Since when did “asylum” become a dirty word?

But perhaps the picture that most captures the essence and culture of Richmond State Hospital is this one, taken in the early 1970’s, which captures a single moment in a long-standing and time-honored tradition at the hospital known as Carnival, where patients and staff could relinquish their respective roles and enjoy each other’s company in week-long festivities.  On special events, the hospital would host gala events such as the 4th of July Parade, where each department would be in charge of creating and manning a float for a parade that would feature both patients and staff.  A cook-out in the famous “Grove” has always been a quintessential event during carnival.  The Grove is a wooded outdoor recreational area with a large picnic shelter, putt-putt courses, volley-ball nets, and basketball courts.  The grill featured in the photograph was 2 feet wide and about 12 feet long.  Staff and patients from the outer farm colonies would be bussed in to participate for such events.  Activities were quite creative during the peak years.  In my office, I have a 1996 Carnival Bed Race trophy from when patients and staff would team up to pilot hospital beds to push at enormous speeds through the campus to win the coveted first prize.