Remembering Rose Ellen Part 11: Moving Rose Ellen
There was an early period where my grandparents feared Rose Ellen would be moved. A very polite exchange of letters took place then as well (dated March of 1962). The facility was growing rapidly and overcrowding and crumbling buildings were a constant threat even then. My grandparents were reassured that her cottage was not affected by a recent building closure. But what I found so touching was the prompt response and reassurance they received from the social worker.
“If a transfer for Rose Ellen should need to be considered at any time, her happiness and friendships would be of a prime concern.”
Yours Truly,
(Miss) Karen Winje
Social Worker
The documents reveal that Rose Ellen moved at least a few times during her decades-long stay at Fort Wayne.
It’s a bit hard to piece together the moves from Dunham Hall to Harper Lodge or vice versa but what is clear is that Rose Ellen did not like the change if her “girlfriend” was not moved with her.
Writing to Mrs. Young, Grandmama says, in reference to an earlier move,
A … ago someone wrote to me saying how happy Rose Ellen was in Dunham Cottage. Because of that I was looking forward full of pleasure in seeing her there today, September 20. Rose Ellen was waiting at the door for us. But it wasn’t Rose Ellen child stomped her foot and sobbed bitterly and wrote how she missed “sweet” Harper. Her eyes looked as if she had been crying the month she has been at Dunham. 25 from Harper are there but her friends are at Harper I was told. My feelings are not to be ……. (end of letter is missing).
In September of 1967, Papa Don wrote the following letter to Dr. Ackerman, the Superintendent of the institution.
Dear Dr. Ackerman,
We went to visit Rose Ellen today after receiving the enclosed letter from her new home in Dunham Hall for she seemed very happy with the change.
To say that we were startled with the change shown in her mental condition and her outbursts of sobbing would be to put it mildly. She is one of those kinds of people who become attached to their surroundings and attendants and she is extremely homesick for Harper and the belongings she had there.
We had to leave her without being able to get her to see that she was changed because of her being one of the older residents and that it was for her benefit that all the fine new surroundings were provided.
We are seriously concerned about her mental state and just possibly it would be a help to her to adjust if she knew that she could be returned to Harper later. And another item worth considering would be to return to her the footlocker she had at Harper with her sewing that she loves so well and is constantly busy about. She also lost a Judy Monkey doll in the change and if that could be found would be of help.
We are making the request of you that she be returned to Harper and if possible, to her old room and bed and it seems feasible to do this by merely making an exchange rather than waiting for a vacancy in Harper.
As you review our files, I am sure you will find not a single mention of any criticism, as this is certainly not. We think that the new facilities are a truly wonderful work that you and your staff have done and we intend to make an effort to say so to the ones higher up and who aided you.
I’m sorry we could not have seen you personally for a letter is such a cold and impersonal thing, but I am sure you will realize that we are interested only in the welfare of our daughter who has been so well cared for over these many years.
Sincerely,
E.D. Skeen
Dr. Ackerman refuses their request to move Rose Ellen back to her old home in Harper Lodge. “It will not be possible to make a trade of a resident at Harper so that your daughter may be returned there.” It continues, adding that “Harper was seriously overcrowded to the point of placing residents living in this unit in serious jeopardy”. They stated they wanted “better homogenous grouping of residents.” Stating, “We found that we had a great number of residents who, in addition to being mentally retarded, also had physical disabilities. We felt that it was necessary to group these individuals with multiple handicaps together in a facility that would allow them easy access to the dayrooms, dormitories and dining rooms.” And it goes further, “We are not encouraging residents to have footlockers in our new buildings. Perhaps she could keep her sewing in the locker provided in the dormitory.” This letter is dated September 22, 1967.
But, the monkey doll, what about the monkey doll?!
“I will ask the Nursing Service to check on the Judy Monkey doll that has been misplaced in the transfer of cottages.”
Dear Mrs. Skeen: September 25, 1967
Your letter concerning your daughter, Rose Ellen, was referred to me by Mrs. Young. I understand your apprehension about Rose’s new cottage and her adjustment there. I checked with nursing service at Dunham about Rose Ellen’s placement. They said that Rose has been getting along much better these last few weeks. Her monkey doll was found. She also made many new friends with the people that are living in Dunham. The nurse on duty said that Rose Ellen’s sewing was found. She has been busy working on this and has asked for more supplies.
