Connecticut Valley Hospital Cemetery

Connecticut Valley Hospital Cemetery is a historic site located in Middletown, Connecticut. It is a part of the Connecticut Valley Hospital complex, a state-run psychiatric facility. The cemetery is the final resting place for many patients who died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

History

The Connecticut Valley Hospital was established in 1868 as the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane. The cemetery was created shortly after to accommodate the deceased patients. The cemetery is a testament to the history of mental health treatment in the state and the nation.

Description

The Connecticut Valley Hospital Cemetery spans several acres and contains thousands of graves. The graves are marked with small, numbered stones, reflecting the anonymity and stigma associated with mental illness during the time period. The cemetery is a poignant reminder of the lives of those who were institutionalized and the societal attitudes towards mental illness.

Preservation Efforts

In recent years, efforts have been made to restore and preserve the cemetery. The Connecticut Valley Hospital Patient and Staff Memorial Committee was formed to oversee these efforts. The committee has worked to identify the individuals buried in the cemetery and to replace the numbered stones with proper headstones.

See Also

• Connecticut Valley Hospital
• Middletown, Connecticut
• History of mental health