Craig Colony for Epileptics

Craig Colony for Epileptics was a residential facility for epileptics located in Sonyea, Livingston County, New York, US.

History

Established in 1896 on a former Shaker colony, the Craig Colony was inspired by a similar colony in Bielefeld, Germany. It covered an area of 1900 acres and was situated 70 miles southeast of Buffalo and 40 miles south of Rochester. The facility was funded by New York State and required patients to be legal residents of the state and diagnosed with epilepsy by a physician. The Colony School, operated by the Geneseo State Normal School, began in 1921. The facility included the Peterson Hospital, as well as a farm, garden, and dairy. Originally known as Sonyea Colony, it was renamed Craig Colony after Oscar Craig, the president of the State Board of Charities. Over the years, the name changed multiple times, including Craig Colony (1920), Craig Colony and Hospital (1951), Craig Colony School and Hospital (1966), Craig State School (1968), and Craig Developmental Center (1969). Despite having approximately 2,000 patients in 1967, the facility closed its doors the following year.

See also

• Asylum architecture