ST COLETTA OF WISCONSIN, LAST LOOK -THE VIDEO-

[ringwormz]

Thanks for the video. I first heard of this place cause of the intrest in Rosemary Kennedy. Your video was a great addition to my interesting thought s about her stay there.

[3952Mom]

What a wonderful video. I was looking for St. Coletta because I have been researching my family and found out I had an Aunt that I never met that grew up and from what I understand died at St. Coletta. Her name was Dorothy Jones. The only history I can find so far is that she was still at home, age 8 during the 1930 census. Did you ever meet a Dorothy Jones?

[desperategirl932]

But I'm also sure that it's not a very easy job, and very low pay back then to do the job they did. People who for others is a huge responsibility when the other person does not think the same as most. I had/have a cousin who was labeled retarded when she was young, but she married and had kids at a very young age. It always sort of surprised me because her mind was like a child's mind. Not really sure what ever happened to her or her kids.

[desperategirl932]

Nothing against nuns, but I'm glad it's run today by professionals. I'm not sure what the job is of a nun, but unless they've had training in mental illness, it makes no sense that they would be the ones to run a school. I know whether a person is or isn't a nun that everyone is made up of different personalities, so I understand why some would be more strict than others, but those who were really mean or strict most likely had their own mental issues.

[desperategirl932]

This is a really beautiful campus. Why did your parents put you there at such a young age? Did you enjoy it? After 11 years, where did you go to school? A public high school? Were people good or abusive to kids?

[wildwestoutlaws]

@desperategirl932

Hi, I had whoofing cough at age, 6 weeks, did some brain damages that caused me to have trouble speaking. Its a special school. They take kids starting at age 6 to when ever, even full grown. I was sent there one month before my 6 birthday. I was so home sick the longest time but got use to it. There were no abusiveness there but Nuns were strict. They did a lot for me, help to teach me to speak well in special training. I came home in 1962, went to local public High school.

[desperategirl932]

@wildwestoutlaws I only ask about abuse because it seemed like back then mental institutions were not well kept, and people within got abused. Mental illness is still difficult today to understand, and there is a lot of suffering because those who are supposedly the professionals don't really understand the struggles so many people have. BUT, it sounds like your experience was positive, and you have lead a good life, so good for you.

[wildwestoutlaws]

@desperategirl932

Most Nuns, mostly the teachers, would good of what they did! and a few, which were known as group mothers and their other duties were not all that great and there were some coldness and they were a bit strict, not all just a small few.

Back then there were about 99% nuns and perhaps two, or three late teachers.

Today there hardy any nuns left and it is run with most all Professionals groups of people and training students from colleges, with State assistants.

[desperategirl932]

@wildwestoutlaws while you were there, did you ever see or talk to Rosemary Kennedy? I don't know if she was there all the years you were, but know she spent some time there. Do you remember anything back then about lobotomy's and if you heard much about it as something that would be a good thing to do? It's sort of sad how the Kennedy's left their daughter and sister there alone to die while they were out living the big life. It's sad enough to have mental illness, but without support it's

[wildwestoutlaws]

@desperategirl932

Yes Rosemary Kennedy was there, I think before I came and yet, long after I left.

I was very young and at that time only knew she was treated special. I had see her often and must have talked to her a few times. They have a ranch house built with Kennedy's money just for her about a mile from the campus and either two nurses, or nuns took care of her.

Rosemary came on campus often, where she come for the Saturday afternoon movies in our aud, special church service and events.

[YXV382]

This place looks souless, and somewhat evil.

[bcrocker33]

i am so glad your time was one of great help and healing. nice to hear. thanks for uploading this.

reading about Rosemary...she was sent there due to a labotomy which turned her from a rebellious teen (possibly with bi polar disorder) to that of an infant.  very sad.

[wildwestoutlaws]

Thanks, I did not know her that well but As a young kid I remember Rosemary Kennedy use to come on the school campus on Saturday afternoons to watch movies in the school aud. The Kennedy's had build a ranch house for here about a mile from the school and either two nuns, or nurses had cared for her. She came on campus often, mostly for special events, or the Saturday Picture show!

[bcrocker33]

oh i see. well, thank you. the reason i am glad for you is because so so so many of these places, especially in Ireland at this time were quite the opposite of what you described and it makes me feel better that there were caring ones run by the church not filled with horrific abuse. bless you.

[Mp25DIII]

Rosemary Kennedy wasn't born retarded, she was lobotomized

[wildwestoutlaws]

You are right after reading more on it but I did not known at the time when I had put this up. All I knew she was there at St. Coletta and I seen her a lot. Then again like myself most of us there were not born retarded, we all had different degree of problems that needed help with.

[Boxerpal]

Hello Dan,

I have worked at St. Coletta since 1990. Started as a teacher in the school program and now work as a secretary. LOVED this look at the campus. We are still there. A sale has not been completed yet but we haven't seen the insides of some of these locations for quite a while so it's wonderful to see some of those scenes. Great memories.

~Diane

[wildwestoutlaws]

Wow, Thanks Diane, I thought by now the campus was sold, That may be why I could not get an update on the internet of what is going on about the sale. Perhaps with the crisis in this country of making ends may had slow it down. I truthfully don't want to see it close down. There is too much history to this place and I was so glad to be part of that place for eleven years. Joe Bent was the only person that was still there the last time I visit in 2004. He word in the Garden there.

[Boxerpal]

Hi again Dan,

I think we all feel the same. No one really wants to leave the campus and all the old buildings, but they are so expensive to heat and keep fixed up. It takes away money that can be spent serving our clients better. So we know eventually the sale will go through and we'll all learn to adjust to different buildings. St. Coletta has gone through many changes in over 100 years. This will just be another change; another chapter in its history.

[DinoSlaughter]

Daniel, you've done a masterful job of showing us a part of Wisconsin's (and your) history. The dedication and compassion of those who worked there made a great difference in your life, I'm sure. I enjoyed viewing this touching tribute to those who've played such an important part in the lives of so many. Bless you.

Dino

[wildwestoutlaws]

Thanks so much Dino, that means a lot to me friend!

[Ozirah54]

Dan, this requires a comment different than the usual for your westerns and other videos. Thanks for sharing part of your past. There was something melancholy about this, nostalgic and even a bit sad at its passing into history. Again, because this was so formative for your life, it means a lot to your fans and viewers too. Thanks again.

[wildwestoutlaws]

Thanks Matt, If you noticed viewing the inside of the chapel, that was taken in 2001. I went back in 2003 and they remodeled the inside of it and it look so much different now. I did video tape it but the tape I used was defeated, and it was so distorted that I decided not to add it in the film. Also I kinda wonder if they will be tearing this church down after it was just remodeled? Yet, the basement of it where the gym is has been closed for a long time do to flooding and had never reopened.