Laurelton State Village

Laurelton State Village was a former institution in Pennsylvania for individuals with developmental disabilities.

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Laurelton State Village, also known as the Pennsylvania Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age, Laurelton State School and Hospital, and Laurelton Center, was a former institution in Pennsylvania for individuals with developmental disabilities.

History

Laurelton State Village was originally established as the Pennsylvania Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age, admitting only women between the ages of 16 and 45. ^{1 2} The first institution of its kind in the United States, it was designed to detain, segregate, and care for mentally ill women within this age group.

Dr. Mary Wolfe was part of the team that selected the hospital’s location. ² Before this, she had served as an assistant physician at Norristown State Hospital and later became the chief physician of its women’s division until 1910. Following her tenure there, she opened a private sanitarium near Holmesburg.

The chosen site, located within Seven Mile Narrows in Bald Eagle State Forest, was ideal. ² The land was already state-owned and included nearby tillable farmland. This farmland was essential, as the state intended for patients to cultivate and harvest their own fruits, vegetables, and root crops, as well as raise livestock.

Wolfe was appointed hospital superintendent on July 15, 1914, as plans for the institution were being finalized. ²

Construction

Construction of the Pennsylvania Village for Feebleminded Women began soon after its establishment, and the facility was completed at the cost of $1.4 million in December 1919 with Cottages 1, 2, and 3. ^{1 2} Each cottage contained 25 rooms and was built using native mountain stone quarried from nearby state forestlands. ² The first female patient was admitted on January 2, 1920.

In 1923, the hospital was renamed Laurelton State Village. ²

In 1927, a dairy barn, hay barn, and sheepfold were built on the adjoining farm. ² That same year, a three-mile railroad spur was constructed from Laurel Park to Laurelton Village. The spur followed the path of a former narrow-gauge line used decades earlier by the Laurelton Lumber Company. It was used to transport coal to a newly built steam plant, which provided heat to all buildings on the property. The steam plant housed two 450-horsepower boilers and one 160-horsepower boiler.

An appropriation for the fiscal year 1928 allocated $500,000 for new buildings and improvements and $325,000 for maintenance, allowing the institution to double its capacity from 300 patients to 600. ⁷

Additional cottages were built over the following decades: Sleighter and Edgett in 1926, and Showalter in 1928, all ringing a central mall. ² The Mary S. Wolfe Administration Building was constructed at the mall’s south end in early 1937.

The Great Depression delayed construction at Laurelton State Village, ² but federal Public Works Administration (PWA) grants helped jumpstart construction of additional structures and improvements. ⁸

On September 30, 1937, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at Laurelton, where Governor Earle turned the first shovel of earth, marking the start of a $65 million statewide building program for mental, penal, correctional, health, military, and educational institutions. ⁶

The Laurelton project, funded in part by a $20 million federal Public Works Administration (PWA) grant and state Department of Welfare funding, totaled $1.225 million. ^{2 5 8} It included the construction of a 75-patient medical building, a recreation building with a dance hall, auditorium, and gymnasium, a sewage plant, and the Linn and McClure cottages for “quiet” and “troublesome” girls. General infrastructure improvements were also made, including the expansion of the heating plant and steam tunnels to support the new structures. ²

Additionally, the Stony Run Reservoir was built north of Laurelton to supply fresh water to the state hospital. ² The new buildings were constructed with steel and faced with locally quarried stone, reflecting a Colonial architectural style. ⁵

Operations

By May 1938, Laurelton State Village employed 122 staff members and housed 710 admitted females, with an additional 110 on parole and a waitlist of 600. ² With the completion of new cottages by the close of the decade, it had the capacity for 1,044 inmates. ⁵ By 1951, the number of admitted females had risen to 915, with 200 on probation. ²

Most residents were capable of performing manual labor. ² The cannery employed between 55 and 60 girls, while the kitchen and bakery employed another 100. Approximately 120 worked in the fields, and 55 were assigned to the laundry.

