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History
Timeline
1871
- 1900
|| 1900
- 1910
|| 1910
- 1920
|| 1930
- 1940
|| 1940
- 1950
1950
- 1960 || 1960
- 1970 || 1970
- 1980 || 1990
- 2000 and beyond
1871
Annual
meeting of the asylum superintendents at the Provincial Lunatic
Asylum in Toronto,
during which the new "cottage
system" of asylums is discussed.
1884
Dr.
Daniel Clark, the superintendent of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum,
finds provincial farm in rural Mimico located just south of the
shore of Lake Ontario 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 Provincial
Lunatic Asylum and to use the accumulated funds toward the
construction of a branch in Mimico.
1885
Convinced by Dr. Clark, Kivas Tully, the Chief Provincial Architect,
along with Inspector O'Reilly, travel to the central and
northeastern parts of the United States in order to investigate
"the cottage system" implemented in the architecture and
the management of the existing asylums. In August, O'Reilly continues
his travels with the
Honourable Provincial Secretary and together they examine a number
of newly built hospitals,
including
one in Middleton, Connecticut. Next, they order Tully to
make
a trip there in order to obtain the plans and to research the ways
in which the buildings
are
being administrated.
c.1881 – 1890
Construction of the new branch asylum, using patients from the
Provincial Lunatic Asylum as a source of unpaid
patient labour, starts. Note: according to different historical
sources, the
following
dates are also possible: 1883 - 1890 and 1884 - 1890.
However, most references agree that the erection of the buildings
first took place in 1881 and ended in 1890.
1888
A
group of ten
male patients of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum 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 transferred
from Toronto. They are deemed as chronically and incurably
insane. The asylum has only forty staff members and
consists of three cottages and three general buildings,
connected
to each other by underground tunnels. It is designed to be a
self-sufficient institution, not depended on founding from the provincial
government for its operations and maintenance. As a result, the patients are required to work on the land
accumulated for farming, just south and north from the
asylum.
1890
– 1894
Dr.
Thomas William Reynolds, followed by Dr. John Cascaden, become
temporary superintendents.
Dr.
John Bernard Murphy becomes the first permanent superintendent.
1891
Kivas
Tully designated a cemetery, today located at Evans Road and Horner Avenue.
1892
Two
cottages are added on both on the north and the south side for the
most indisposed patients.
Carriage
House is built, known today as William's
Coffee Pub. Another source states it was built in 1900.
1893
Gatehouse
(originally
called an entrance lodge) is erected by patients. Other sources cite that it was
built in 1910.
1894
Due
to increasing number of patients, the asylum gains administrative
autonomy by becoming an independent institution from the Provincial
Lunatic
Asylum in Toronto, and is subsequently renamed as 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 asylum. He is described as being dressed in
"asylum clothes, weighted about 180
pounds,
and wore a full round black beard."
1896
The
cricket oval,
located immediately south of the buildings, is levelled
by patients. Reportedly, it is one of the  finest
in
the Township of Etobicoke, and the incorporation of the Mimico
Asylum Cricket Club soon follows. A superintendent's residence is
constructed (later known as the Cumberland House, today it
houses
the Jean
Tweed Residence).
Two separate pavilions are built for the leisure of male and female patients
and staff.
1898
Assembly
Hall is constructed, 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.
Back
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1900
It
is reported that the
asylum now consists of ten cottages, housing 590 patients
and a staff of 93.
1901
Conservatory
is built. It has not survived; possibly a 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,
marked on maps of surveyors as "Lot 6." The land is to be
worked by the patients as part of their therapy in order to continue
maintaining the growing asylum as a self-sufficient institution.
1905
Cottage
2 is destroyed by fire.
1906
Cottage
2 is rebuilt.
1908
The
first training school for nurses 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 constructed in
1979, it is never completed.
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1910
The
Gatehouse, an incinerator, paint shop, and barn are built.
The
asylum now houses 602 and has 111 staff members.