Rose Ellen has adjusted very well to her new situation. I am sure you will find her quite changed upon your next visit. If you have any more questions, please write and I will be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Mrs Carole Jacquay
Social Worker
In Oct. of 1969, Dunham Hall suffered wind damage and the residents were moved. Rose Ellen was transferred to Harper Lodge. In a letter addressed to Mr. Collins, dated Nov. 1, 1969, Grandmama writes,
“I had not known of the damage to Dunham until today. I need to know the following. I will leave room in the answer, hoping to make it easier for you.
1. What time did damage occur?
2. Was Mrs. Curry present at Dunham at time
3. How is Mrs. Curry
4. Where are Rose Elen’s clothes?”
The letter goes on to ask for clarification on her clothing. Many pages of the letter are missing as the list of questions jumps to 9. Asking if there is insurance to pay for the loss of Rose Ellen’s clothing as she had provided a “good” supply, plentiful to last two years.
She concludes the letter with a recounting of their attempts to visit her often, Dr. Skeen’s illness, the fact that she just became housebound. But just a month ago she was able to visit her and was “relieved and grateful to find her calm, satisfied. Now she is back at Harper which I had assured her would be torn down (One reason for her staying at Dunham). So to her I am a liar.”
The dates are missing on some letters which makes these moves difficult to track. But, the sentiment is clear. Rose Ellen grew attached to her surroundings and her people and moving deeply disturbed her and therefore my grandparents.
My Aunt
Here is what I know about Rose Ellen. She was a child then a woman who made friends and kept them for a long time, who had a special “lovey” a Judy Monkey doll that brought her happiness and maybe a sense of security. She had cake on her birthday, at least once, and loved sewing. Her parents visited her regularly, wrote her letters and put money in her canteen for things she needed. They gave her a small radio and a card table and kept her sewing supplies plentiful. They also expected a letter from her every week.
The letters went back and forth between Rose Ellen and her parents. In the records, there are three letters written by Rose Ellen. Her cursive is neat and her spelling and punctuation, minus a few periods, are correct. They are hard to make out as they are poor photocopies. But in one she says:
Dear Mother, 9-10-1967
Just a few lines to let you hear from me. I am fine and I hope you are the same. Give my love to everybody for me. Oh yes Mother we are in a new building and everything is new. We have our own lockers and it is real nice. I am real happy here and I will be looking for you all to come and see me whenever you can. So be sweet and I will be a good girl. Everybody here is real nice to me and I like them all
With all my love
Rose
⬦⬦⬦
Moving Rose Ellen
There was an early period where my grandparents feared Rose Ellen would be moved. A very polite exchange of letters took place then as well (dated March 1962). The facility was growing rapidly and overcrowding and crumbling buildings were a constant threat even then. My grandparents were reassured that her cottage was not affected by a recent building closure. But what I found so touching was the prompt response and reassurance they received from the social worker.
“If a transfer for Rose Ellen should need to be considered at any time, her happiness and friendships would be of a prime concern.”
Yours Truly,
(Miss) Karen Winje
Social Worker
The documents reveal that Rose Ellen moved at least a few times during her decades-long stay at Fort Wayne.
It’s a bit hard to piece together the moves from Dunham Hall to Harper Lodge or vice versa but what is clear is that Rose Ellen did not like the change if her “girlfriend” was not moved with her.
Writing to Mrs. Young, Grandmama says, in reference to an earlier move,
A … ago someone wrote to me saying how happy Rose Ellen was in Dunham Cottage. Because of that I was looking forward full of pleasure in seeing her there today, September 20. Rose Ellen was waiting at the door for us. But it wasn’t Rose Ellen child stomped her foot and sobbed bitterly and wrote how she missed “sweet” Harper. Her eyes looked as if she had been crying the month she has been at Dunham. 25 from Harper are there but her friends are at Harper I was told. My feelings are not to be ……. (end of letter is missing).
In September 1967, Papa Don wrote the following letter to Dr. Ackerman, the Superintendent of the institution.
Dear Dr. Ackerman,
We went to visit Rose Ellen today after receiving the enclosed letter from her new home in Dunham Hall for she seemed very happy with the change.
To say that we were startled with the change shown in her mental condition and her outbursts of sobbing would be to put it mildly. She is one of those kinds of people who become attached to their surroundings and attendants and she is extremely homesick for Harper and the belongings she had there.
