Barns at Western State Hospital. The hospital opened in 1871 in buildings that formerly were used as Fort Steilacoom. In 1886, the hospital was officially recognized as the "Western Washington Hospital for the Insane," shortened to Western State in 1915. The hospital maintained both a farm and animals almost from the beginning. Much of the labor was supplied by patients, in return the farm supplied most of the food used by the hospital. The farm closed in 1959. TPL-7079
Barns--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;
Cows on Western State Hospital land. These are believed to be Holsteins, capable of producing plenty of milk for hospital patients. Each cow with its distinctive black and white markings is hitched to a post. The hospital's herd was started in 1914 from blue ribbon prize winners who had been blacklisted from commercial diary production due to tb. By 1926, the year of this photograph, the herd was free of tb. The cows, as well as the hospital's poultry, swine, and gardens, were under the care of Western State's patients and staff. The many cars parked nearby in the above August 27, 1926, photograph may have belonged to county cattlemen who had come to Western State to see the hospital's fine stock. They also examined stables and equipment in addition to inspecting the hospital's purebred stock. There was currently a campaign in Pierce County for the improvement of breeding stock and the use of purebred bulls. (TDL 8-28-26, p. 3-article)
Cows--Washington; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);
