Remembering Rose Ellen Part 12: The dreaded side room
“Rosie jumped out dorm window and ran away.”
Then, after “straying” from the cottage, she is put in a side room.
The staff note reads, “Rose is small in stature, eats good, wets the bed every night. She has strayed from the cottage, and had to be put in the side room. Today she strayed to McDonagle Cottage, had to be brought back, she cried, wants to go back to Harper.”
The mention of the word “side room” brought tears to my eyes. It was an abrupt reminder that Rose Ellen was not living in an old-fashioned school for girls. She was not at boarding school. She was institutionalized.
I only hope that her time there was short and infrequent. For others, that was not the case. A “side room,” where inmates in the old days were put for punishment, was unadorned except for a light bulb and bucket, which served as a toilet.
A standard punishment for those who did try to escape, before Sasser’s time, was confinement to one of the “side rooms,” makeshift cells in the dormitories. The side rooms were small, about 9 feet by 12, and had one strong door and one heavily screened window. Overhead a powerful light bulb glowed 24 hours a day. In addition to the bulb the only object in the room was a bucket. Men were confined to these rooms, naked, three at a time, for periods of days or weeks. They would scratch at the plaster walls with their fingernails until they worked through to the lath. Sometimes, finding a metal nail in the lath, they would write on the walls. Over many years the walls and even the ceilings became covered with inscriptions. In one side room, for example, there are more than 500 inscriptions, only two of which are obscene. In contrast, the word “love” appears dozens of times, as does the Christian cross, together with many phrases such as “Mom”.and Dad” and “I love my God very much” (Wallace, 1958).
1970-1971 Move to South Bend
In November of 1970, the institution was making arrangements to discharge Rose Ellen to a nursing home. Sadly, this coincided with a particularly harsh and cruel period of my Grandmama’s life.
A full sixty pages of letters and documents were included in the archives from one year Nov. 1970-Nov. 1971 concerning the move from Fort Wayne to a nursing home. In January 1971, Miss Diane Knothe, Social Worker, wrote a letter to my mother letting her know a staffing situation had occurred. It reads:
“A recent unit staffing involving all the hospital’s disciplines felt that our hospital had offered to your sister all the training that it could.” Miss Knothe suggests that a nursing home could give her as good or even better care. She tells my Mom that “Rose Ellen comes to visit her at least once a day to tell her that she wants to be placed in a nursing home in South Bend. This could be easily arranged if you and your mother would so desire. Perhaps if Rose Ellen was nearby, it would be easier for you and the other family members to visit.”
My Grandmama was quite distraught at the thought of Rose Ellen being moved to a new facility. She expresses her deep fears in the following letter.
Dear Miss Knothe, Jan 24, 1971
I would be glad to meet Kathleen Bajo. Mrs or Miss?
In the meeting you write about, the main thing has been overlooked_ home, the belonging place.
Rose Ellen was 19 when she went to Ft. Wayne. Shortly she was placed at Harper Lodge where she has remained almost continuously. She’s 60. When 6 years old, we put her in Molly Woods hare school, Langhorne, Pa. where she learned, including third grade and perfect needlework. During the first depression we had not have enough money for there, so put her in Dr. Sylvester School, Des Moines, Iowa. Again, no money caused us to bring her home at 18 years. For a year we tried to help her “fit in”. Week after week we watched her get…… (missing page?)
And now you want to take her from the only home she has known.
In a new place her speech would not be understood. I cannot understand her. She would know no one. She would be lost and crushed again. Would other residents accept her? No way to know. I will soon be gone. I rarely see my daughter here. She could not assume more; her life is very complicated.
Rose Ellen in a new place, new everything, could it ever be home? How long would that take? I was glad when she was returned to Harper after the roof blew off Dunham. She went home. Many supervisors have been there. Each one told me Rose Ellen was satisfied there. Poor little Rose Ellen whom I dearly love, my first thought on waking and last before sleep.
Mrs. E.D. Skeen
Her worries and anxiety about Rose Ellen just continued. In March she writes,
“Dear Sir,
Yesterday afternoon, I called Saint Joseph County Health and Welfare to give and asked for a report on a visit to Fountain View Home in Elkhart. I was asked to see another nursing home, Ridgedale Nursing Home, in South Bend…” she ends, “I will be relieved when this is settled. I am sure you will be also.”
She seems to be warming, slightly, to the idea of a move and is willing to take steps. But, then, just a few weeks later she sent the following letter. Dated March 20, 1971, it is in response to the Progress Review held the past November. She is notably upset at the errors in the report and this is where I learn that Rose Ellen had her teeth pulled and was not fitted with dentures and she was not given adequate vision care. Her alarm is visceral. I feel it too and ache for her and for Rose Ellen. She states that she is “distressed beyond description”. Reading this, so am I.
