In 1909, New York opened a brand new facility for the aid and housing of, as the literature declares, the "feeble minded and epileptics" of that state. The new facility was named for William Pryor Letchworth, a key player in its creation, and a noted humanitarian of the time. In order to avoid creating an institutional environment for the patients, the grounds were arranged much like a college campus, with a multitude of structures dotting the landscape. The buildings were relatively small, typically not exceeding two stories in height, and were inspired by the aesthetics of Greek architecture. Walls of carefully hand-cut stone punctuated by arched windows and column-girded doorways could be found at every turn. Short walks across grassy lawns separated the buildings, and the greater campus, known as Letchworth Village, housed its own power plant, farmland, waste disposal and water supply. It was the first of its breed - A village-styled hospital center that was all-inclusive and could operate completely isolated from the outside world...


The full story can be found here -
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Documentary audio and video clips were taken from
"The Last Great Disgrace" a 1970's exposé about Willowbrook and Letchworth Village by Geraldo Rivera.


Music - "The Host of Seraphim" by Dead Can Dance

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