Yes, unfortunately, I think the writing is on the wall, and the intent, I believe, is to raze the building. Readers of the Regional Optimist may recall my letter to premier Brad Wall and his reply that were both published in the June 30 edition. The premier conceded that the old building, “… has a long history in the Battlefords …” but that’s as far as he went with it. He pointed out that the government’s focus is to complete the new building and maintain the old building for patients and staff.
There are many parallels between the Saskatchewan Hospital and the Weyburn Mental Hospital. The Weyburn facility, which opened its doors on Dec. 29, 1921, like its counterpart in North Battleford (which officially opened on Febr. 4, 1914), was an architectural marvel and constructed on a grand scale. But it’s how the two hospitals operated and served the citizens of our province that is more important.
A century ago, mental illness was viewed through different lenses than it is now. People were routinely left at mental hospitals a hundred years ago – abandoned. Persons with mental illness, suffering from alcoholism, epilepsy and a whole host of other illnesses were all admitted to mental hospitals a century ago. These ailments were viewed similarly and all were institutionalized. There was scant knowledge about these illnesses at that time. Many treatments were experimental in nature.
The North Battleford Mental Hospital (later renamed the Saskatchewan Hospital) opened in 1914, but it could not contain the flood of patients. It could not fulfill the needs of Saskatchewan’s citizens. Despite the size of the North Battleford Hospital, it didn’t have enough beds. With the massive influx of settlers from Ontario and Europe, the government recognized the need for treatment for growing numbers of the mentally ill. So, it was determined that a second mental hospital would be required and it would be located in the Southern part of the province in Weyburn. Researchers visited prominent Canadian and American mental hospitals and concluded that “open air” was one of the best methods to bring about recovery.
The architects of the Weyburn Hospital departed from the orthodox and formal lines that characterized large public buildings during the early years of the 20th century. The building was designed to be attractive, sunny, even cheerful, and surely this must have had a positive effect on the residents.
Patients began arriving from the overcrowded facility in North Battleford and by January, 1922, there were 607 beds filled. In 1944, the Weyburn facility’s capacity was 1,040, but it far exceeded this by admitting 2,488 patients. Unfortunately, Saskatchewan led the country in the proportion of the population held in mental hospitals and deaths per capita. It was clear more space yet would be required. So, the northwest wing was constructed, which made the Weyburn Mental Hospital the largest public building in the province. It was also a tourist attraction with 1,500 tourists visiting in 1924.
Saskatchewan was a leader in the treatment of the mentally ill in the early decades of the past century. Both Weyburn and North Battleford pioneered innovative treatments such as insulin therapy, hydrotherapy, lobotomy and electro-shock therapy. Interestingly, the term “psychedelic,” which we generally associate with the hippies of the 1960s, was coined at the Weyburn Hospital by Dr. Humphrey Osmond during the course of conducting experiments with mind-altering drugs. Researchers like Osmond came to realize that mental illness was not the result of commonly held beliefs like immoral decisions, dysfunctional families, inappropriate manners and so forth. They came to see that mental illness required medical, not social, attention.
As was the case with the North Battleford hospital, the Weyburn Mental Hospital became known for its lovely lanes and trees and beautiful grounds. And, like the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, the Weyburn facility became self-sufficient with a large scale mixed farm operation – large vegetable gardens, hogs, chickens, milk cows, hay fields, etc. Patients shared in the work and it was considered good therapy and also good to develop marketable skills.
As the years progressed, researchers came to realize the necessity of treating mental illness in the community and less in hospitals. Deinstitutionalization and out-patient care became the overarching ideology of the day. As a result the hospitals saw dramatic drops in patient numbers. In December of 1967, the Weyburn Hospital’s population was only 384. The hospital closed its doors on Nov. 1, 1971. And despite heroic attempts by various community and history groups in the area to preserve the wonderful, century-old structure, the historic building was demolished on April 24, 2009.
I have it on good authority that an architect has surveyed the old Saskatchewan Hospital building and has determined that it has deteriorated to the extent that an investment of more than 70 per cent of new cost to build would be required to restore the old Saskatchewan Hospital. Yes, it’s the 70 per cent rule. If it costs more than 70 per cent of new to renovate, you knock it down. But wait a minute. The builders and investors routinely fail to factor in the historical and cultural value.
Drive by the old hospital as I have many times and take in the grandeur and scale of this wonderful 100-year-old structure framed by majestic white spruce, maples and lilacs. And to the south, a panoramic, wide angle view of the North Saskatchewan River Valley and the mighty river itself. Indeed, any who would destroy this historic building has the soul of a lizard.
The old Saskatchewan Hospital should be saved for the many generations that will follow us. We must save it for our children and our grand children. It is their heritage. Two hundred years from now, the 70 per cent rule will be meaningless. So what can be done?
Heritage buildings must be maintained and used or they will languish and decay. The old Pigeon Hotel (Sallows and Boyd Building) and the old bus depot on 11th Avenue and 102nd Street in North Battleford remained vacant for decades. Finally they were in such a state of disrepair that they could not be restored by ordinary means. So, sadly, they were demolished. There is no plan to restore and save our heritage buildings downtown – no policy.
When you preserve the historic character of a heritage building (as they wonderfully did with the old John Paul II Collegiate on 97th Street), you save the façade – the exterior. The interior was likely renovated a number of times over the course of a century. You can renovate and modernize the interior. Now use your imagination.
The old Saskatchewan Hospital could house a dance hall, a banquet hall, condos, office space, even a hotel. The building should be marketed and sold for a dollar with conditions in any agreement to ensure the historic character of the building is preserved. Can it be done? Absolutely it can. I intend to gather a couple thousand names of “friends of the historic Saskatchewan Hospital” in a petition to save the old building.
Sources: Blaine Pauls, Folklore Magazine, Spring, 2012; John Cairns, News-Optimist, A Century of Caring, Saskatchewan Hospital, 2013.
