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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-04-27, Page 41leisure, features and. entertainment Serving over 25,000 homes in Listowel, Wingham, Mount Forest, Milverton, Elmira, Palmerston, Harriston, Brussels, Atwood, Monkton, Millbank, Newton, Clifford, Wallenstein, Drayton, Moorefield and Arthur. Wednesday, April 27, 1983 Homewood Sanitarium piansfor its Centennial celebration EDITOR'S NOTE: The author of this ar- ticle, Dr.,M. Ruth Tatham, has been a staff physician of The Homewood Sanitarium for nine and a half years. Some years prior to that, she and her husband, former publisher of The Listowel Banner, George' Tatham, lived in Listowel for many years. They and their three children, who were born in List owel, have retained a close tie with the List- owel area, and the "Tatham" byline is very familiar to readers of The Banner through continued coverage of Stratford Festival and other events. Dr. Carmen Kilpatrick of Listowel, when forced by a heart condition to relinquish his local medical practice, worked in Home- wood for 10 years, prior to returning to List- owel in his retirement. Dr. Tatham com- ments, "It feels like seeing a bit of Listowel every time i see Dr. Kilpatrick's signature at the bottom of a chart on someone he cared for, and who now crosses my path." All people in the readership area, or else- where, are invited to visit Homewood at its forthcoming Centennial celebration on Saturday afternoon, June 18, 1983, and re- new acquaintances or see its beautiful and effective setting for the first time. by Ruth Tatham, M.D. How do you celebrate a 100th birthday? You plan a big party to include the people who have been most important in your life and can share memories with you; you unearth mementoes of the 100 years, and organize them into scrapbooks or displays, to make them easier to share; and finally, you perk up your own superficial appear- ance, in order that your well-wishers will find a vigorous, attractive, and wise centen- arian. And then you go to your 100th birth- day, and celebrate it in the surroundings you most love. The birthday in question is that of The Homewood Sanitarium of Guelph. The cele- bration is slated for Saturday afternoon, June 18, 1983. The actual issuing of the legal papers for Homewood's founding took place on Wed" nesday, May 16, 1883, when John Woodburn. Langmuir, previously Ontario's Inspectorofta Asylums, Prisons and Charitable Insti- tutions (from 1869) became president of, a corporation (then called "The Homewood Retreat Association") to found Canada's first private psychiatric hospital. Thus, Homewood is the oldest (and it is also the largest) private psychiatric hos- pital in the country. A plaque commemor- ating the ideals and dedication of the found- ing fathers and the hundreds of employees down through the years, will be unveiled by the Honorable John Aird, Lieutenant-Gover- Building bridges of friendship This award-winning essay was written by Robyn Chandler of Australia, a Rotary Exchange Student who was recently the guest of the Stratford Club. Although she has very limited hearing, Robyn is an excellent ambassador for her country. Her essay, which won the district award, will be entered in the competition at the Rotary international conference in Toronto in June. by Robyn Chandler Friendship is something very, very precious. Just as faulty bridges will fall, so too will faulty friendships..A friendship may rust. corrode. and fall. never to emerge again. if, however, it is properly con- structed it will withstand many strains and last a lifetime. Some friendships on the verge of falling need to be rebuilt with the utmost care. in some cases, the restoration and re-establishment is dangerous. It may only lead to misunderstandings, hatred and war. If we start building afresh, we may need new material, new methods, and especially, new people. Young people. People as of yet unaffected by the hatred of years ago and the wars of the past. in this regard. Rotary exchange students are still children. We are innocent to the world and unaware of how great our "missions" are. We may never know whether our "missions" have been successful. Unknowingly we have contributed to world peace and understanding with out en- thusiasm and belief in a better tomorrow. Rotary has greatly inspired me. in the words of Hiroji Mukasa. President of Rotary international 1982-1983, "Mankind is one big family -- a family of people. a family of nations". 1 know mankind is one. it is truly beautiful to see Rotary exchange students cif many nations become great friends — the Dutch and the Germans. the French and the Canadians, the Japanese and the Americans. the English and the Argen- tinians. The amazing thing about these vital friendships is the ease with which they form. Religious, social and political differences are swept aside as though they never existed at all. Using my own experience as an example, an exchange student can meet four "families": four sets •of parents, four bothers, six sisters, eight sets of grand- parents, an untold number of cousins, aunts, uncles, family friends, personal friends and their families, Rotarians and their families, neighbors, teachers, youth groups, schools churches, recreational groups and of course, other exchange students ... No wonder it is so easy to forget names! There are, at the present time, ap- proximately 6.000 exchange students throughout the world. 