[Angelahh]

The Broadview Developmental Center was built in 1939. At that time it was used mainly for the treatment of tuberculosis and housed sick veterans. By 1966 the TB threat had largely passed, and the it became the Developmental Center and was used as a clinical care facility for the mentally retarded--including a large number of children who would grow up within its walls.

Designed to be self-sufficient, the campus included a full cafeteria and kitchen, dental offices, a beauty shop, and a chapel. It also included small cottages on the property, where patients who required less supervision were housed. Separate wards were built for children and maternity patients. This minimized contact between patients and the outside world, thus reducing risk of infection. Most of the staff had offices on campus.

This lasted until 1989, when de-institutionalization finally got Broadview. The Center was closed down and its patients were transferred to group homes or private care.

The building was abandoned almost immediately. Large amounts of medical and office equipment were left within including prescription drugs, personal artifacts belonging to former staff and patients, and numerous filing cabinets filled with patient records.



FINAL CHAPTER In 1995 the city of Broadview Heights spent $5 million to renovate the north wing into the rec center and landscape the grounds. At this time the police station was put in. In 2006 most of the building was demolished and replaced by a modern rec center with an indoor pool and track.

[Angelahh]

These are a few patient records that were left behind...

[Norwegian1]

Very interesting, reading the patient records made me feel like I did something that I shouldn't be doing... Kinda makes you wonder what happened to these patients and if they are alive and having a meaningful life today..

[LadyCPlum]

Originally Posted by Norwegian1 ↗

Very interesting, reading the patient records made me feel like I did something that I shouldn't be doing... Kinda makes you wonder what happened to these patients and if they are alive and having a meaningful life today..

I agree, I feel like it's a huge invasion of privacy, but at least the surnames are blacked out.....

[Space Particle]

Good find, I love reading all that paper-work.

[Nancy M]

My Godmother maria worked at this place for a long time. She facilitated the "Deaf Vestment Shop" in Cleveland and inside the Broadview Heights Developmental Center. I remember she told me that a boy was pushed out of a window and to cover up (the suicide or homicide)... someone pushed a radish down his throat, had a nurse evaluate the body and tell the police/family he choked. She was mad that the family never found out the truth about it. I wish she were alive so I could ask her more stories. I was in high school listening to the stories about the people who lived there. I remember a lot of abuse, sadness and people who's families were shamed into visiting the residents... Did you find any pictures of sewing supplies when photographing? Any pictures of residence or staff?

[Davis916]

Mental retarded is kind of a misleading term. I think it may be somewhat offensive. Insanity was the major reason a person would be committed to this type of hell hole.

[Ninjavandal]

Lonely and desolate come to mind.