Remembering Rose Ellen Post 7: A Snapshot of Rose Ellen’s Correspondence
Correspondence from my Grandmama and Papa Don and the staff included subjects such as notifications and requests to visit her or take her on summer vacation, her personal belongings and wardrobe, her daily activities and occasional mention of a social event she took part in. Rose Ellen spent her days, according to staff notes, reading, writing letters, sewing, tatting and embroidery. She liked to watch television but apparently did not “do a lick of work.” She had a best friend and the staff seemed to mostly find her easy to care for. As she ages and as my grandparent’s age the subject matter of the letters becomes more intense.
A resident review was conducted on April 15, 1969, in which she was described like this:
Prior to admission, Rose was enrolled in private school for 10 years; Wood School in Pennsylvania and Stewards School in Des Moines, Iowa.
Her skills are those of intense training rather than true ability. She has a fine memory. She knows her multiplication tables up to seven and can count to 20, 50 and 100. She can read, print and write, knows her colors and knows the months of the year as well as the days of the week.”
Since her admission to Fort Wayne Hospital and Training Center, she has not been enrolled in any educational classes.”
She is severely crippled and not able to do any type of work.
Rose is a 55-year-old white female who weighs 79 lbs. She is moderately retarded and partially blind. She can feed and dress herself, however, she is not too neat in appearance.
She makes things with string, an activity known as finger knitting. She spells unusually well. The letters she composes are sensible and intelligible.
Rose is not too active. She sits in the dayroom by the television leaving only for meals or to go to the restroom. She doesn’t like to leave the cottage. However, immediately after being transferred to Dunham Hall, she ran away. She continually talks of going back to Harper Lodge to be with her diary.
Rose is known to be an active homosexual; however, she is not much of a problem in the cottage.
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Visits and Vacations
Gary, IN to Fort Wayne, IN: 132 miles, 2 hours 23 minutes
South Bend, IN to Fort Wayne, IN: 90 miles, 1 hour 42 minutes
My grandparents visited Rose Ellen regularly, making the trip from Gary to Fort Wayne nearly weekly, year in and year out. Included in the archives are visitor logs from 1933 to 1966, (with several years missing.). There are also Summary of Absences from some years. The logs moved me to tears. The date and time, visit after visit, are listed. Each visit is arranged via letters written by my Papa Don and replied to by the staff.
Letter requesting to come and visit Rose Ellen
Visitor Log by month, 1956-1958
E.D. Skeen, Walkerton, IND
7/1/61
State School
Gentleman:
It is our wish to have Rose Ellen home for her vacation Friday, 7/21 and return Friday, 8/4. If this is satisfactory, please confirm it.
Sincerely,
E.D. Skeen
***
Mrs. E.D. Skeen
March 17,969
1329 East Jefferson South Bend, Indiana 46617
Re: Rose Ellen Skeen
Dear Mrs. Skeen:
It will be satisfactory for you to have Rose out for lunch on March 26. We have asked the cottage to not tell Rose of your coming and if you are unable to come she will not be disappointed.
Very truly yours,
(Mrs.) Jane E. Brown
Supervisor Record Office
***
The records from 1938 are blurry as are many other years, but from the records I was able to see that Rose Ellen was visited nine times in January, February and October, eight times in April, May and July and eleven times in March, in August, just once. There are other years where the visits were less frequent in August, which makes sense because she was brought home on vacation for 2 weeks each summer. One vacation took place just about six weeks before I was born.
I think of the love and devotion to their Rose Ellen. I think of the time and distance they traveled back and forth across the state. I think about each visit, what did they do, what did they talk about? I imagine Rose Ellen showed them her needlework. My siblings and I played cards with my Grandmama: Kings in the Corner or Spider, Go Fish, and Cribbage. Did she play cards with Rose Ellen on their visits? And most worrying, how did my grandparents perceive the living conditions of the institution? It’s possible that they were not allowed into the living quarters. There are many reports by families who were always “met at the door” or in the entry room. The institutions built at this time period are often described as “grand and beautiful on the outside and hell on the inside” (PBS 2022). The documentary film, The Forgotten, shows overcrowded dormitories and very poor staffing levels. Did they see this happening? From the letters that go back and forth, it does not appear so. If they did, how could they have left her there? The correspondence is so polite and personal so clearly, some staff were caring and attentive.
E.D. Skeen M.D.
11.27.62
Fort Wayne State School.
Gentleman- We would like to visit Rose Ellen on Friday, Dec. 7th about 11AM and take her to lunch. Please advise whether you are on EST and whether the Moonlight restaurant is open on that day. I believe that is the name of the restaurant on State Blvd in the block just East of the school grounds.
Your favor will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
E.D. Skeen
***
Dear Dr. Skeen:
We will have Rose Ellen ready to go out for the day with you on December 7 as you requested. The school operates on Eastern Standard Time. The restaurant you referred to is closed each Saturday.
Very Truly Yours,
(Mrs.). Jane E. Brown
Supervisor Patient’s Records
***
E.D. Skeen
11/25/63
Gentleman- It is our desire to visit Rose Ellen on 12/4 and take her out for lunch.
I see no reason that an answer is needed unless this is not permitted
Sincerely,
E.D. Skeen
Up Next: Remembering Rose Ellen: Part 8: A Birthday Party for Rose Ellen