To this date we have raised $551.81 towards the Historical Marker.  It is almost June and this is not where we had intended to be.  We had hoped to have raised the entire amount by this time and to have placed the marker already.  Unfortunately, that has not been the case.  Please donate towards the marker, every penny counts!!

http://www.hiawathafoundation.org/HistoricalMarker.html


We have also received numerous requests as to the location of buildings in Canton that bear bricks from the asylum.  While we appreciate such avid interest, it is not possible for us to reveal the locations.  There have been repeated threats of vandalism as well as honest inquiries and with so much of the asylum having already been destroyed, we cannot and will not take the chance of releasing such information.  What we can say is that the gate for the asylum is still very much in use and is in plain view to the public and one building bearing many bricks and shingles from the asylum is a soon to be demolished building that belongs to a local health organization unrelated to the local hospital that now sits where the asylum once stood.  In the interest of preserving what little history remains - good and bad - we will only release limited information regarding this topic and will be putting some information regarding this on the website in the future. 

Also, we have received many request from people working on their own books regarding the asylum, which is fantastic, the more information out there on the subject, the better, BUT - please note that it is now impossible to garner interviews with patients.  There have been a few journals seen over the years but access to them is severly restricted by the survivors' families.  It is important to note that there is still a stigma attached to having once been in the asylum and many families are ashamed or unwilling to talk to strangers regarding their loved ones' stay or death in the asylum.  Many of the interviews both my wife and Dr. Leahy were lucky enough to be a part of were many times done under the promise of anonymity, family members don't want their names attached to the memory of such a wretched place.  There are some family members, though, who might be willing to give interviews, and Dr. Leahy is always willing to talk with anybody regarding the asylum, just please, bear in mind that he is a very busy man and doesn't always answer his email right away.  Those interested in interviewing for their books are welcome to email us at admin@hiawathafoundation.org and we will pass your contact information on. 

Lastly, while we understand the interest and wanting to get the information out there, please don't go strolling on to the reservations and asking for open interviews.  We've already been notified of this happening twice and that's totally inappropriate.  Don't do it.

Again, please donate to the historical marker so we can get it placed as soon as possible!!!

Robert Fisher,
Friends of Hiawatha Foundation