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Whîtby Free Preo, Wednesday, March 16, 1994, Page 17 Saving, the past1 for the future B y theWhItbly Local Archiecua, Conservation Advisory Committo. 'he. Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital in getting a new home, and the redevelopment will create the potontial loss of a number of historically significant structures. When patients and staff move into their new building, now under construction, most of the existing structures will b. declared surplus. The Ministry 'of Culture Tourism and Recreation (MCTRS conducted a study to rate the buildings and identified 14 buildings within the loop' as being historically significant (the loop is the circular access road that looks like a butterfly when seen from the air). The study aiseoencluded that although some buildings were more significant than others, saving or resto ing just one or two buûildings would not provide sufficient evidence detailing the evolution of the health care system. The buildings, as a whole, must b. saved. The hospital has been a big part of the Whitby community since Feb. 17, 1912. That's when the Ontario governmont annoumced it would build an 'asylum' in Wbitby. The announcement stated that the hospital would be built according to the plan of thegea Centre Islay Asylum at Ln Island, N.Y. Yet there are European influences in the design cf the Whitby buildings. It was one cf the firet mental hospitals in the world te ho built wiha system cf cottages rather than a usingle building. Patients lived in emal residences sipread over a large area on the shore of Lake Ontario. The design provided a home- like atmosphere in a fresh air surrounding. Ail buildings were constructd to make maimum use cf sunlight. A walk outside was necessary te get meals, as dining halls were in separate In din . wea part of the original plan te make the hospital self-sustaning. Net only would this provide food andmnilk or te patients, but alec vgive them healthy outdoor exorcise. At the time, all of these concepts were quito revolutionary. Moet cf the hospital buildings were completed by 1916, and a few patients fromn Toronto wore admitted. But the hopialwa largely unoccupied, an d World War -I casualtios were returning home needing hospital bedi. An aranemnt was made in Pebrary1917 te allow the federal Iovernment to use the From 1917 te, 1919 the hospital was known as *hitb Mlitary Convalescent HosMie Wfith 1,000 woundod soldiers at the hospital and viitors coming from Toironto, a railway lino was built from Whiùtby Junction Station to theronds. The first 0 pa tietsarrived from the Queen StreetAsylum in Toronto on Oct. 23, 1919. This WHITBY PSYCHIATRIG Hospital buildings consldered for preservaton by the Ontario niement are shown in a photograph, one othe mf Irst of Whltby taken f rom an airpiane, In marked the. official opening cf Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital as; a mone hoath facility. During the 1920a and 1930a, the hospital was one cf the most modern and advanced institu- tions cf its kind. Vieitors were 1919. WhItby 'LACAC ls Intereratod In their preservation and wilI be consulting with Ontario govemment officiais to determine their future use. attracted from ail over the world. They came te study the facilities and treatment methods. The management board secretariat cf the Ontario government will declare the lande as surplus. When this happons, the. Whitby Local Architetural Conservation Ad"iszycommit- tee (LACAC) will1 become .involved. L4 CA C le a committe.that aduioe JlItby counclon hbal- Rogers introduces Welcome 10 our new service designed 10 make your life simpter. It works like this. Caîl us up. Make an appointment. Pick out a one-hour tirne siot. A technician will be there within that hour. End of story. No fuss, and no hanging around the house ail day waiting for someone 10 show up. 'Don't Wait Around' appointments are available seven IMÎL 0 àW'~VTi!TT days a week: eight arn to seven pmn weekdays, nine to four Saturdays and Sundays. If you need help outside those hours we have a 24-hour technical service phone line. We appreciate there's a lot of skepticism these days when it cornes to prompt service. That's why we're working so hard to make ours even better. appol ntments. RG&GERS Cablesystems You'II see more1 -~~~~~~~ý Ob'f *'a*,. . , - j-.. from us. A