Good times, walked through the flooded Kirkbride Center building tunnels a few times with other patients in 1988/89 and once i found some old shackles and newspapers, wonder what happened to the two lion statues at the front doors.

Yessir!

I Was the Mason there this Time Around. Now that it's Over it's Probably My #1 Project I've Ever been a Part of!

Mr. Alft was a cool dude. I miss seeing him around town on his bike

This hospitol killed my grandmother

Didn't one of the Damischs attended the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland?

I travel this road a lot. I was at the lee county historical society and saw this book. I read the first half, i couldn't put it down. So good. When was this presentation?

good afternoon. I've been enjoying the documentary but I was wondering if the name John Doran in the 1800s somehow plays into this history

can't understand. garbled

OMG 😢 how far away were you from the microphone????!!!!!Sooooooo disappointed. I really REALLY wanted to listen to this since I only live a mile away from the old watch factory. 😢

It was hard to hear you sometimes, when you turned away from the camera. A voice-over might have been better. The ambient traffic noises are distracting, as well.

I just received some items from my husbands grandmother in original packages from LeeWards-i googled info on it and this came up! Thank you for doing this video- I never would have remembered LeeWards as we lived in Carpentersville growing up but my husband's grandmother was from down south IL. The price on the kit was $1.49 for 2 pillow cases to embroider - she never completed the project. I may have to do it for her :)

My Great grandfather is buried there. Maybe this year I will pay him a visit. Is the cemetery open for visitors ??

I am glad I did not have to go there in 1872, probably torture back then. I was in their in the late 80's and it was terrible. Packed like sardines and pills handed out to keep all sedated lol. There was a patient with aids cutting and bleeding they got the bleach out quick and there was one guy who masturbated into the drinking fountain. Yikes, I was young, my bipolar has gotten better thank God.

Thank you for this wonderful documentary.

THIS WAS FANTASTIC ! THANK YOU SO MUCH !

The elgin illinois tornado along with the other tornadoes of the tornado outbreak of 1920/03/28 is a often forgotten disaster. The tri state tornado of 1925 is remembered the most among tornadoes and tornadoes of the 1920's. But the tornadoes of this outbreak caused a combined death toll of 153 fatalities, over 1,200 injuries. And it took place across the midwest and southern parts of the United States. Rest in peace all the victims and survivors of the march 28th 1920 tornado outbreak. Gone but never forgotten.

I heard it was haunted

Important information, very hard to find. Thank you.

my great grandma was lobotomized here in 1964 😳

I spent two weeks at elgin state years ago. I was suicidal.

Great coverage on the topic.

Very cool, great information..thank you!

What a wonderful presentation. I am proud to know that I had ancestors in Elgin at the time. I hope they were not the rude citizens though!

❤ BEAUTIFUL TO SEE AGAIN, MY HOME TOWN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING ⚘🇺🇸🙏🦋

ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES! THANK YOU FOR SHARING ⚘🇺🇸🙏🦋

❤ MR. ALFT WAS ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER. I BOUGHT HIS BOOK. NICE TO SEE ELGIN AGAIN. HAVEN'T THERE SINCE 2016. THANKS FOR SHARING, ALOT HAS CHANGED. MOVED AWAY IN 1999. THANKS AGAIN, ⌚🌹❤👍🇺🇸🙏🦋

❤ Really enjoyed seeing my home town. Thank you for sharing, loved it! ⌚⚘🇺🇸🙏🦋

Very well presented👍🏻🚂

WOW! Gorgeous...

Had the pleasure of meeting the narrator today, it was a pleasure. Great documentary!

Nice to see what is happening in Elgin and Kane co. All my children were born in Elgin and the area will always be special to me.

I remember the bayonet I grew up walking the city

Nice !

A pleasure to watch, and such great information! Thanks. 👍🏻

You missed the Pioneer Memorial statue that was featured on a U.S. Commemorative Silver Half Dollar in 1936. This valuable half dollar was issued on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Elgin.

Thanks for creating the video of this presentation. Much appreciated.

great vid !!

Hey..Nice Shirt George Rowe!

Hi! Love hearing this family story today! Mary Edwards

This is such important history......that is why things like this need to be taught in our schools.

Wow

What a sweet man

Thank You so much for posting. I still have all the handmade ornaments from Lee Wards that my Mom made.

Thank you for this video. Very well done

This type of history on the Elgin watch company is fantastic. thank you so much for setting this up. I would look forward to more videos on the topic

This is tremendous research I live not too far from Dixon I’m gonna go find the spot and pay my respects

I remember the old buildings . The place gave me the creeps . Haunted tunnels rumor has it . Sad about the graves in back of the place . 🥺

Nicely done Bill as usual. This needs to be distributed and seen more widely, especially for those who advocate for those with serious mental illnesses. The city of Elgin has an amazing historian treasure with Mr. Briska. But people need to know the rest of the story. All that community care after the mass exit to save money isn’t exactly cracked up as was delineated by the Kennedy administration. In other words, it is a colossal failure and will never be able to match the care given at the Elgin’s state hospital. Could you add the address or phone where to order this book? Thanks.

Thank you for updating your book! Do you know of a resource that describes the legal process to have someone declared insane in Illinois during the 1890’s? The newspapers from back in the day published lists of people declared insane by court order, but little else.