The farm’s productivity significantly reduced food costs at Laurelton. ² Wheat, corn, and oats were grown to support the dairy operation, while vegetable and root crops—such as potatoes, beans, onions, and carrots—were harvested, canned, or used on-site. Surplus food was sometimes shipped to other state institutions.

In 1961, Laurelton State Village was renamed the Laurelton State School and Hospital. ²

A new education building, one of the last major construction projects at the facility, was completed in 1969. ² Shortly after, the institution began admitting male residents. ^{1 2}

In 1976, the facility was renamed again, becoming Laurelton Center. ²

Building	Date of Construction	Usage
Biddle Hall (Cottage 2)	1918	Patient housing
Boiler Plant	1927	Steam, power
Brown Hall	1929	Laundry, Vocational Workshop
Derr Hall	1938	Hospital
Doctor’s Residence	1946	Doctor housing
Earle Hall	1928	Patient housing
Edgett Hall	1926	Patient housing
Glover Hall	1949	Patient housing
Greenhouse
Houser Building	1960	Garage, maintenance
Idell Building	1921	Laundry, canteen
Ireland Hall	1969	School
Johnston Hall	1952	Patient housing
Jolly Hall	1938	Patient housing
Karstetter Hall	1918	Patient housing
Linn Hall	1938	Patient housing
Lomison Hall	1918	Patient housing
McClure Hall	1938 or 1952	Patient housing
Moore Hall	1928	Patient housing
Moyer Hall	1938	Auditorium, gymnasium
Murdoch Hall	1922	Classrooms, chapel
Newman Building	1922	Nurse housing
Schooley Building	1959	Maintenance, storeroom
Showalter Hall	1928	Patient housing
Sleighter Hall	1926	Patient housing
Snyder Building	1928	Kitchen, dining
Superintendents Residence	1927	Superintendent housing
Vanuxem Hall	1965	Patient housing
Mary M. Wolfe Administration Building	1937	Offices, staff housing

Decline

Deinstitutionalization, the process of replacing long-term psychiatric hospitals with community-based mental health services, began in the 1960s. This shift was driven by socio-political changes favoring open hospitals, advances in psychotropic medications, and financial considerations. ³ Laurelton gradually reduced its resident population by releasing stabilized patients, shortening inpatient stays, and limiting new admissions and readmissions. Programs were introduced to reduce dependency, hopelessness, and other maladaptive behaviors.

In 1974, Laurelton State School and Hospital housed 460 residents, decreasing to 430 by 1978. ⁹ This decline reflected a statewide trend, with patient populations falling 25% from 1971 levels, dropping from 11,200 to 8,200. During the same period, funding for community living arrangements increased more than thirtyfold, reaching $30 million. If Laurelton were to close, Mental Health and Mental Retardation offices in surrounding counties would need to accommodate 210 residents.

In 1977, the state Department of Welfare announced plans to demolish underused buildings at Laurelton Center, including Cottage 4. ^{2 10} However, state representatives and other officials intervened, leading to the cancellation of demolition plans. Instead, some cottages were closed and mothballed.

In 1980, the Department of Public Welfare ended all farm operations at the state’s mental institutions to refocus the hospitals solely on patient care. ¹¹ This decision resulted in the furlough of 126 farm-related employees across ten mental hospitals and centers as part of a broader plan to eliminate 900 positions from the department’s 40,700-person payroll. At Laurelton, eight employees were affected. In 1982, the Department of General Services held a public auction to sell much of the farm machinery previously used at the facility. ²

Closure

In September 1996, the Department of Welfare announced plans to close the Laurelton Center, with the remaining 193 residents scheduled for transfer to other state institutions by June 30, 1998. ^{2 12 15} More than 400 employees were offered either transfers or severance packages. The residents, many of whom had severe mental disabilities requiring intensive care such as feeding tubes or continuous bed rest, were relocated to group homes in other communities or to the Selinsgrove Center. ^{12 14}

The cost of care for individuals with mental disabilities in state-run centers averaged approximately $100,000 per person per year, whereas care in community homes cost around $80,000 annually. ¹²

In 1997, a task force was established to evaluate potential reuse options for the Laurelton campus before its closure. ^{2 13} Those who toured the facility identified possible uses, including a retirement home and a foster care center. ¹³ The Mifflinburg Area School District also considered acquiring Ireland Hall to convert it into a school for elementary and middle school students, which would replace Laurelton Elementary School and consolidate students from existing schools in the area.

