Chester County to put Pennhurst in spotlight

Posted by Press Release on March 17, 2015

Intellectual Disability Awareness Month will feature a new traveling exhibit that recalls the complex and often tragic history of Pennhurst State School and Hospital, located in Spring City, a Chester County press release said.

An official presentation of the exhibit and a reception will take place at the Government Services Center in West Chester on Thursday, March 19, from 6:30 until 8 p.m. It will be displayed at various locations throughout the county until May.

Built on a 634-acre lot 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Pennhurst admitted the 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 exhibit, funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, is a three-part series: “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 1977, 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, Chester 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.

The Pennhurst presentation on March 19 is free and open to the public at the Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Rd., West Chester. The exhibit will be on display there until April 11. It will also be displayed at the Chester County Library in Exton from March 20 until April 30. It will be at The Arc of Chester County in West Chester on May 1.