May 4 to 8, 2015 Journey in Mental Health Care. Past, Present & Future. Should be interesting...
I recently was contacted by a grand-daughter of the first Head male nurse at Essondale, AKA Riverview Hospital; after I had posted a little information about Gilbert Mathewson. And I was delighted to recieve in the mail, a small photo album, that was created by her grandmother, and it actually appears to be a souvenir of the opening of the Male Chronic Wing, AKA West Lawn, it contains many pictures of the new building. And also the grandmother, Margaret A. Mathewson, inserted some family and local photographs on the blank pages, a real treasure this little album is, most of the photographs are 100 years old or nearly.
I will slowly scan and attempt to identify the exact locations of the photographs.
I am honoured to gave been given this album, but I think that after I make a high-resolution copy of it, I will donate it to a museum.
Western Studios, appears to have been started by Paul Seligman (1865-?) operated from 1913-1914, probably a little longer, before he moved to Oregon to ply his trade.
A view out the main entrance of West Lawn, note the beautiful marble, it is stunning to see it with your own eyes.
