Beauty is Therapy : Memories of the Traverse City State Hospital

By Earle E. Steele, Kristen M. Hains, Kristen Hains

Book Overview

Memoirs of Earle Steele, a fifty year employee of the Traverse City State Hospital. Steele's first affiliation with the hospital was at age nine when his father began employment at the institution.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970477805
• ISBN13: 9780970477804
• Release Date: February 2021
• Publisher: Denali & Company
• Length: 86 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Phenomenal! Highly Recommend!

A far cry from the horror stories associated with psychiatric institutions of the past, Mr. Earl Steele shares with us his heartwarming experiences of working at Traverse City State Hospital and the softer side of the internal activities between the patients and staff. Kristen M. Hains paints the full picture with her wonderful way with words. The two, (Earl E. Steele & Kristen M. Hains) have produced an exceptional history book for everyone to enjoy!

An invaluable account

This entertaining and very informative book is a long-term account from the "inside" by a man whose life and experience touched the Victorian beginnings of Traverse City State Hospital (the era of the first superintendent Dr. James Decker Munson) and went all the way to its closing and beyond. Earle Steele cared for the grounds, and cared for the history. This book is a must for anyone interested in psychiatric care history from a unique point of view and also for those interested in Traverse City, Michigan history.

An interesting instituition in our History

This is a great book to read if you are interested to see what it was like working at a State Mental Hospital during the late 20's until it closed in 1989. It really puts things in a different perspective, looking through the eyes of the writer who worked there for over 50 yrs, experienced first hand. The photos were great to see what it looked like way back then. I enjoyed the book very much, and I would recommend it.

Beautiful Memories

As facilities like the Traverse City State Hospital are rapidly becoming a thing of the past, this book is a wonderful collection of memories, beautifully written by Kristen Hains. What an amazing way to preserve the legacy of those buildings and the folks who worked and stayed there. I picked up the book to read a few pages before going to sleep one night, and I couldn't put it down. Hours later, I was completely engrossed in the stories of a place I remember driving by as a kid. Earle and Kristen have shed much-needed light on those buildings, once shrouded in mystery. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the Traverse City State Hospital. But even if you've never heard of the facility, Earle's stories about the people are fascinating. -- Jane Louise Boursaw

History and Memories

Wonderful historical reading, very well written. Certainly brought back mamories of my childhood. Takes one from the old concept of 'snake pit' to well run independant city of its own. Truly warm, loving, funny and full of information. It was sad to see this wonderful concept of mental helath care disappear forever.