1. The cemetery was still there.
2. It was marked with a new monument to give a memorial to the site.
3. It was in the forest/woods.
4. It was very poorly tended to, grossly overgrown and in poor condition.
We decided to visit. I visit my own mother's grave to show respect. These patients have probably had no "visitors". Maybe they wanted to hear from us. So we opened up Google Maps on the iphone and bing, bang boom - ten minutes later we were there. We hiked across a large open field (what was that used for and why were there no trees there) following what looked like what was once a driveway that was completely covered with vegetation until we peeked the hill and saw the new marker. I stopped, I stared and I will be honest, I teared up. But what came next was just devastating. As we ventured into the woods we witnessed hundreds of small grave markers, all with ONLY NUMBERS. They were just lined up, stone after stone, no names, no birth dates no death dates. NOTHING. I cried. What sadness and pain these people's lives consisted of, being admitted into a mental institution to have lived and died with no recognition. My hubs and I discussed it...this was the time...those with a disability were put into institutions due to family stigma and the inability to care for them. But every life should be recognized, every life is significant. The further we walked, the more overgrowth we encountered. But the stones kept going, far into the woods and far down the hill. All the while, angel face and we were discussing who these people were, why their graves looked like this and of course how cool the woods can be. Lots of sticks to help with the muddy earth and rocks - so many rocks. And as in traditional Jewish custom, instead of collecting the rocks, sweetness placed a few on the grave markers, just like we do when we go to see my mom.
We all left a little somber with a mission. I have contacted the PA Department of Human Services in order to either get permission myself or to get a crew in to clean up the area. In addition, I am also going to be meeting with a woman who was once a nurse in the hospital to ask tons of questions. (thanks to the friend who is going to connect me to her). So there will be more about this adventure. Certainly not the fun, exciting ones of the past, but an adventure that has gotten this whole family thinking and doing.