1912
A
pumping house is built. Lakehouse is erected. It is located farther away
from the hospital buildings, toward the lake. It is used to provide
accommodation for the staff. It has not survived.
1920
The
asylum is renamed as Ontario Hospital, Mimico.
It
now treats 619 with a staff of 104.
A
fire tower is 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.
1927
Dr.
Beemer, the superintendent, is sued by a former patient for $25,000.
The patient wins the
case, but is only awarded compensation of $1.
1928
Dr.
Fulton Schuyer Vrooman becomes the superintendent.
The
Occupational Therapy
Department is inaugurated.
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1930
Dr.
Hugh Alexander McKay is appointed as the superintendent.
The
asylum consists of 795 patients and 177 staff members.
Powerhouse
is erected. Still standing today, south of the cottages, towards the lake.
Another reference suggests that it was constructed in 1937.
Root
house
(vegetable storage), laundry, and nurses' residence are constructed between
1930 - 1934. Administration Building is partially renovated between
1930 - 1934, and the turret is
removed in order to avoid the cost of its restoration.
Carriage
House is modified to store vehicles rather than horses and divided into
three sections.
All of the construction is completed by patients who are not
awarded any financial compensation.
1931
Due
to severe overcrowding, an extension is built to 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 underground tunnels and used to transport
food from the main
kitchen) ceases
its operations to 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.
1936
Dr.
Thomas Daly Cumberland becomes the superintendent.
1937
Insulin
shock treatment starts to be administrated as a form of therapy. Powerhouse,
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
ward for the admission of incoming patients.
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1940
The
patient population increases to 1,348 patients and there are 296
staff members.
1946
Administration
Building is altered to provide consultation offices for medical
staff.
1947
Dr.
Martin A. Fischer introduces
a new form of therapy through art.
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1950
The
hospital has 1,391 patients and a staff of 260.
c.1958
Farming
is discontinued – Teacher's College acquires the former
McNeil farm
and opens a campus at the corner of Lakeshore
Boulevard West and Twenty-Third Street.
Erection
of
a kitchen and new service building. Absorbed by this new construction
is the original Centre Building,
which contained the main
kitchen, recreation rooms, storerooms, and bedrooms for
the
staff, as well as an old fire hall and the carpenter shop.
1959
Dr.
H.C
Moorehouse
becomes the
new superintendent and completely revitalizes the entire institution
following the years marked by patient overcrowding, staff shortage,
and constant lack of funding.
Cafeteria
is built.
October
The
hospital is reorganized into so-called "unit system,"
supposedly enabling the patient administration to be more effective
with a
concentrated treatment. As a result, the hospital operates as
"a series of functionally autonomous units," as
opposed to
the old styled
"traditional centralized
organization."
Back
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1960
Dr.
Donald Ross Gunn
becomes the Director of Clinical Research.
Cumberland
House is renovated to accommodate day and night
care of the patients, and later a school for the patients of the
Child and Adolescent Unit.
There
are 1,096 patients in the hospital's care with 514 staff members.
1963
Construction
of R.C. Clark Filtration Plant takes place on the former farm of
the
hospital.
1964
The
hospital is renamed again and becomes known as Lakeshore Psychiatric
Hospital (LSPH).
Central
Trades Building is destroyed by fire.
1966,
July 20
Toronto
Star reports that Joseph Armand Roy, a patient suffering from
epilepsy, commits suicide by deliberately drowning in Lake Ontario.
He is found face down in 3 feet of water, about feet 20 away from
the shore.
1967
Dr.
Donald Ross Gunn
is appointed as the superintendent.
February
6
Dr. Gunn
opens the
new Child and Adolescent Unit in Cottage 5. All of
its patients, labelled as suffering from "psychiatric and
behavioural disorders",
are required to attend a school located in the
hospital inside the former superintendent's residence.
1968
Construction
of R.C. Clark Filtration Plant is completed. Moorehouse
is erected by the Association of Volunteers.
