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What happened to the asylums? And should we bring them back? | Part 1 of series

Adam_Rogan
Nov 1, 2021
Nov 1, 2021 Updated Oct 31, 2022
8 min to read

Racine County Asylum — An undated etching of the Racine County (Insane) Asylum is shown here.
Wikimedia Commons

Adam_Rogan

Part 1 of a series

Gatliff Depot — The Gatliff Depot, named for Nelson Gatliff, an early settler of the Racine area who owned extensive farmland in the area, is shown here in this undated photo with two unidentified individuals pictured. The Racine County Insane Asylum was served by this railroad depot, and was often referred to as the Gatliff Asylum.
Courtesy of Gerald Karwowski

High Ridge Centre pond — The pond at the southeast corner of 21st Street and Highway 31 in Racine is among the last remaining pieces of the now-razed Racine County Insane Asylum campus, which had stood for about a century where the empty-strip mall High Ridge Centre and Home Depot now exist.
Public domain photo

Racine County Asylum early photo — The Racine County Insane Asylum is shown here in this undated image. It was torn down in the mid-1980s.
Courtesy Gerald Karwowski

Aerial view of Governor's Island and the Mendota Mental 1935 — This aerial photograph shows Governor's Island in Lake Mendota, as well as the area surrounding the Mendota Mental Health Hospital, lower right, in 1935.
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dr. Patricia D’Antonio, a professor of mental health nursing at the University of Pennsylvania — D’Antonio

M. James

JAMES SCHATZMAN — Schatzman
Racine Journal Times

DIANA PANUNCIAL

Nellie Bly — Bly
Associated Press photo via Bettman Archive

Elizabeth Sinclair Hancq, Treatment Advocacy Center director of research — Sinclair Hancq

Warning: This video contains graphic content.

'His life mattered to me' | During march, two families grieve men who died in Racine County Jail

Praying for strength

Praying for strength — Family and friends of Malcolm James lean on each other during a prayer.

Gone but never forgotten

Gone but never forgotten — Young friends and family members of Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr. have their own message: "Gone but never forgotten."
DEE HÖLZEL,

"You know his name, not his story."

"You know his name, not his story." — Two of the signs at the protest read, "You know his name, not his story."

Outpouring of grief

Outpouring of grief — In the background of the rally was a reminder that within the week, two families lost someone they loved.

United in grief

United in grief — Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr's cousin and Malcolm James' mother stand hand-in-hand, symbolic of the unity the two families have forged in the wake of the deaths of their loved ones -- three days apart -- in the Racine County Jail. "We've got your back," the crowd chanted.

Remembering Malcolm James

Remembering Malcolm James — Angela Ellis, who was a family friend of Malcolm James, holds a photo from better times.

Supporters marched through the neighborhoods of Racine

Supporters marched through the neighborhoods of Racine — Those who gathered to demand justice for Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr. and Malcolm James marched through the communities immediately surrounding the Racing County Courthouse calling for justice for the two men. Residents left their houses to watch the march. (shown) The man holding a Pan-African Flag with the words Black Lives Matter on it called out to those in their yards, "Come on, join us."

Noel Carter joins the march

Noel Carter joins the march — Noel Carter, 8, is shown at her first march for racial justice. Her grandmother reported they were in their car when they saw the march and decided to join. "I just wanted to let her experience this," Carter's grandmother said.

Justice for Malcolm James

Justice for Malcolm James — Malcolm James called his friend "Baby Charles" long after he was no longer a baby. On Sunday, Charles, 7, marched in remembrance of his friend, who died in the Racine County Jail on Tuesday, June 1. Friends and family called for an independent investigation by the federal government.

Marching to the Racine County Jail

Marching to the Racine County Jail — Friends and supporters of the James and Ditello-Scott families linked arms as they marched from the Racine County Courthouse to the jail across the street. Kevin O'Connor, shown far right, is the attorney who represents the two families.

James Malcolm's father attends the rally for justice

James Malcolm's father attends the rally for justice — Among those who attended the rally for justice was the father of Malcolm James.

Friday vigil remembering Malcolm James, one of 2 men who died in Racine County Jail, in photos

Balloon release

Balloon release — Family and friends handed out balloons to release in memory of Malcolm James during the vigil Friday night.
LAUREN HENNING,

Demanding justice

Demanding justice — While remembering Malcolm James, the family also called for justice in his death.
LAUREN HENNING,

Brothers

Brothers — Malcolm James' brother said everyone knew "my brother was a cool, cool, cool guy to be around."
LAUREN HENNING,

Oh God, we thank you

Oh God, we thank you — Kelley Scroggins-Powell, center, leads the vigil attendees in prayer.
LAUREN HENNING,

A mother's love

A mother's love — Malcolm James' mother, left, bows her head in prayer during a vigil Friday night for her son. For additional photos from Friday's vigil, go to JournalTimes.com.
LAUREN HENNING,

Sharing

Sharing — Family and friends listened as memories of Malcolm James were shared.
LAUREN HENNING

Candle lighting

Candle lighting — Family members lit candles and held a moment of silence before blowing the candles out, stating, "We love you Malcolm."
LAUREN HENNING,

Embrace

Embrace — A family member comforts Malcolm James' mother.
LAUREN HENNING,

Extinguished

Extinguished — Malcolm James' mother extinguishes the last candle at the vigil.
LAUREN HENNING,

Coming Tuesday: The path forward for treatment of the mentally ill, including an alternative model that’s working in Italy.

Adam_Rogan

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