Before the Opening of Fairfield State Hospital
Early 1920s-1933The need for a third Connecticut state hospital was realized in the early 1920's when the superintendant of Connecticut State Hospital was concerned about over crowding at the existing two state hospitals. After a few years of submitting proposals, the need was finally met when Governor Trumbull asked Dr. Leak to make plans for the hospital. The plan was to put it in Fairfield County, opposite to the two other hospitals so that patients in the area could be more easily served. Dr. Leak joined forces with Dr. Waldo Desmond who was formally one of his psychiatric residents who had made Newtown his home. The two doctors met on three different occasions to share knowledge about best serving the needs of the mentally ill in the area. The residents of Newtown caught wind of the plans to put a state mental facility in their small farming town. At the time Newtown was a small, rural community of less than 3,000 citizens. While local leaders were staunchly opposed the younger residents saw the hospital as a source for employment. A meeting was held on December 15, 1928 by the President of the Newtown Savings Bank at the Hawley School to discuss the possibility of Newtown of a new state hospital for the insane in their town. While Dr. Desmond was retired, he sat in on the meeting and single handedly convinced the people of Newtown that the hospital was a good idea for the town. When the citizens were asked to vote and the final vote was a strong yes. In 1929, 'An Act providing for the Establishment of the Fairfield State Hospital' was passed. Portions of the act included that twelve trustees were to be appointed to the hospital, that it was to be located in Fairfield County and called 'Fairfield State Hospital', and that trustees should not only buy the land but also take charge of construction of the hospital and to be responsible for management. |