1970
It
is reported that the hospital has 545 patients
and 729 staff members.
March
21
The
hospital becomes accredited by the Canadian Council on Hospital
Accreditation meaning that the conditions in the institution
are
reasonably
good, despite the antiquated and the
continually deteriorating buildings.
c.1971
– 1972
The
activists of the Church of Scientology advocate against the use of lobotomy,
electroconvulsive shock treatment,
and drug therapy
Not
surprisingly, this action provokes public
outcry.
1971
Dr.
Donald Ross Gunn
crafts an ambitious "Five Year Program", attempting to
usher the institution into a new era of psychiatric
treatment.
Its main objectives include: to totally reconstruct the physical
plant of the hospital that would be contemporary hospital
facilities,
which would replace the antiquated cottage system; to organize a
board of directors in order to become a public psychiatric
hospital;
to become a teaching hospital; to reduce the number of chronic
patients, requiring long-term, continuous treatment, in order
to
become a fully active psychiatric hospital; to develop more adequate
emergency and admitting services; to increase the scope of
out-patient
services; to improve existing partnerships with associated agencies
and institutions and to create new ones; and to retain
accreditation.
Dr. Gunn's plan is never
implemented.
September 15
Minister
of Health, Bert Lawrence, and Lakeshore MPP, Patrick Lawlor, are presented
with a petition signed by 600 citizens, who
protest
the treatment of patients at Lakeshore. The action is
originated by an organization called the
Mothers for Real Mental Health.
1972
R.C.
Hansen, first non-medical superintendent, replaces Dr.
Donald Ross Gunn,
who retires.
Teacher's
College is acquired by Humber College.
August
Adveriser
reports that 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
Frank
F. Morin becomes the new superintendent.
New
Trades Building is erected.
April
20 or 22
Douglas
Davis Harris
dies mysteriously at the hospital; his death remains
unexplained.
1975
L.Wayne
McKerrow is appointed as the superintendent.
The
cottages are renamed, with new labels indicating the geographical
area
served.
Rumours
start to spread, which indicate that the hospital may close.
1978
Joe
McMullen becomes the last superintendent.
1979,
January 22
The
Honourable Dennis R. Timbrell, the Minister of Health, announces
that due to its "sub-standard" facilities, Lakeshore
will close.
Instead,
he promises
an expansion of community-based, outpatient clinical programs
that will replace the services of the hospital.
August
15
The
last of the 280-in patients are transferred to the
Queen Street Mental Health Centre (QSMHC).
September 1
Lakeshore
Psychiatric Hospital officially closes and partly remerges with the
QSMHC as a division. Most of the buildings
are
abandoned and quickly start to deteriorate. At the time of the
closing, there are 280 in-patients and a staff of 675. Some patients
are released and others are transferred to the
QSMHC, Whitby and Hamilton Psychiatric Hospitals.
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1983
The
first installment of the six-part film, Police
Academy, is filmed on the grounds the former hospital.
1984
Cumberland
House is renovated and becomes the Jean
Tweed Residence
for
women dealing
with addictions.
1988
The grounds
of the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital are designated as a heritage
property
by the Province of Ontario under the Ontario
Heritage Act.
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1991
Humber
College signs a 99-year lease on the buildings of the
former hospital 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 the
herb at Lakeshore. He is Canada's first legal marijuana user.
1999
A
non-profit organization renovates the Gatehouse,
opening a supportive centre for abused children.
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2000
The
sale
of the Lakeshore
Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery
by the provincial government under the Conservative Party
provokes outrage in the public, as the new owner, George Damiani,
plans to build a chapel and a crematorium on the site.
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
the Doors
Open Toronto.
2005,
May 21
A
cemetery
restoration
event organized and led by
Psychiatric
Survivor Archives, Toronto
and Ed Janiszewski, a former employee of the hospital. This
originates the Lakeshore
Asylum Cemetery Project.
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