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1871 - 1900 || 1900 - 1910 || 1910 - 1920 || 1930 - 1940 || 1940 - 1950 1950 - 1960 || 1960 - 1970 || 1970 - 1980 || 1990 - 2000 and beyond
Annual
meeting of the asylum superintendents, during which the new “cottage
1884 Dr. Daniel Clark, the superintendent of the Toronto Lunatic Asylum, finds provincial farm in rural Mimico and decides that it would be a good setting for a new branch asylum. He also persuades the Queen's Park to sell 25 acres from the east and west side of the Toronto Lunatic Asylum and to use the accumulated funds toward the construction of a branch in Mimico.
1885
c.1881 – 1890
C
1888 A group of ten male patients and two attendants came to make the institution ready for the new influx of patients. They become the first residents of the new branch.
1889, January 21 Mimico Branch Asylum opens its doors for first 116 patients from Toronto; they are deemed as chronically and incurably insane; the asylum has only 40 staff members and consists of three cottages and three general buildings, connected to each other by underground tunnels.
1890 – 1894
Dr.
John Beverly Murphy becomes the first superintendent
1891 A cemetery is designated, now located at Evans Road and Horner Avenue.
1892 Two cottages are added on both sides for "disturbed" patients. The Carriage House is built, known today as
William’s Coffee Pub
(another source states it was built in 1900).
1893 The Gatehouse (originally called the entrance lodge) is built (other sources cite that it was built in 1910).
1894 Mimico Branch Asylum become an independent institution from the Toronto Lunatic Asylum and is renamed Mimico Insane Asylum; Dr. Nelson Henry Beemer becomes the superintendent and promotes contact with the outside
community
October 10 Toronto Star reports that a patient named John Butler, 60, has escaped from the Mimico Asylum; he is described as being "dressed in asylum clothes, weighted about 180 pounds, and wore a full round black beard."
1896 The oval cricket, located immediately south of the buildings, is created using patient labour; it is one of the finest
in the area.
S
1898 The Assembly Hall is built, using patient labour (another date suggests that it was built in 1897).
1899
New
Stores facility, located on the ground floor of the Assembly Hall is constructed.
1901 Conservatory is built (currently non-existent, probably the former greenhouse).
1903 The asylum acquires 76 acres of H. J. McNeil farm (the name refers to a provincial creditor) from the west of the hospital (lot 6).
1905 Cottage 2 is destroyed by fire.
1906
1900
The
asylum now consists of 10 cottages, housing 590 patients and a staff of 93.
1908 The first training nursing school is funded. A barn is constructed on the north side of the McNeil farm.
1909 Additions to the Gatehouse are made, which include new kitchen, pantry, bedroom, closets, bathroom, and enlarged cellar with hot air furnace. A construction of a building for intensive care is requested. Planned to be built
in 1979, is never completed.
The
Gatehouse, the Incinerator,
the Paint Shop, and a barn are
built.
1912
A
pumping house is built. T
1920 The asylum is renamed Ontario Hospital, Mimico. A fire tower added to the rear building.
1921, October 14 A nurse named Rachael Lake rescues "a woman patient suffering from manic depressive of the depressed type with strongly suicidal impulses" from a suicide attempt by trying to drown in the lake. She is described nothing short of heroine.
1927 Dr. Beemer, the superintendent, is sued by a former patient for $25,000. The patient wins the case, but is only awarded $1.00 as a compensation.
1928 The Occupational Therapy Department is inaugurated
The
Power House is built (still standing south of the cottages, towards the lake).
1931 Due to severe overcrowding, an extension is built on the Cottage A, thus joining it to the Cottage B; Cottages F,
G, and J are extended to
the Cottage 1.
1932 The underground railroad (located in the tunnels and used to transport food from the main kitchen) ceases to be used due to its deteriorating conditions.
1934 The hospital is renamed Ontario Hospital, New Toronto; the approved homes program begins, originated by the Chief social worker, Lillian Oliver; the homes are located in rural areas and provide residential care for long-
term patients.
1937 Insulin shock treatment starts to be administrated. Power House, described as "the most modern plant owned by the provincial government," is built.
