WEST GOSHEN >> The complex and often tragic history of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital, located in East Vincent, is recalled in a traveling exhibit now on display at the Chester County Government Services center in West Goshen.
The display will run through March, which is Intellectual Disability Awareness Month, and continue at various locations throughout the county until May. It is free and open to the public during business hours.
Built on a 634-acre lot 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia and in the northeast part of the county, Pennhurst admitted its first patient in 1908. For almost 80 years, the institution housed more than 10,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These residents were segregated from society, ignored and often abused. The Pennhurst story is a poignant reminder of past errors, helping to ensure these mistakes are never repeated, the county states in a news release.
The exhibit is presented in three parts: “A World Apart,” “The Fall of Pennhurst” and “The Legacy of Pennhurst.” Each series consists of four panels depicting the institution’s history on a timeline. Along with the panels is a small kiosk where spectators may view photos and a 1968 television expose, by former NBC newscaster Bill Baldini, on conditions at Pennhurst.
In 1987, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the conditions at the institution violated patients’ constitutional rights, and 10 years later Pennhurst closed its doors. In the years since, there has been significant progress in society’s acceptance and understanding of this population.
Today, the county’s Department of Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities promotes inclusion, compassion and respect for this population, striving to support and empower individuals with intellectual disability. While challenges remain, memorials such as the Pennhurst exhibit will help. The exhibit is funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council.
The Pennhurst exhibit will be on display until April 11 at the GSC at 601 Westtown Road outside West Chester. It will also be displayed at the Chester County Library in Exton until April 30. It will be at The Arc of Chester County in West Chester on May 1.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544.