Two potential sales were explored through a bidding process in 1998—one to Hampton Laurelton Associates for $4 million and another to Hickernell Springs Resort. ^{2 16} The state terminated the Hampton Laurelton deal in 1999. ¹⁷ The Hickernell Springs Resort deal was canceled on September 18, 2001, due to a lack of financing for the $31 million project by the firm’s three partners and the rejection of a request for $10 million in state aid.

In the fall of 2002, Gary Ream, owner of Woodward Camp, expressed interest in purchasing the Laurelton Center, but negotiations were unsuccessful. ^{2 19} A sales agreement was signed in November, with a closing date set for June 2003. ¹⁹ However, concerns arose over whether Woodward would be liable for environmental pollution caused by leaking underground fuel tanks on the property, putting the deal at risk.

In June 2003, after Woodward was notified of the fuel leaks, the Department of General Services proposed amending the sales agreement to allow state environmental officials access to the property to monitor wells for additional contamination. ¹⁹ Woodward then requested a six-month extension to assess the extent of the issue, but the Department of General Services countered with a two-month extension. When Woodward rejected the offer, the department announced the cancellation of the sale.

A separate December 2004 proposal from Williamsport, Pennsylvania-based Firetree Ltd. to purchase the property for $885,000 and convert it into a drug and alcohol treatment center also fell through in January 2005 after the Department of General Services twice reneged on promises to close the deal. ^{18 20 21} Firetree later sued the state, alleging that an agreement had been in place and accusing the Department of General Services of bowing to pressure from state representative Russ Fairchild to cancel the sale following public opposition.

A Commonwealth Court panel upheld the state’s decision to terminate the agreement in March 2007. ²¹ It also stated that Fairchild could not be sued for opposing the Department of General Services’ decision to sell Laurelton because it was a legitimate legislative activity protected by the state constitution. The state’s Supreme Court ultimately dismissed Firetree’s appeals in April 2008. 22

In July 2005, the state sold the Laurelton Center to Gary Murphy of Maryland-based Mountain Valley Inc. for $1.75 million. ^{2 18} Murphy planned to transform the former hospital into a mountainside resort, including 125 hotel rooms in the Administration Building, two ballrooms, an indoor pool and health spa, an outdoor pool, two restaurants, and a convention center. The sale was controversial because Mountain Valley was incorporated just one day before Fairchild introduced House Bill 1745, which authorized the transaction. ¹⁸ Under state law, the legislature could bypass the standard bidding process for surplus state property through a simple majority vote, without public hearings.

Five cottages were to be converted into condominiums for corporate use, and a Palmer-designed golf course was planned to wrap around the resort. ⁴ The redevelopment project was expected to cost $5 million for hazardous material and asbestos abatement, $19 million for building renovations, and $7 million for the golf course.

While Murphy never started work on the resort proposal, Mountain Valley Customs, an automotive detailing and fabrication business, operated from a garage at Laurelton from 2008 ²⁵ until 2013. ²³

In 2014, the Just for Jesus Challenge Homeless Outreach Ministry, founded by Jack Wisor, considered using the Laurelton property for a homeless shelter that would house parolees completing sentences for sex, violence, and drug-related crimes. ²³ Wisor, a controversial religious leader and founder of the First Apostles’ Doctrine Church in Brockway and Brookville, had previously operated shelters in those Jefferson County boroughs. However, he had faced criticism for failing to maintain or repair the buildings and for housing residents with criminal histories who required more supervision than he provided.

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Buildings

Mary S. Wolfe Administration Building

The Mary S. Wolfe Administration Building was completed in 1938.

