th century, the "nature cure" was promoted, but by the 20th, the trend was toward lobotomy, electro-convulsive therapy and other unpleasant propositions. I'm curious, too, whether Cal State Channel Island – the former Camarillo State Mental Hospital – is haunted? Thank you for this piece!
I like to think of myself as a compassionate and curious skeptic, meaning I never discount anyone's experience and although I'm not convinced (yet!) that we're being visited by spirits of the dead, I freely admit that I don't know what's happening. I've been on investigations where things have happened that I couldn't explain, so I disdain those cynical skeptics who just line everything up with psychology or fraud.
The 19th century "nature cures" was a similar movement to Spiritualism (and often went hand-in-hand with it). My conjecture is that both were a response to the materialism that had sprung up during the Enlightenment, and had left many people feeling adrift spiritually.
My next theory is that things turned ugly in the 20th century with the rise of the land barons (the earliest American oligarchs?). Just as we're seeing now, budgets for projects that benefited the poor and disabled were slashed, even as more people were in need of them.
And oh yes, the former Camarillo hospital is reputedly very haunted! It has a history very similar to the facilities I mentioned in the article above, so it's certainly ripe for the paranormal.
Truly appreciate the breadth of this piece, Lisa, and the empathy for those who suffered in the places. I look forward to reading your story.
Thanks, Lauren.
Lisa! I LOVE this piece! And I particularly love this portion: "If you’re a believer, their history of misery, rage, and death - many patients, after all, died at these institutions, often as a result of mistreatment - makes for a perfect breeding ground for ghosts. If you’re a skeptic, these places represent a sort of collective horror and shame at a past age, and even the most cynical of non-believers can’t help but feel a melancholy tinged with the eerie while visiting these spots." Are you a believer, or a skeptic? And what is it about the late 19th century that promoted "nature cures"? And why did things turn so ugly in the 20th? I'm thinking, too, about the treatment of alcoholism here. In the 19th century, the "nature cure" was promoted, but by the 20th, the trend was toward lobotomy, electro-convulsive therapy and other unpleasant propositions. I'm curious, too, whether Cal State Channel Island – the former Camarillo State Mental Hospital – is haunted? Thank you for this piece!
Thanks, Joshua!
I like to think of myself as a compassionate and curious skeptic, meaning I never discount anyone's experience and although I'm not convinced (yet!) that we're being visited by spirits of the dead, I freely admit that I don't know what's happening. I've been on investigations where things have happened that I couldn't explain, so I disdain those cynical skeptics who just line everything up with psychology or fraud.
The 19th century "nature cures" was a similar movement to Spiritualism (and often went hand-in-hand with it). My conjecture is that both were a response to the materialism that had sprung up during the Enlightenment, and had left many people feeling adrift spiritually.
My next theory is that things turned ugly in the 20th century with the rise of the land barons (the earliest American oligarchs?). Just as we're seeing now, budgets for projects that benefited the poor and disabled were slashed, even as more people were in need of them.
And oh yes, the former Camarillo hospital is reputedly very haunted! It has a history very similar to the facilities I mentioned in the article above, so it's certainly ripe for the paranormal.
Road trip!
What a great story, Lisa. I hope we can visit one of these places sometime.