|
|
|
I meant to check out an old TB Sanitorium in CT, but made a couple detours on my way.
First, as always before I hit I-84, I touch base with the old girl, Fairfield Hills. Checked out the houses being built/renovated on Mile Hill, turned around in the Cochran parking lot and went through the campus. I decided to take a quick tour of the front loop since I saw a sign on the front entry of Newtown Hall and wanted to get a better look. It was simply a sign for the. C.H. Booth Library Book Sale that was held there in the late summer, but on closer inspection, there was something far more sweet than that. An opened padlock. The only lock on the front door. Wide open.
I went back around the circle and parked to the rear of Watertown Hall and was about to get out when like a bat out of hell, a Newtown cruiser swept in and parked a few lengths behind me. I took a few pics of Newtown until I called it a wrap and returned to my car. Leaving, I saw that the cruiser followed me out of tha campus.
It was about lunch time and I hadn't eaten breakky yet, so I thought I would stop off at the Southbury Training School and pick up a lunch box there and then bee-line northward, hitting Cedarcrest and Mansfield. I passed the Gatehouse Cafe on campus and then felt since I hadn't yet been to Leonardo's Italian Bistro further up campus I'd try that today.
Rounding a few wrong turns, I found my way to the little bistro. I bet it's cute in the summer since there's a patio, but in the winter it looks a little cold and desolate. I looked around, and unlike the Gatehouse, there wasn't many people, even in the 12 o'clock hour. I went back to my car to retreat there, and the car didn't start. Not even turn over. Here I was, stuck, at the Southbury Training School.
For those who don't know what a Training School is, it's a place that people left mentally retarded people. An institution of sorts to ready them for the outside world. Unfortunately, many didn't "get the skills" necessary to go into the outside world . Southbury stopped taking "students" in 1986 since it mad now become a nursing home for the mentally retarded.
..and now my car is stuck.
A woman came down to her car and I made my first contact to ask for my way out. I asked if she had jumper cables, which she didn't, but the guy in the kitchen might. With a little more confidence, I went into the building which was set up sweetly like a restuarant, with checked tablecloths and flowers. No one was in teh dining room, but the kitchen was bustling. I peered in and the woman presumably in charge asked what I was there for. I was about to answer when one of the residents rushed me and vigorously shook my hand. Surveying the kitchen, it looked like there were two supervisors and mostly residents manning pizza ovens. I spied to one guy who looked like he was in a supervisor's position and asked for jumper cables. He didn't have any but after the lunch rush was over he'd try to find some...so I figured I'd stay for a spot of lunch. I helped out, making pizza with eth "students". The residents seemed excited to have a guest, setting a place for me and poking in to talk. Some were more coherant than others, but all more than friendly and facinated by their visitor. They regaled me with stories about Christmas, and cups of coffee. One man played games with me. He didn't like to talk, he liked to point out objects for me to describe. I didn't understand he game, until he grabbed my hand to point out objects. Once I caught on to his game, he got into it, pointing vigorously and quickly to see what I'd catch.
One woman, the most coherant of them all, was most concerned with my car and making sure I was okay. She seemed very motherly. I wondered what she was doing at the School. Leroy, the male supervisor finally took me out with his truck to check out the car and try to jump it.
It didn't start up.
I went back to the kitchen to call a local garage. The female supervisor I could tell was becoming impatient with my presence. She started asking questions why I was there. Honest? I'd like to know the layout before they close it down. State Schools are rapidly becoming a thing of the past, making way for smaller group homes, closer to the community. Stephan, rushed me again, to vigorously shake my hand. Other staffers coming in and out started to wonder what I was doing there, my welcome was wearing out.
After a few erroneous phone numbers (and learning how to make call off campus) I finally contacted a garage to come collect my car and get it going again. The residents were excused to sit in the dining room after doing such a great job at lunch. The female supervisor started to get a bit short with me, so I said my goodbyes and sat in my car, finding a book to read while I waited.
The car service I got was great. I wasn't expecting to have to replace a starter, but they seemed to have cut a great deal with me...but I had had enough of an adventure for the day and called it quits.
miiyukki · Wed Jan 11, 2006 @ 09:54pm · 2 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|