1939 The old stone gate at the hospital entrance is replaced by a brick gate (still standing today). Cottage 2 becomes a reception for new patients.
Administration Building is altered to provide consultation offices for medical staff.
1947
Dr.
Martin A. Fischer introduces new art therapy
The Centre Building is demolished (used for laundry, main kitchen, recreation rooms, storerooms, and bedrooms for
the staff; possibly, also a morgue).
c.1958
Farming
is discontinued – Humber Teacher’s College acquires the McNeil farm
1959 Dr. H.C Moorehouse becomes the new superintendent and completely revitalizes the entire institution. Cafeteria is built.
1959, October The hospital is reorganized into the “Unit System,” supposedly enabling the patient administration more effective and a concentrated treatment. Now, the asylum operates as “a series of functionally autonomous units,” as
opposed to
old-styled “the traditional centralized organization”.
Dr. Donald Ross Gunn becomes the Director of Clinical Research. Cumberland House is renovated to accommodate patients' day and night care, and later a school.
1963 - 1966 Construction of R.C. Clark Filtration Plant begins on the former farm of the hospital.
1964 The asylum is renamed again as Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital (LSPH). The filtration plant is built on the former
farm of the hospital.
1967, February 6 The new Child and Adolescent Unit opens and all patients are required to attend a school located in the hospital.
They are labelled as suffering from “psychiatric
and behavioural disorders”.
1968
Construction
of R.C. Clark Filtration Plant is completed.
It is reported that the
hospital has 545 patients and 729 staff. March 21
Lakeshore
Psychiatric Hospital becomes accredited by the Canadian
Council
on Hospital Accreditation.
c.1971 – 1972 The activists of the Church of Scientology advocate against the use of lobotomy, electroconvulsive shock treatment, and drug therapy at Lakeshore. Not quite surprisingly, this action provokes public outcry.
1971, September 15 Minister of Health, Bert Lawrence, and Lakeshore MPP, Patrick Lawlor, are presented with a petition signed by 600 persons, which protest the treatment of patients at Lakeshore. The action is originated by the organization called the Mothers for Real Mental Health.
1972 Teacher's College is acquired by Humber College August
Patients Martha Morais and Nadia Machialovich commit suicide by deliberately
drowning in Lake Ontario
1973, March 23 A young female patient, whose identity is not revealed, is reported missing. The story soon leaks to the press.
1973 - 1974 Lakeshore Campus is opened by Humber College.
1974 New Trades Building is erected.
April 20 or 22
Douglas
Davis Harris
dies mysteriously at the hospital; his death remains unexplained.
c. 1975 Rumours start to spread, which indicate that the hospital may close.
1979, January 22 The Honourable Dennis R. Timbrell, the Minister of Health, announces that due to its "sub-standard" facilities, Lakeshore Psychiatric will close. Instead, he promises an expansion of community based, outpatient
clinical programs
that will replace the hospital's services.
1979, September 1 Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital closes and partly re-emerges with Queen Street Mental Health Centre. The buildings
are abandoned and become to deteriorate.
The
first installment of the six-part film, Police Academy, is filmed at the former asylum.
1984
Cumberland House is renovated and becomes
the Jean Tweed Residence for
women
dealing with addictions.
1988 The former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital grounds are designated as a heritage property by the provincial
government.
Humber
College takes over the buildings of the former asylum and begins to
restore
them.
1998, May 1 Terry Leslie Frederick Parker, a former patient, is found not guilty of possession and cultivation of marijuana, by
reason of medical necessity (he was
first introduced to marijuana at Lakeshore).
1999 Newly renovated Gatehouse is taken over by a non-profit organization, making it a centre for abused women and
children.
2000 The sale of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery by the provincial government led by the Conservative
Party provokes outrage in public, as the new owner,
George Damiani, plans to build
a chapel and a crematorium.
2000, February 14 Newly restored Assembly Hall is officially opened by the mayor Mel Lastman.
2001, May 31 - June 17 Opening Celebration of the Assembly Hall
2004, May 29 and 30
Gatehouse and the Assembly Hall are
featured during the event of
2005, May 21
Cemetery restoration organized and led by
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