Saturday, November 8, 2008

Not What It Seems



-A beautiful long drive lined with water oaks
-A stately white columned building with a domed cupola
Not exactly what it seems...not an antebellum plantation.
Just looking at these pictures, you might never guess that this is Bryce Hospital.
Founded in 1861, Bryce Hospital is an inpatient psychiatric care facility with adolescent, adult, and geriatric units. The property borders the University of Alabama, which is in negotiations with the state to buy it.
Bryce has a very interesting history and is listed on the national historic registry. Wyatt vs. Stickney was a class action lawsuit filed in 1970 on behalf of an adolescent patient at Bryce. That case "formed the basis for formed the basis for federal minimum standards for the care of people with mental illness or mental retardation who reside in institutional settings." -badly needed standards that were long overdue.

4 comments:

Tanya Breese said...

This photo is definately not as it seems! Wow, what a hospital!

Rose said...

I thought courthouse when I seen the picture--would have never thought of hospital.

Janet said...

I thought that looked like the drive into Bryce in that first photo. I don't think I have ever seen the main building up close though.

FranSusan said...

What a magnificent building and setting. I hope the university will preserve it if they purchase the property.