History of Sunmount Developmental Center overlooked.

Sunmount Developmental Center was built in 1922 on a typical cottage plan common for institutions of that time period. Its architectural style is Classic Revival. Construction for Sunmount Developmental Center was a 2 year period from 1922 to 1924.

Sunmount Developmental Center opened up as Sunmount Veterans Administration Hospital for treatment of veterans with tuberculosis in 1924. Sunmount Veterans Administration Hospital had operated as a tuberculosis hospital from 1924 to 1965. In 1924, tuberculosis cases among veterans of World War I was extremely high. Previously many veterans had been housed by contract with the Veterans Administration in private hospitals.
(Ref: asylumprojects.org)


Sunmount Veterans Administration Hospital closed as a tuberculosis hospital in 1965. The hospital was renamed to Sunmount State School and was turned into a private hospital ending its tenure as a public hospital. (Ref: asylumprojects.org)

Sunmount State School reopened as private nonprofit facility on the date of September 1, 1965 for people with developmental disabilities as an immediate care facility for the mentally retarded. Sunmount State School started admitting patients by transfer from other State Schools in New York State on the date of September 20, 1965. Most staff, attendants, and doctors, no previous experience with the mentally retarded but the period of transitioning was smooth with much cooperation.

Dr. Oleh Wolansky was the first director of Sunmount State School. Richard L. Francis, M.D was director for the entire school. Both Dr. Oleh Wolansky and Richard L. Francis, M.D were in charge of this State School. Its medical consisted staff of 40 specialists in practically all the fields of medicine known to humankind. The school provided full rehabilitation services for the residents of any age.

The population was 511 residents in March 30, 1967. Its 511 residents consisted of 233 females and 278 males. 10% percent of the residents have been permanently placed in the community in March 10, 1967. Patients long considered to be bedridden thanks to intensive physical therapy, were now beginning to walk. By 1967, Sunmount State School was full 'open door' facility and had enjoyed excellent relations with the community. A garment textile factory was constructed in 1967. (Ref: Buffalo Times)



However it was not all good with parents of the residents that resided in this institution. There have been cases of abuse reported at Sunmount Developmental Center that have gone unsolved over the years. Abuse is a contentious issue. In many cases, cases of abuse go unsolved. Sunmount Developmental Center is no exception.

Sunmount Developmental Center suffers from a high amount of injury from staff onto residents. Staff often assaults the residents that live here. There is also a high injury rate amongst residents. Many residents aren’t adequately fed. The mentally and physically disabled go through enough on their own.

In the 1970s, a handful of cases regarding abuse appeared in newspapers such as Rochester Times, The Tribune, Buffalo Times, and Watertown Daily Times (Watertown Daily). Parents raised concern about questionable treatment practices on residents.


During an interview with Watertown Daily Times in June 1973, former resident John Boyer recalled the only  marked abuse he saw was when he lining up with his ward mates to get their teeth brushed. “When they'd line us up to brush our teeth. If anybody was talking, the attendant would come down the line slapping us all in the face." 

The routine punishments consisted of "walking the halls" by having the residents walk in a long continual line about the wards until they were quiet. Attendants would get the noisy residents "walking the halls" by having the residents walk in a long line around the wards until they were quiet. This way attendants could assure residents kept quiet.

John Boyer witnessed residents being straight-jacketed to air heaters along ward walls. Slaps to the face occurred on a monthly basis. Dental care was poor and skin infections were rampant.

In another case of abuse, the parents of Pat Burns noticed the body of their own son had questionable scars and bruises when visiting him at Sunmount State School. They began noticing scars on Pat’s neck. No official answers were ever give as to how Pat obtained scars on his neck. How the bruises got there are questionable.  "They told us Pat was not a 'fighter' and other boys picked on him." Mrs. Burns said.

The Burnses photographed their son's neck and complained to the school authorities. After his parents complained, Pat was put into isolation as administration at the school decided this was a solution. He remained in an isolation ward for an extended period of time.

Pat's parents also noticed their son had developed a fear of older men, which led Mrs. Burns to suspect he may have been abused by school attendants. They also noticed he had a fear of stairs. Now 65 years old, Pat Burns is still afraid of stairs and unable to walk down them. 
(Ref: Watertown Daily Times, Page 13, June 1973)



Doctors reported on July 20, 1972 that Sunmount State School was in dire need of a good used portable sewing machine. Richard L. Francis, M.D requested for a good sewing machine to be installed.

Richard L. Francis, M.D requested programs for mentally retarded crippled children at Sunmount State School in 1973. In 1973, programs for mentally retarded crippled children were initiated at the Sunmount State School, specifically at the “crippled ward”.

Sunmount Developmental Center has been a private nonprofit facility that has been a Medicad participant since 1975. Sunmount State School was renamed to Sunmount Developmental Center in 1976. Sunmount Developmental Center received between $70,000 and $80,000 per year for each person in 1976.

Sunmount Developmental Center later assumed the added responsibilities of coordinator of client programs by hiring more qualified staff during the 1980s.

Today the population of Sunmount Developmental Center is 105 residents. Sunmount Developmental Center receives between $80,000 and $120,000 per year for each person. Most of which is through Medicaid money.


Sunmount Developmental Center is located in Tupper Lake, New York, US.