Dormitory

got a military barracks look to it

I have to agree with Yaggy on this one. It really is sort of depressing, isn't it?

I forgot in my first comment on this batch that this is an institution, not a regular school...it's horrible to think that children lived here, :( it's so cold...the windows are even uglier from the inside.

It probably looked friendlier with all the bunks, furniture, lighting, and amenities. On the other hand, maybe it was always a dump. You could have had really nice private rooms for the kids, but the taxpayers wouldn't want to pay!

Now like many of the parts of this building it gives a sense of total emptiness.

that finger!!

yeah it does kinda look like a barricks! good call

looks like someone is flippin the bird at the end of the room

it used to be a military prision during ww2 i think

Read! All of teh military buildings except the hospital, the morgue, and the administrations building, where destroyed spare a few. This building was built for the "school". They were built during a time when a kid would simply be disowned or sent away for being retarded. No one gave a care where they were or how comfortable they were. It was built for cheapness. "Whats the least we can spend; recycle an older facility and build prefab dorms. Who cares, the taxpayers don't care about the retarded." <that kind of mentality.

i enjoy this room a lot, i guess me and my friends are the "vandals" you guys are constantly refering too, we go there about every weekend and just kinda sneak around and try to run from security. has anyone else ran into the bicycle patrol man? me and my friends call him larry and supposedly is a nam vet, hes even caught some of my friends before but we always manage to get away, lets just say hes not that good at running. idk what to say, i really like dever and hanging out there, i have yet to find the pool but i have slept over night at dever with some friends, because there is a somewhat recent building near the hq that has mattresses in it. oh yeah and its always fun to find full fire extinguishers, they are so fun to play with

it looks like a military camp cuz it used to be one in ww2

Reminds me of the old Bellevue Hospital

Dig the grafitti "Bird" on the back wall

I don't know if everyone realizes that this place has over 30+ buildings including group homes that are still active to this day. It is NOT completely shut down yet. Not to mention MSP train there with dogs and 911 training center for the state. I would'nt want to get caught in there. It is a rather interesting place to go for a walk during the day ...night no way. Asking for trouble. I do like the pics though. :)

It should be demolished now

it wasnt like that at all .i worked there and the people we serviced were very well taken care of.

I worked with the ones that left there and they were never normal again. The dormatory? look at the room. Cant you imagine 20-30 bed lined up in there?

good shit

check out my middle finger from 6 years ago haha

Does anyone know what building these pictures are from?
I've worked in Wreantham and the old buildings there I've toured looks the same as these.

there acually called wards. that is paul dever state school

Wow i cant believe people acctually lived like this and noone cared how badly they were treated. Im just glad they have better facilitys where people with developmental disabilities can live and be happy and treated the right way.

Rita, as you stated " the people that left were never 'normal' again?" I hate to tell you this, but in most cases, the people that left there were most likely never quite 'normal' to begin with. Back in the '50's and '60's it was considered "normal" to put your mentally disabled child in schools like this...as harsh as that may sound... but it really was what was considered best for all concerned. Many Dr's advised parents of newborn retarded children of this option, out of concern for both parents and the children involved. You have to remember that back in those dark days people did not have the options readily available to them for in home care, as we do now. it would create a very real hardship on most couples and their families, and this was the next best thing. if families could have afforded to keep their children, many probably would have. I worked in this particular school for 18 years, and am still working for the state in a group home for a total of 25 years. All of my clients were loved and cared for like they were family by many devoted staff over the years. It may have once seemed like a "cold place" but by the time I got there in 1985, it was transformed and the " bad seed " staff were generally weeded out.

I worked here for many years and the dormitories were not set up with beds just lining the walls. It was set up like individual rooms. You people have quite the imaginations. Also, I never in my years there so anyone mistreated or abused. On the contrary most of the workers cared deeply for the people they were taking care of.

I giggled at the rude finger. (God I suck)

even so, I can't imagine my sweet nephew in a place like this. Thank goodness we've got people out there who still care for the mentally & physically disabled in small group homes, taking them to the beach, on "vacations" and shopping, birdwatching and the like. Those folks deserve our admiration.