Fun Fact #428 Sheboygan
#428
Fun Fact # 120
Kindness Repaid
Since the time it was known as Midway, Rockford Illinois has been well known for it’s resident’s care of their community, and even advertised its resources to help the mentally Ill, the Addicted, or people suffering from other conditions, and this offer was taken up by many who sought a genuine chance to get better. However not all was so “Sunshine and Rainbows” as the Federal government decided this was an excellent chance to get rid of some of the people who through mental conditions had been imprisoned because they either didn't understand the law, couldn't control themselves, or didn't care about the law. 255 people in this later group were sent by Rockford 2.5 hours north to Sheboygan Asylum where they were cared for but –due to short staffing– burned down when an occupant known for his love of watching fire, burned it down.
It was rebuilt twice more after this, before being replaced with the Sheboygan Health Care Center which operated similar to modern Nursing homes taking care of the mentally ill and those with developmental disabilities while the more violent members were slowly phased out. Then during WW2 German and Italian POWs sent from Britain were relocated inside the Care Center. The Center was reestablished post war, and actually lasted until 2002 when the Wisconsin government finally shut it down.
However by then the family of care facilities had made their mark, as it inspired writer Dennis O’Neil to create the fictional Arkham Asylum (From Batman) using Sheboygan’s reputation and the architecture of where some of its first residents came from, the Gothic styled: Connecticut Asylum. The Asylum is also referenced in several TV shows such as Supernatural and Destination Fear but because Sheboygan does not want to be associated with its reputation, they instead refer to it as “The Rockford Asylum” thanks to the majority of its donors having lived within Rockford (Including Amos Woodward, The Matres, and Mr. Tinker surprisingly!)
Image from: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124490880
