Another Historical website

Thank you to all who have recently subscribed to this blog. I am so happy to see all of the interest in the Dunning history. I hope this new website will be of help to those working on their family geneology as well. Back in the day, people, especially women and children, were sent away to places like Dunning. Mental illness or developmental disorders were thought shameful. Many of these souls were sent here, completely abandoned by their families. Once they passed through these gates, they spent the rest of their lives here. Dunning even had its own morgue and graveyard. Because of the stigma attached, many families simply explained the person's absence as a death. So many family historians may inaccurately document a particular relative as deceased, when in fact they were sent away to places like Dunning. Autistic children were sent here, those with Down Syndrome, wives who wouldn't "obey" their husbands, suspected infidelity and the list goes on. In those days, divorce was also shameful so many husbands got around this by declaring their wives insane and having them comitted.

Those of you who are interested in Illinois history, may also be interested in another website that we operate, dedicated to the historic (and haunted!) Bachelors Grove Cemetery. http://bachelorsgrovecemetery.blogspot.com .

Blessings,

Sinthyia

Mysterious Deaths At Dunning 1895

August 1895- The murder of George Pucik at Dunning. Two attendants were held responsible for the murder; George Gough, john p Anderson.. A grand jury held them without bail for the murder of Pucik and three other Dunning patients. Michael thacker was 80 years old when he lost his fortune and began showing signs of “melancholia through worry and drink” and was committed to the asylum at Dunning in June 1894. He was found to be physically in good health. His body was discovered with bruises , two inch wound on his forehead and hand prints around his throat. His widow and daughter were told that he had fallen from his bed and killed himself. Despite this account, a death certificate was given to them after Thacker’s burial that stated heart disease and advanced age. His family was convinced that he had been murdered by the attendants at Dunning. Because the family did not have the financial means for lawsuit, they did not prosecute the attendants.

Mrs. Emma Peterson informed the police that her sister Annie Olsen who was committed to Dunning for mania died in the hospital at the hands of one of the female attendants. Mrs. Peterson alleged that her sister’s skull had been fractured by blows to her head and that her sister had complained to her many times about being mistreated by Dunning staff. The body was to be exhumed for an investigation and there is no information available as to what the conclusion was.

John Peetz told the coroner that his sister Kittie Peetz died at Dunning on June 13 1894, also the result of cruelty by the staff. The body was also to be exhumed for an investigation into the allegations.

New Dunning Asylum Blog

Welcome to the new Dunning Asylum blog. Here you will find historical information about Dunning Asylum in Chicago. Do not forget to bookmark us or subscribe to this new website.