For Roland if you ever visit this gallery again - the toys were removed because the 'advocates' for the developmentally disabled decided it was demeaning for the residents to have them. Never mind that taking them away caused distress. So many of these advocates seem to think they know what's best for the residents even if it causes them to cry and mourn the loss. Just as they plan to move the people out of the only homes they have known because the 'advocates' know it's better for the people to live in the community. More integrated. How many DD friends do you have?

The eye of the artist...what an incredible picture.

That single spiderweb makes this shot. It tells the entire story of abandonment. A little masterpiece.

Ha 'cooking for fun' right after medication. And new 'demensions' - if that isn't the most ironic misspelling for this particular place! I'll BET they were demensions...

This is one of the most evocative photos in the galleries I've seen so far. The toy is not human, but it's of human and it makes me feel indescribably sad.

You are truly an artist,

Such a beautiful shot. Looks like an old engraving. Why do they have to destroy such beautiful buildings? Surely they could live again in some capacity.

The kids in these cribs were severely retarded, not mentally ill. I've seen old photos of them in use. They are high so the nurses could reach the little kids. These are all in storage now, but when they were in use, they just looked like cribs with kids in them.

Sorry to burst any bubbles, but it was juat a chapel in the administration building. It was multi-denominational. Both the Catholic and Jewish faiths did a lot of work at this institution.

So sad - this is now gone. It originally had parquet floors and a beautiful foyer. Burned in 2006.

Great you got this shot. This building has since been burned to the ground. I've seen pictures of the building from the 1920's and it was magnificent. I wish I could get copies of them to post.

Since I know exactly where this picture was taken FROM, I am amazed at your agiity and courage. I love the shot. I work at this site. It will be closed for good in 2009.