Due to a recent restructuring of management where I work, I’ve had to move to a new cubicle in another building. It’s an old building, but it’s been nicely restored and modernized on the inside.
CVH’s mother came up for a visit over Thanksgiving weekend, and we took her to see Locust Grove, the historic old house where General George Rogers Clark lived out his last days. While we were waiting for our tour to start, we browsed about in the gift shop. While looking through their selection of map prints, I found this one of Frankfort in 1871:
Frankfort, 1871
I mentioned to my mother-in-law that I recognized some of the buildings, and after a moment, pointed out the road that led up the hill to where I work.
“And there it is!” I exclaimed, “The building where I work. And it’s labelled here on the map…number 9…which is…the State School for the Feeble Minded.”
Yes, indeed, I work in the former administration building of the Kentucky State Institute for the Education of Feeble Minded Children and Idiots. This Institution was established by the state to help children with developmental disabilities and epilepsy. Both Black and White children were housed there, albeit in segregated units.
Across from our parking lot, there’s a small cemetery for the Institute containing hundreds of graves marked “Unknown”. Lately advocates for the disabled have been maintaining the long-neglected markers.
Cleaning the old grave sites
