'Lunatic Asylum' renaming in West Virginia sparks fury among me...

It's an intriguing and provocative name that translates to Web hits, phone calls and tour tickets: the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

[MARIA P- PITTSBURGH-PA]

I think it is very degrading to use such a name. This is an illness you are making fun of. Have a little respect for those with mental illness.

[NIKI in NN]

I don't think they are making "fun" of the name. It sounds like they are just trying to bring back some of its history..

[wvmountainmama]

My Grandmother is buried there; she died of tb, when my father was 5. I have no problem bring back the original name of the hospital. I would like to see them keep up the graveyard and respect the dead. The records were supposed to have burned in a fire and the grave plots unmarked. I would like for them to place a monument honoring all who died there. This place is rich in history and I believe it could be an asset to Weston and West Virginia. We have dealt with mental illness in our family and still do. I have no problem with the original name.

[OnTheKanawha]

I agree with Maria. In fact, as a member of the media, I refused to do the story using this title. I used to transport people to and from there as an ambulance attendant, and it is a sad reminder to try and turn a place that so many suffered into an amusement park for quick money.

[Gottcha]

People need to think more, before they speak.

[Gottcha]

Learn to read, not speak.

[Hate it]

I toured the hospital today and was very upset with the name and the ghost tours. It is very disrespectful to the suffering of the people who were committed there. So many people were abused and killed there.....now it seems to be a joke to the owners who are trying to make money from this. It should not have been named "lunatic asylum." That is moving the progress made in mental illness back 250 years, for what.....fun?

The owners could apply for historical grants to work on restoring the building. It may take longer, but would be respectful to the memory of the people who were there.

Don't buy a t-shirt advertising "lunatic asylum." How degrading.

[Jodie]

I was in Weston, went by the hospital and noticed it was opened. My family went in and we really didn't understand what was going on until we saw t-shirts with "lunatic asylum" printed on them for sale along with key chains, and other items. It was really in bad taste considering the hopital had many patients that were from all over WV and probably many family members were instituted there that were forgotten and not talked about at the supper table. It was really upsetting to see such a place used as a "joke" and very disrespectful to the public.

If I lived in Weston I would try to stop this "amusement park" in my community. It was horrific in the fact it set mental illness back generations.

[Miss Mackey]

Has anyone considered asking the patients how they feel about it? There are patients who've been placed in the new facility who spent a great deal of their life at the old Weston Hospital.

It is unfortunate that we still speak about the people as if they are incapable of having opinions...mental Illness is already so dehumanizing.

I personally believe the key chains and t-shirt are too much. The owner needs to make a serious decision about his intention and purpose for restoration.

[Mike]

They really should rename it.

[OBI]

bump

[rename]

Miss Mackey wrote:

Has anyone considered asking the patients how they feel about it? There are patients who've been placed in the new facility who spent a great deal of their life at the old Weston Hospital.
It is unfortunate that we still speak about the people as if they are incapable of having opinions...mental Illness is already so dehumanizing.
I personally believe the key chains and t-shirt are too much. The owner needs to make a serious decision about his intention and purpose for restoration.

How would you like it if researching your genealogy you found a family member or members that had been put in a lunatic asylum? Probably because someone wanted rid of them.