Pennhurst

Built: 1903-1908
Closed: December 9, 1987
Architectural Style: Jacobean Revival
Also Known As: Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution For The Feeble-Minded And Epileptic
Location: Spring City PA
County: Chester
Current Use: Haunted Attraction and Museum

Pennhurst was used for the mentally and psychically disabled for nearly a century of operation. The site finally closed in December of 1987.   I did ask an employee what happened to the patients who were in the hospital prior to the closing.  The employee said that many were either transferred to another facility or transferred into a group home within the community.

The site opened on November 23, 1908 with their first admittance as "Patient One".  Within four years of operation as like many other "asylums" Pennhurst became overcrowded.  To help the patients Pennhurst had jobs for them which included shoe making and repair, grading, farming, etc. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG33HvIKOgQ&feature=youtu.be

http://www.preservepennhurst.org/default.aspx?pg=35

Article From the New York Times
In 1983, nine employees were indicted in charges of abuse which would range from slapping to beating them.  The employees would also encourage patients to assault or fight one another. 
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/04/us/workers-indicted-in-patient-abuse.html

National Suicide Hotline 
1-800-273-8255

Ayers-Allen House

Built: 1749
Location: Metuchen, NJ

This house is in on the New Jersey Registry of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.  It is also known as the Allen House Tavern.  It is located within yards of skirmishes for the American Revolution.  The Ayers-Allen House has possible ties to the Underground Railroad.   The house itself has been in the same family for many generations. 

Original Greystone Site

Built: 1876
Located: Morris Plains, NJ
Main Architect: Samuel Sloan (also built Camden County Court House)
Designer: Thomas Kirkbride
Amount People it was meant for: 350
Highest Population: 7,700 people
Closed with the population of: 550 people
Notable "Immates": Woody Gurthie a folk singer was in Greystone due to Huntington's Disease
                                     Harrison Noel a double murderer
Other Names: State Asylum For The Insane At Morristown New Jersey
Closed: 2008
Demolished: April 2015-October 2015

Greystone had a "state of the art" electroconvlusive therapy (also known as electroshock therapy) in the main building.  The institution also had hydrotherapy in the women's ward.  Medical Director Britton D. Evans stated that it "was well recognized that the application of water at varying degrees of temperature and pressure exerts influence of valuable therapeutic character upon the entire human economy and aids the recuperative powers of the body (1906)."  Hydrotherapy for the men was open the following year.  Greystone set aside a ward for World War I veterans who were deemed "War Risk Patients".  These patients were suffering from what we call post-traumatic stress disorder.

National Suicide Hotline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Weird NJ
http://weirdnj.com/stories/greystone-park-psychiatric-hospital/

Patient Abuse
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/greystone_park_psychiatric_hos.html
http://weirdnj.com/stories/greystone-park-psychiatric-hospital/

Haunting Photos of Decay
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2601383/Haunting-pictures-decay-abandoned-asylum-held-7-000-Americas-disturbed-patients.html

Violence on the Rise at the new Greystone Facility
http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2017/08/njs_largest_psych_hospital_is_overcrowded_and_unsa.html

Fewer Doctors patient population on the rise
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/at_njs_largest_public_psych_hospital_more_patients.html

Battle of Princeton

Please note I am not a military historian and I won't even attempt to go into great detail on what happened during the battle itself.  

Date January 3rd 1777
Continental Army Deaths 22-45
British Army Deaths 18-100

The Battle of Princeton was one of the most significant battles in the US Revolutionary War.  This was fought after the Battle of Trenton.  The Continental Army pushed back General Cornwallis further east.  General Cornwallis and the British were only left with 8,000 troops on their front lines.  According to historians, The British felt the Battle of Trenton and Princeton were minor victories for the Continental Army.  This was not the case at all.  After the Battle of Princeton many supporting the Continental Army believe the war could be won and obtain freedom for the Colonies.  There are currently eight units in the military that has roots tracing back to the Revolutionary War. 

I love history and believe we all can learn from the past and build a bright future for humanity.  One thing bothers me is that the town of Princeton wants to build on this hollowed grounds.  Peoples lives were lost for our freedom and yet Princeton insists they want to develop this land.  This land is part of our nations history.  Not only our history but British history as well.  An organization was set up and talked to Princeton officials.  They allowed donors to by this location for about 2 million dollars, but they didn't succeed.  Princeton did extend the sell date to December 15th 2017.  Hopefully there will be enough donors to save Princeton Battlefield.  Let's do this!

Save Princeton Battlefield
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-princeton-battleground-20141126-story.html
https://www.civilwar.org/give/save-battlefields/save-princeton/letter-july-2017

Reenactment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6-wwHHgqSk

More Information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-lbfYuBw4I

http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/ten-facts-about-the-revolutionary-war/10-facts-about-the-battle-of-princeton/

The Graham Cracker

First Layer: Graham Cracker

Second Layer: Marshmallow

Third Layer: chocolate

Fourth and Final Layer: Graham Cracker

The original s'more wouldn't be one of favorite snack at a campfire if it weren't for the graham cracker.   The graham cracker itself didn't come into existence until 1829.  Reverend Sylvester Graham was preaching at The Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook when he created the "graham cracker".  Reverend Graham believed that a healthy diet including the graham cracker would suppress sexual urges.  This healthy diet at the time was called "The Graham Diet".  

The Legend of Molly Pitcher

Nickname: Molly Pitcher
Real Name: Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley
Origins: Philadelphia, PAD
Birth: October 3, 1744 This date has been disputed over the years.
Death:  January 22, 1822
Enlistment: Valley Forge and Battle of Monmouth

Molly Pitcher was the nickname for Ms. McCauley.  Her date of birth has been listed as October 3rd, 1744 but has been disputed by historians over the years.  Ms. McCauley was born to a family that resided in Philadelphia.  As she grew she never learned to read or write.

When Ms. McCauley grew into an adult she married William Hays who enlisted with the Continental Army as an artilleryman.  She followed her husband and enlisted.  Ms. McCauley went to Valley Forge during the winter of 1777 and was under the command of Mary Washington.  She and few other women helped wash clothing and blankets for the men.

During the spring of 1778 she helps bring water to the men while they were drilling.  It is believed during this time period Ms. McCauley got her nickname when the soldiers yelled "Molly! Pitcher".  This would indicate the soldiers or troops needed fresh water.

That same year, Ms. McCauley and her husband were sent to the Battle of Monmouth.  She continued to deliver water to the soldiers.  Its believed that its was over 100 degrees when the battle was being fought.  While she was delivering water to the soldiers, the British were delivering heavy artillery to the Continental Army.  During the battle her husband was hit while manning the cannons.  Ms. McCauley bravely took his place after he was carried off the battlefield.  She continued to load and fire the cannon until it was dark when the fighting stopped.

George Washington then warrant her as a non commission officer*.  She from then on called herself Sergeant Molly.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-commissioned_officer