Cottages

Biddle Hall, also known as Cottage 2, was completed in 1918 and named after Judge Edward W. Biddle, the first president of the Board of Managers. ⁹ Another cottage, Linn Hall, was named for Philip G. Linn, father of Merrill W. Linn, a member of the board of trustees, ⁵ and Glover Hall was named for Dr. Glover, who was associated with Laurelton.

Derr Medical Building

The Derr Medical Building was constructed in 1938 and accommodated 75 patients. ⁵

Ireland Hall

Ireland Hall, a school, was added in 1969. It features a dozen classrooms, a library, offices, a large multi-purpose room, a kitchen, and an elevator. ¹⁵

Moyer Hall

Built in 1938, Moyer Hall served as the recreation building. Originally named Earle Recreation Hall, it honored Mrs. George H. Earle Jr., the mother of Governor Earle. ⁵ She had been a member of Laurelton’s board of trustees since its founding and served as its president for the first ten years.

Other

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Further Reading

1. The Laurelton History Project

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Sources

1. “Laurelton State Village.” Asylum Projects.
2. “Laurelton State Village.” Millmont Times, 1 Dec. 2011, pp. 2-8. Article.
3. The Rockland Campus Plan. New York State Office of Mental Health, 1989.
4. “Transformation Planned for Laurelton Center.” Cybergolf.com, article.
5. “Advances at Laurelton Village.” The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, 10 Jun. 1937, p. 1.
6. “Governor Earle Broke Ground at Laurelton.” The Selinsgrove Times, 30 Sept. 1937, p. 6.
7. “District Gets a Record Sum in Appropriations.” Shamokin News-Dispatch, 11 May 1927, p. 1.
8. “Earle Starts New Building at Laurelton.” The Daily Item, 23 Sept. 1937, p. 1.
9. Merkel, Jim. “Beginning of the end for institutions for the retarded?” TheDaily Item, 10 Apr. 1978, pp. 1-3.
10. “‘Demolish’ restudy is worth the effort.” The Daily Item, 19 Feb. 1977, p. 4.
11. “All 7 furloughed farm workers back on job.” The Daily Item, 28 May 1980, p. 28.
12. Goodridge, Harold. “Laurelton closing completes transfer of county patients.” Centre Daily Times, 1 Jul. 1998, p. 5A.
13. Vanslavie, Richard. “Task force weighs options.” The Daily Item, 29 Jul. 1997, pp. C1-C5.
14. Conrad, Ed. “State to furlough 19 at White Haven Center.” Standard-Speaker, 12 Sept. 1996, p. 17.
15. Vanslavie, Richard. “District eyes Laurelton Center hall.” The Daily Item, 18 Aug. 1997, p. A6.
16. Leepple, G. Wayne. “Commissioners stay mum on debt service.” The Daily Item, 6 Jun. 2001, p. 28.
17. Swift, Robert B. “State cancels sales agreement for Laurelton Center property.” The Daily Item, 19 Sept. 2001, pp. A1-A8.
18. DeKok, David. “Measure clears path for Laurelton Center sale.” The Patriot-News, 7 Jul. 2005, p. 19.
19. Swift, Robert B. “Laurelton Center proves to be a difficult sale.” The Daily Item, 21 Jul. 2003, pp. A1-A4.
20. “State accepts Laurelton bid.” The Patriot-News, 3 Dec. 2004, p. C2.
21. Beauge, John. “Developer fights court decision that shielded legislator from suit.” The Patriot-News, 29 Mar. 2007, p. A7.
22. Beauge, John. “Court turns away immunity lawsuit.” The Patriot-News, 3 Apr. 2008, p. B6.
23. Socha, Evamarie. “Preacher eyes Laurelton for cons, homeless.” The Daily Item, 26 Jan. 2014, pp. A1-A4.
24. “Does Laurelton homeless plan have a prayer?” The Daily Item, 9 Feb. 2014, p. A6.
25. “Now Open.” The Daily Item, 7 Nov. 2008, p. C5.