Dear Sir,
The report of Unit A Planning and Progress Review Proceedings sent to me, is over your signature. That holds you responsible for it. It is full of wrong statements and suggested ones. I will keep it.
Frist- the name is Rose Ellen, not “Rosellen”. In all business matters correct names are necessary.
Second- you write, “fair amount of interest has been maintained in Rose Ellen by her mother, Mrs. Joel Bullard.”. Mrs. Bullard is not her mother. Nor is she 85 years old. Didn’t Mrs. Barnes have anything to say on this point? I can not understand how, as person in charge at Harper, she wouldn’t know and tell about a letter to Rose Ellen coming from me each week always written on Sunday, canteen money always in Rose Ellen’s account and a package for her from me arriving often.
Dec. 4th, 1969 I was on my way to see her when an accident left me with both legs broken, and arm, neck and ribs. It was Feb. 1970 when St. Joseph hospital released me. I was in no condition to know much that occurred in the hospital. It was May 1970 before I could try to walk. I resumed weekly letters to Rose Ellen before I could walk.
Three-Further in your letter- “she (Mrs. Bullard) has indicated that in the event of Rosellen’s death etc.” Wrong. Dr. and Mrs. Skeen, about ten years ago made death arrangements with Welsheimer Funeral Home, South Bend, for themselves and Rose Ellen.
Four-Mrs. Bullard does not receive social security benefits.
Five- If transfer from Dunham is included, the reason should be given-wind blew roof off Dunham
Six- Rose Ellen was not educated in private schools ten years before going to Fort Wayne State School. It was fourteen years.
Seven- “Rosellen is no problem in the cottage as long as she has her knitting and thread.” Doesn’t; this suggest she causes trouble when she isn’t doing something?”
Here the letter continues with Grandmama asking that a corrected version of the report be sent to Ridgedale Nursing Home in South Bend. She closes with some serious complaints.
“The reason Rose Ellen has no dentures. The school advised me her health would improve if her teeth were extracted. They never made dentures fit, so they could be worn.”
Dr. Skeen and I wanted her eyes tested. The school advised no. She could get along without glasses.
A tremendous amount rests on your letter to Ridgedale Home.
I am distressed beyond description, first, because you want Rose Ellen removed, second, for her to adjust to a new place, third, I am past 86 and just must live to see this move accomplished.
Yours truly,
Mrs. E. D. Skeen
In mid-April three letters were written and sent confirming that Rose Ellen will be placed at the Carlyle Nursing Home in South Bend, on Thursday April 22,1971. But my Grandmama was confused. All that remains is the first page of the following letter she wrote:
Dear Sir,
I do not understand the legal or financial aspects of the Rose Ellen Skeen transfer.
I have received nothing in writing to which I can refer.
I do not remember telephone calls explaining.
Please write a complete. Detailed clarification of this.
Mrs. Knothe then wrote to my mom to put into writing the discussion they had by telephone.
April 21, 1971, The unit staffing recommendations were discussed again and it was shared that all the correct forms had been submitted and signed by Mrs. Skeen.And then the real explanation on how, when and why, Rose Ellen was being moved was stated.
“Perhaps it would help if I would explain a little of the background leaving up to our recommendation to place Rose Ellen in a nursing home. About three years ago, the Commissioner of Mental Health of Indiana and the commissioners of states all over the nation suggested a change in philosophy for all mental institutions to adopt regarding the care they offered to their residents. Institutions in Indiana now only accept those people who can benefit from some type of training offered by institutional disciplines. Our geriatric have received this training and can no longer benefit from the services offered, other than mainly custodial care. Our hospital has been directed to place as many people as possible back in the community to make room for younger retardates who can definitely benefit from training. Under this philosophy and state directive, the major goal of our social service department is to find satisfactory placements for our geriatric residents.
Mr. and Mrs. Bullard, I am sure you can understand the idea of making room in our hospital for younger retardates who can gain from training we offer and return to live as productive a life as is possible in the community. Right now our hospital has no choice but to find alternative placements for our geriatric residents. Since you are unable to keep Rose Ellen in your home, we are placing her in a nursing home.
We are not on a campaign to indiscriminately place our residents but want to better their station in life.” – Miss Diane Knothe
The end of the letter states how successful they have been in placing residents. “143 were placed last year and only 6 had returned.”
The move was made and still the flurry of desperate communication continued. The latest is a Western Union Telegram.
1117A EST APR 23 71 DEA679
DR ACKERMAN SUPERINTENDENT
FT WAYNE STATE HOSPITAL AND TRAINING CENTER FT WAYNE IND
ROSE ELLEN WAS BROUGHT HERE AGAINST MY WISHES CARLYLE NURSING HOME HAD TO CALL THE DOCTOR FOR HER TONIGHT BECAUSE OF HER BEING TERRIBLY DISTURBED IT WOULD BE A CRIME TO MAKE HER GO THROUGH THIS TIME AFTER TIME TO ADJUST. YEARS AGO BEFORE FT WAYNE DR SKEEN AND I KEPT HER HOME FOR A YEAR SHE WAS WRETCHED PLEASE RETURN HER TO FT WAYNE IMMEDIATELY.