'These 6,000 are YOUTH EXCHANGE VISITORS— Robyn Chandler, right, and Heather Yule from South Africa became friends when they met in Ontario The Rotary Interna- tional student exchange program builds bridges of friendship, Robyn say's. spreading understanding to all they en- counter. If each of these students can touch the lives of 100 people, then 600,000 people around the globe have learned a little more about the world. These 600,000 then go on ,, helping to persuade others to be less biased in their opinions about other cultures. It is indeed dramatic — 600,000 multiplying friendship bridges each year; 6,000 "children" learning many of life's qualities that will make them better leaders of tomorrow. Rotary Youth Exchange is only the beginning. Much is yet to be done by that great international organization. Let us not forget the unfortunate. The world is at war. The world is starving. The world is economically unstable. The world is crowded. What can Rotary do for these people? Can Rotary afford to neglect them? Can Rotary truly feel that enough of these bridges of friendship have already been built, that mankind is already one? The answer is no! Friendship building should never cease. Rotarians should be sure they show they truly believe that mankind is one. In club, business, community, and in- ternational dealings, the Rotarian should try his utmost to eliminate distrust and suspicion in himself and in all those he encounters. As a hearing impaired person, my year abroad is a dream come true. Unlike many other organizations, Rotary knows no barriers. There is no discrimination. Rotary is a model for all the world with its recognition of the handicapped. Rotary is a family with the belief that every single person has the power and potential to achieve. Unfortunately, the friendship bridges in many nations have not even commenced, and quite possibly never will. Some of the mightiest powers of all — those behind the "Iron Curtain" are yet to be reached. Here Rotary is unknown to millions. The hap- piness brought by Rotary Youth Exchange has never been felt. The establishment of "bridges" here is dangerous. Rotary must continue to persevere. There is much to be done. There are many initiatives yet to be taken, many op- portunities yet to be acted upon. Certainly Rotary is well on its way to achieving its goal. Thousands of people each day are led to the firm belief that mankind is one. The growth of friendship bridges will never cease. Built the Rotary way, surely they are strong enough to withstnad the strains of tomorrow. nor of Ontario, near the Delhi Street en- trance at a public ceremony on the June 18 birthday celebration date. Mr. Langmuir had gathered around him a group of prominent businessmen, from several walks of life, who agreed with his thought that the mentally and emotionally ill of Ontario should be able to choose where they would receive care. .;- The Ontario Asylums were in full use al- ready, yet- did'not'rneet all the needs Langmuir had observed. Guelph was chosen because, while near enough Toronto by rail- road or horse-drawn vehicle to allow rela- tives and friends to retain contact, it was sufficiently remote from the pressures of Toronto's urban society, that healing might be more readily effected. The first medical superintendent, Dr. Ste- phen Lett, had been a prime mover in or- ganizing the effort to start Homewood and in helping Mr. Langmuir find a site. They had chosen the big limestone home of Donald Guthrie, Q.C., on the Delhi Street hill in the autumn of 1882, realizing that it was a mile outside Guelph's north edge, on a pollution - free' site, with potential for considerable ex- pansion of both the building and the grounds, which stretched from the Speed River to some building lots on Metcalfe Street. Here.was a site which could have its own farmland and gardens, for self-suf- ficiency and for the healing effect of Mother Nature. The next home south of the Guthrie prop- erty belonged to the family of a Guelph physician and businessman, Dr. William Clarke. Built about 1859, perhaps three years before the Guthrie home (which had been constructed for a Mr. G. McKenzie Stewart). this Clarke home was indeed a limestone mansion, known to all as "Rose hurst". in later years, after many adventures. the "Rosehurst" property and that of a much later brownstone home, "Riverslea", were added to the Homewood grounds, so that to- day, even though the farmland across Delhi Street has long since been sold" or used otherwise, Homewood encompasses 55 acres of rolling lawns and woodland. RECALLS HOMES The large and elegant old granite house now known as "Riverslea" was built by James Goldie Sr., and his wife, Frances Owen Goldie. in 1890-1891 at a cost of $60.000 -- a princely sum in those days. Italian marble of 10 different colors was brought for the 10 fireplaces and mantels and installed, as were the marble floors. wainscotting and stairs. by Italian workmen brought to do the job. Neatrox Tatham, late of Listowel. used to visit her grandparents in Guelph as a child, and was taken to Riverslea by her grand- mother, a Mrs. Goodeve, to visit "Grandma Goldie", who was her close friend, but no relation. Aunt Bea. who was the aunt of George Tatham. former publisher of The Listowel Banner, and thus the aunt -in-law of the author of this article, could recall the grand- eur of the home. with hand -carved bead- work around every door panel and lintel. bird's eye maple panelling in the bedroom in which she slept, a huge round flowerbed be- hind the house, and an aviary in the garden. with birds and flowers everywhere. Swans floated on the Speed River. across which was a footbridge which enabled family and friends to cross directly to the area of The People's Mill. one of the very successful grist mills run by James Goldie and his five sons These sons were cousins and nephews of the Goldies who made Galt and Ayr famous in the milling and machinery realms. and were themselves famous as millers. as botanists, and as deeply -involved citizens of the Guelph area. While the Goldies were building and living in Riverslea, and the nearby and much older limestone mansion, "Rosehurst"; the Guthries who had purchased and lived in, and. then sold to "The Homewood 'Retreat Association" their fine limestone house not far along Delhi Street from Rosehurst, were living elsewhere. They were in Guelph, practising law generation_ after generation, and adding 'to one of the' F 1B'trSt -'_ tories which have made such a mark in Western Ontario life. And the three houses were drawn to- gether, in turn each being used to provide a setting for the expert and gracious care of the mentally ill and emotionally disturbed, as they famed parts of what is known