We had to leave her without being able to get her to see that she was changed because of her being one of the older residents and that it was for her benefit that all the fine new surroundings were provided.
We are seriously concerned about her mental state and just possibly it would be a help to her to adjust if she knew that she could be returned to Harper later. And another item worth considering would be to return to her the footlocker she had at Harper with her sewing that she loves so well and is constantly busy about. She also lost a Judy Monkey doll in the change and if that could be found would be of help.
We are making the request of you that she be returned to Harper and if possible, to her old room and bed and it seems feasible to do this by merely making an exchange rather than waiting for a vacancy in Harper.
As you review our files, I am sure you will find not a single mention of any criticism, as this is certainly not. We think that the new facilities are a truly wonderful work that you and your staff have done and we intend to make an effort to say so to the ones higher up and who aided you.
I’m sorry we could not have seen you personally for a letter is such a cold and impersonal thing, but I am sure you will realize that we are interested only in the welfare of our daughter who has been so well cared for over these many years.
Sincerely,
E.D. Skeen
Dr. Ackerman refuses their request to move Rose Ellen back to her old home in Harper Lodge. “It will not be possible to make a trade of a resident at Harper so that your daughter may be returned there.” It continues, adding that “Harper was seriously overcrowded to the point of placing residents living in this unit in serious jeopardy.” They stated they wanted “better homogenous grouping of residents.” Stating, “We found that we had a great number of residents who, in addition to being mentally retarded also had physical disabilities. We felt that it was necessary to group these individuals with multiple handicaps together in a facility that would allow them easy access to the dayrooms, dormitories and dining rooms.” And it goes further, “We are not encouraging residents to have footlockers in our new buildings. Perhaps she could keep her sewing in the locker provided in the dormitory.” This letter is dated September 22, 1967.
But, the monkey doll, what about the monkey doll?!
“I will ask the Nursing Service to check on the Judy Monkey doll that has been misplaced in the transfer of cottages.”
Dear Mrs. Skeen: September 25, 1967
Your letter concerning your daughter, Rose Ellen, was referred to me by Mrs. Young. I understand your apprehension about Rose’s new cottage and her adjustment there. I checked with nursing service at Dunham about Rose Ellen’s placement. They said that Rose has been getting along much better these last few weeks. Her monkey doll was found. She also made many new friends with the people that are living in Dunham. The nurse on duty said that Rose Ellen’s sewing was found. She has been busy working on this and has asked for more supplies.
Rose Ellen has adjusted very well to her new situation. I am sure you will find her quite changed upon your next visit. If you have any more questions, please write and I will be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Mrs Carole Jacquay
Social Worker
In Oct. of 1969, Dunham Hall suffered wind damage and the residents were moved. Rose Ellen was transferred to Harper Lodge. In a letter addressed to Mr. Collins, dated Nov. 1, 1969, Grandmama writes,
“I had not known of the damage to Dunham until today. I need to know the following. I will leave room in the answer, hoping to make it easier for you.
1. What time did damage occur?
2. Was Mrs. Curry present at Dunham at time
3. How is Mrs. Curry
4. Where are Rose Elen’s clothes?”
The letter goes on to ask for clarification on her clothing. Many pages of the letter are missing as the list of questions jumps to 9. Asking if there is insurance to pay for the loss of Rose Ellen’s clothing as she had provided a “good” supply, plentiful to last two years.
She concludes the letter with a recounting of their attempts to visit her often, Dr. Skeen’s illness, the fact that she just became housebound. But just a month ago she was able to visit her and was “relieved and grateful to find her calm, satisfied. Now she is back at Harper which I had assured her would be torn down (One reason for her staying at Dunham). So to her I am a liar.”
The dates are missing on some letters which makes these moves difficult to track. But, the sentiment is clear. Rose Ellen grew attached to her surroundings and her people and moving deeply disturbed her and therefore my grandparents.
My Aunt
Here is what I know about Rose Ellen. She was a child then woman who made friends and kept them for a long time, who had a special “lovey” a Judy Monkey doll that brought her happiness and maybe a sense of security. She had cake on her birthday, at least once, and loved sewing. Her parents visited her regularly, wrote her letters and put money in her canteen for things she needed. They gave her a small radio and a card table and kept her sewing supplies plentiful. They also expected a letter from her every week.