MRS E V SKEEN
There is one last handwritten letter, again addressed to Dr. Ackerman. Grandmama tries hard to convince him that Rose Ellen needs to be moved back to Fort Wayne. She implores him to let her be settled “in her real home” before her time is done.
The final words cut right to the heart.
“Just now at 10:00am I was called from the nursing home where Rose Ellen is.
I am going to make a statement which I could never prove because it would be denied. Much too often when we had her home it would happen. She is not wanted where she is. I went to several homes and in none did I see anyone who did not appear and look normal. Have you seen Rose Ellen? I wouldn’t think so nor expect it. She is pathetic and is not normal-looking. She is not wanted and as my last letter said, she is terribly worried and lost. A doctor was called.
Please take her back to be among those like herself and fit in and be “home”.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Skeen
She didn’t get moved back to Fort Wayne and as far as I know, she did adjust. The Social Worker from the nursing home sent a letter to the director at Harper Lodge in Fort Wayne, asking them to continue to correspond with Rose Ellen. She writes, “Rose Ellen seems to be adjusting to her new life here very well. However, she does miss some of her friends from Harper Lodge and has written a letter to them. If possible, would you please encourage their corresponding with her as it will surely cheer her up and help to alleviate some of her fears about her new home.”
Once again, on April 26th, Miss Knothe wrote to my Grandmama. “She appreciates her concern for Rose Ellen and was moved by her note the following evening (April 22nd) she called Carlyle. The head nurse and administrator assured Miss Knothe that Rose Ellen was “getting along beautifully. They did not contact her doctor for tranquilizing medication or for any other medical care. She was eating well and seemed “quite satisfied”.
The final document included in this trove of information, is a letter dated April 29, 1971. I will include it here in its entirety. It is from Mrs. Janice Baker, Social Worker and Dr. Ora A. Ackerman, Ed. D. Superintendent.
Dear Mrs. Skeen,
Your correspondence to Dr. Ackerman was referred to me for a thorough investigation of your complaints. After consulting several people who know Rose Ellen best and having a lengthy conversation with Mrs. Visniewske at the nursing home I am convinced that Rose Ellen has accepted her new home happily. Mrs. Visnieski described to me the joy Rose Ellen exhibited after painting a bowl and pitcher in her ceramics class. The nurses here have a cat here to which Rose Ellen has taken a liking. They allow her to put a leash on the cat and walk it around the halls. The attachment has proven to be beneficial for Rose and a great source of satisfaction and amusement.
You stated that because Rose Ellen is “different” she was not wanted at Carlyle. The other patients and the staff members, I was told, have described Rose as being adorable, sweet and a joy to have around. Mrs. Visnieski said Rose writes little notes to her and other staff members expressing her thanks for various services offered to her. They remarked that Rose certainly must have had some good training in manners and in being a lady, as I’m sure she did.
Mr. and Mrs. Bullard seemed anxious to hear what the law states on the matter of mental health patients. I cannot quote the law to you , but I can tell you that the staff at Fort Wayne State Hospital and Training Center is in the best position to decide what course of action is to be taken on present and future plans for their patients. The staff to which I refer is composed of a medical director, a psychologist, a speech and hearing therapist, a nurse, an activity therapist, a social worker and the aides that care for the patients physical needs. This group of people consider all aspects of each patient’s existence here, and after discussing at length the various proposals, arrive at what they believe to be the best possible decision for each individual.
It is the sole responsibility of the hospital staff to determine what needs to be admitted and who is ready for release.
We appreciate the fact that change is, at times, difficult for people to accept, especially when it involves loved ones. Although, we have found that our judgment was in error on a few occasions, for the most part, the patients we have placed have made excellent adjustment and are often happier in their new home than they were where.
Hopefully, over the next few weeks you, too, will recognize that Rose Ellen is enjoying her new life at Carlyle and that she is truly better off there than she was in Fort Wayne. We are not without sympathy for you as you attempt to readjust your thinking about Rose Ellen. Please do try to accept our judgment in this matter. We will do whatever we can to help make these next few weeks easier for you and your family.
From time to time one of our special workers travels to South Bend to make calls. If at any time you would like to see one of our workers please let us know. Someone will be happy to stop by and talk with you.
Yours Truly
Mrs. Janice Baker
Social Worker, Ora A. Ackerman, Ed. Superintendent
P.S. The reason the doctor was called was to obtain Rose’s admitting orders which is routine for all new admissions. The nursing home must do this to comply with Medicaid and Medicare standards. Rose was not disturbed.