W.Va. ‘Lunatic Asylum’ Name Evokes Controversy
Written by Jason Keeling on March 21, 2008
The former Weston Hospital had capacity to provide for up to 2,000 mental health patients until it closed in 1994. This National Historic Landmark remained quiet until 2007, when a contractor purchased it for $1.5 million. The new owners recently decided to market the location by its pre-Civil War name, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
That decision has drawn the ire of several disability rights groups who claim the terminology is derogatory and outdated. Ann McDaniel, executive director of the Statewide Independent Living Council told the Associated Press: “It’s like turning back the clock to a time we don’t want to go back to…I think they could still do what they want to do without being offensive.”
The owners claim that reverting to the original name is a matter of historic preservation. Commentator Hoppy Kercheval points out that the old mental hospital in
Do you believe the name Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is appropriate or should a more politically correct title be selected?
Posted in Culture, Tourism, West Virginia
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March 21st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I received this link to more photos of the hospital from an e-mailer, which may or may not influence your opinion regarding the name change.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
A&E TV show called TAPS or Sci-fi show is doing a paranormal tv program regarding hauntings on the Weston Facility because of many inhumane and torturous acts that happened there, it should air in May 2008, they are filming it right now.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Failed to mention the new owners have also promoted “Hospital of Horrors,” “Nightmare Before Christmas,” and “Psycho Path” events on the property, which goes beyond historical context and enters the realm of sensationalism. I think using the “Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum” title is appropriate from a historical perspective, but the above promotions are insensitive to the mental health community. Instead of promoting “horror” images, branding the “mystery” of the facility might be less offensive.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I think the new owners should find a name more aligned with the new use of the facility. Perhaps the state department of archives could approve an official historical marker for the site with the former name. That would show respect for the past. The new name with a subtitle (formerly known as…….)
Anyone who had a family member committed to the asylum heard the horror stories that being sent to “the mental institution in Weston” evoke. Mental health is such a national issue now, let’s not sell West Virginia short by showing disregard for the torturous horrors that patients report having taken place behind closed doors at the “Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.”
Blood curdling screams lasting for days, straight jackets, self mutilation, shock treatments……. That institution, and all that reportedly took place within, is a chapter in West Virginia’s history that needs to be put to rest. There is more to life than money and jokes at others’ expense.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Using the Past to Benefit the Future
Please, this asylum did house all kinds of horrors, but nothing that compared to what happened to the people deemed 2 be a “lunatic” before its opening. If anything, this asylum should be remembered as a huge leap forward. I see no jokes at anyone’s expense. I see some people that took something from our past that others were letting rot and are trying to turn it into something to bring money into the state and county.