Mapping on the Web

I decided to create a Google "My Map" to show eight state hospitals/state schools in Pennsylvania near Pennhurst State School and Hospital. Pennhurst is the subject of my master's thesis, and plotting the nearest similar institutions on a map may help future researchers to understand the complexity of the state school/hospital system in twentieth-century Pennsylvania. There were 25 state hospitals alone in Pennsylvania; most of which have since been closed. I plotted each institution at its location and included the institution's name, opening date and closing date (or if it is still active), and a photo of the institution. I have arranged the eight institutions on the map in three layers - one for each campus plan exhibited at the institutions. There were about five different styles that institutions were built in during this time, but only three are displayed here, nearest to Pennhurst. There are 5 Cottage style institutions (Blue markers), 2 Pavilion style institutions (Pink markers), and 1 Echelon style institution (Purple marker) mapped here. Check out my Google map below!

The Cottage style plan is the most popular near Philadelphia, and is known by its village-style layout. Cottage style campuses are made up of many buildings, usually surrounding each other or in a circle, like a town. Different buildings usually have much different purposes, and residential halls are kept separate from other work or medical buildings. Pennhurst is a great example of a cottage style campus, and even has concrete walkways between the buildings, similar to streets.

This is Fairfield State Hospital in Newtown, CT
Fairfield was built in the Cottage Style Plan
Photo Courtesy of {http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=File:Fairfield.jpg}

The Pavilion style plan consists of isolated wings, or extensions of buildings, connected by long corridors or galleries. This allowed the free flow of air and light.

The Herbert Hospital shows the Pavilion style plan
Photo Courtesy of {http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=File:Herbert.jpg}

The Echelon style plan is similar in design to the Pavilion plan, but the independent wings are arranged in a circle or triangle, with a main wing in the center. This allowed the administrative, cafeteria, or hospital areas to be centrally located.  

Norristown State Hospital exhibits the Echelon style plan
Photo Courtesy of {http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=File:Norristown_Map_02.jpg}

Understanding the differences between the layouts of the institutions may help historians to understand both the quality of life within the institutions, and potentially how movement within the buildings affected those who lived in them. Did individuals in a cottage style institution have a largely different experience than someone who lived in an Echelon style institution? Perhaps a village style campus felt more like home? This would take much more research, but it is interesting to see where on the map each style was built.