Myths & Legends: Stories from the State Hospital
The season's final storytelling tour of the Fergus Falls State Hospital takes place on Friday, September 17, 5:30 p.m. at the state hospital. The cost is $5 per person.
For over 100 years the Fergus Falls State Hospital was home to thousands of patients. Throughout the decades the hospital developed an aura of mystery and legend that dominated the cultural fabric of west central Minnesota. During the sweltering summer of 1885, a state legislative commission visited Fergus Falls. They were charged with the responsibility to select a site for the state's third state hospital. Their selection criteria included a spot that was high and had an interesting and cheerful view; land that was tillable; and land that was close to a town with a good railroad system; and an area that had good drainage and a pure water supply. A decision was finally made as headlines in the Fergus Falls Weekly Journal of December 16, 1885 declared "Fergus Falls Filled the Bill" and was awarded the state hospital.
With the fate of the state hospital hanging in the balance, this program offers an opportunity to delve into what life was like behind the walls of this legendary institution. Stories from the State Hospital is not a facilities tour. It goes beyond the bricks and mortar to examine state hospital stories surrounded by mystique, stories that are not always pleasant to hear, stories that are part of our lore.
No reservations are necessary. To see this program park in the Otter Tail County Government Services parking lot and proceed over the west end of the state hospital. For more information call the Otter Tail County Historical Museum at 218-736-6038 or visit our website at www.otchs.org.