today as "The Homewood Sanitarium". Mr. Langmuir. Dr. Lett, and the fellow - idealists of The Retreat, as it was lovingly known, opened the doors of the expanded original building on Dec. 27, 1883, to admit their first patient, to a well-appointed, airy and comfortably -furnished hospital; he and all other patients shared that building with the staff in terms of accommodation for some years. The directors raised all financing from their own pockets, and when the hospital was slow to fill ( because then, as now, the most powerful publicity for Homewood comes from the word-of-mouth testimony of people who have found psychiatric help there), they dug deeper and raised more money to keep their ideal afloat. After the turn of the century, it was finally on firm ground financially. and waiting lists of pa- tients seeking admission began to form. The first hospital had accommodation for 25 men and 25 women. housed in separated areas. cared for solely by staff of their own gender. with the exception of physician care. Today's Homewood can (and almost al- ways does) accommodate 312 patients, helped in a vast variety of programs and therapeutic situations, staffed by men and women expert in a myriad of aspects of psychiatric care. VISITORS' BOARD The original Directors had asked the Ontario Legislature to provide not one in- specting body. as had the Ontario Asylums, but two: the regular governmental inspec- torship. plus a further. more stringent in- spection by a group of lay people, termed the Board of Visitors, "gentlemen of high social standing and education in the county" the County Judge. the Clerk of the Peace, the Warden of the County. and a local phys- ician i nominated by the Government of Ontario. This Board of Visitors still func- tions today. although its numbers have been expanded with the growth of the hospital. The founding fathers emphasized the need for a hospital in which not only victims of the classical mental and emotional illnesses could find treatment, but in which "in- ebriates and persons with certain addic- tions" could find help. A century ago. physi- cians often prescribed opiates for the relief of not only pain, but also great emotional anguish and disturbed behaviour. Conse- quently. drug addicts were far from rare. Through the years. while carrying on its work of treating the types of illnesses usual- ly seen in psychiatric hospitals. Homewood has kept its prominence as a centre for the refined care and rehabilitation of alcoholics and some types of drug addiction. The Alcohol Treatment Program tATP) of 198.3 includes inpatient Phases 1 and plus the post-hospital Phase 111 which has been found to he an especially effective method of helping people maintain the gains they have made in hospital Interestingly. i)r Lett and the original Board decided as earl, as 1886 that short- LEFT—This aerial view of Homewood's Manor Building show- ing the administration section in the centre and the wards on each side was taken in the 1950s. This side of the Manor Building faces the Speed River 'in Guelph with Delhi Street running across the rear. CENTRE—This was "Riverslea" at ftte..w-tirrre_...it .was. purcfaased by Homewood from the Hall estate in 1946. The stately mansion was built of New York State granite in 1890-91 at a cost of $60,000. RIGHT—This photograph of "Riverslea" was taken in the 1950s. The kitchen and bathroom wing at the right were added long after the original home was built by James Goldie Sr. term care for alcoholics was of little per- manent value to them, and passed a resolu- tion then that "no inebriate should be admit- ted into this institution except upon the .inderstanding that he would remain there at least six months." Early in its history, Homewood's leaders, began to formulate and then emphasize a concept which has permeated all treatment plans through the years: each employee, in whatever job, carries a direct responsibility for the care ofeach patient. Thus, what is termed a "therapeutic community" today, was in practice decades ago, because the individual caring of all employees soon united them in a total caring atmosphere. From the first, there were volu,tary admissions, and admissions on certificate: there still are. although only about 10 per cent of today's admissions come on a "certi- ficate", and of those, many are rapidly changed to "voluntary" as soon as the pa- tient sees the need for care. Another concept of the founding fathers was that their medical superintendent, Dr. Lett, would be encouraged to participate iri the world of medicine and psychiatry far be- yond Homewood's walls. In the 1880s, Dr. Lett was travelling to Montreal to give scientific papers to medi- cal groups. Every superintendent since has been re- cognized in similar ways, and today's "executive director'. i the 1980s term for what used to be called "medical superint- endent"), Dr. M. 0. Vincent spends much of his time participating in the outreach of lec- turing and working in national and interna- tional psychiatric groups and medical meet- ings. REACHING OUT In addition to all the local practice of psy- chiatry, since 1981. at the invitation of the Ontario Ministry of Health. five Homewood and one community psychiatrists rotate to Cochrane, taking in turn a week every sec and month, to provide expert psychiatric consultations in this under -serviced area. The idea has been so successful that two more areas have asked for a similar visiting consultation service, and as personnel -time allows. their requests may well be granted. Thus does one private psychiatric hospital in southwestern Ontario involve itself in out- reach. Updating and additions were made from the very early Homewood years. By 1900. the first overhaul of the interior was finish- ed. and recreation facilities had beenex- panded. When the superintendent's house was complete in 1903. the patients saw its massive red brick walls and curving por- ches whenever they looked south. They still do. although it sits empty temporarily, since the Wyndham House girls and staff vacated it for their own home on Suffolk Street. Continued nn Page 9