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Subject: [MINNESOTA] Anoka facility
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 10:15:09 EST


The Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center is still open. It is used as a
treatment center for mentally ill persons. They also have other programs at
the facility as well now, CD rehab and other programs.

It originally was the Anoka Insane Asylum - then called the Anoka Asylum and
then the Anoka State Hospital. The name changed to RTC about 15 years ago
when the state of Minnesota renamed all the state hospitals.

It housed people who had all sorts of real or imagined mental illnesses.
Back in the early days there was no clear psychiatric treatment and people
were locked up in asylums for all sorts of behavior that might be out of the
norm. Anything from the "usual" mental illnesses, to children who didn't
behave as was expected of them. I can tell you some very sad stories of the
old former "inmates" which is what the patients were called. It was a
holding center so the people were "inmates" and there was no treatment, just
beds and chairs and food.
Thankfully that has all changed, but for many years it was horrible what was
done with these individuals.

The records are available. You have to show evidence that you are related
and that you want the information FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. This might be to
determine if the illness might "run in the family", for example.

The address is
Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center
3300 4th Ave N
Anoka, MN 55303
ph: 763-712-4000

I hope they can help.
Jo Hogle



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