The letters went back and forth between Rose Ellen and her parents. In the records, there are three letters written by Rose Ellen. Her cursive is neat and her spelling and punctuation, minus a few periods, are correct. They are hard to make out as they are poor photocopies. But in one she says:
Dear Mother, 9-10-1967
Just a few lines to let you hear from me. I am fine and I hope you are the same. Give my love to everybody for me. Oh yes Mother we are in a new building and everything is new. We have our own lockers and it is real nice. I am real happy here and I will be looking for you all to come and see me whenever you can. So be sweet and I will be a good girl. Everybody here is real nice to me and I like them all
With all my love
Rose
Letter from Rose Ellen 9.10.67 from the Fort Wayne Archive Records
But the mail was not always consistent. In 1962, Rose Ellen complained to her parents that she was not receiving their letters.
March 31st, 1962
State School Gentleman:
Enclosed is one of Rose Ellen’s letters and we have had three this week that she is not getting her mail.
We never miss a week writing to her and this week we have written three times. Will you please give this your immediate attention? She cries when she doesn’t get her mail and is not mistaken or forgetful.
I am sure there is some unforeseen accident that this has happened and I appreciate the difficulties in operating as well as you do, so do not consider this a criticism, just trying to make things smooth for Rose Ellen.
Sincerely, ED Skeen
A surprising response came just over a week later.
Dear Dr. Skeen April 9, 1962
We do not know why Rose Ellen has been writing to you about not receiving your letters. Rose received your letters of March 26th, March 28th, March 31st and April 1st. These were all given to her.
It could be that Rose Ellen was a little homesick when writing her letters and was seeking your sympathy.
Mrs. Ringquist is aware of the importance of your letters to Rose Ellen, so she makes sure that Rose Ellen receives them.
We appreciate your calling your concern to our attention so that we can check for you.
Yours Truly,
(Miss) Karen Winje, Social Worker
In 1965, the situation was that Rose Ellen was not sending her weekly letters home. A few internal memos between Mrs. Burns, K. young and Mrs. Clements show them trying to figure out what exactly is happening. They say they are posting letters except when: To Mrs. Burns from Mrs. Clements, “There was one time her letter could not go because she had written something she did not need to write. I gave it back to her and told her to rewrite it. She did and I took it over to be sent. Now as to whether she writes every week I couldn’t say for sure. But as far as I know there is a letter that goes real often and I have taken them on Tuesday night as well as Sunday night.”
And on May 7th, (Mrs.) Karen Young writes to my Grandmama saying how sorry she is that she has not heard from Rose Ellen for a few weeks. She explains how the mail system works slowly and then adds:
“Rose Ellen is very fortunate to receive a letter every week from you. We wish all the children were shown this attention. Please be advised that Rose Ellen will continue to be encouraged to write.”
The issue arose again in correspondence from 1968.
To the Office, a letter today from Rose Ellen Skeen, Dunham Hall, says she is not receiving her letters from me, her mother. Since last September, I have written twice a week or one letter and one card or package a week because Rose Ellen was so disturbed at the transfer to Dunham from Harper where she had lived many years. The nurse advised this. I never neglect these letters and always have my address on the corner of the envelope. Someone there told me the mail goes to Dunham each day. Please check this. Rose Ellen was upset too much by the change. Now she seems to be adjusting to Dunham. Lack of my letters is bothering her. Thank you.
Mrs. ED Skeen
The correspondence from 1969 included a very warm letter from Richard Grime, Administrator, Unit IV
Dear Mrs. Skeen,
Thank you for your letter. Please accept my apologies for being late in answering it as I have been on an extended vacation. Rose Ellen is doing fine. She no longer mentions returning to Harper Lodge and seems very calm and well satisfied in Dunham Hall. When weather permits, Rose attends occupational therapy classes and apparently enjoys this very much. Rose also enjoyed the visit with her sister on March 26 of this year. She is in fine physical condition and appears to be quite content. I certainly hope that your own physical condition has improved.
Please contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Again, the correspondence between the staff at the institution and my grandparents reveals so much about the struggles of caring for Rose Ellen from afar. It is remarkable that the staff responded to these letters in such a timely way given the known overcrowding and understaffing they faced every day.
Next Up: Remembering Rose Ellen: Part 12. The Side Room, Move to South Bend
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