Chuck Greenlee’s Post piece on the “Haunted” Ridges and old Psychiatric is the latest in a long series of attempts to entertain and spook gullible readers. While many will find it amusing, I do not. I am a member of NAMI Athens, the Athens chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In addition to support and education, we take very seriously the goal of advocating for those living with mental illness. This advocacy work includes calling out stigma when we see it.
The three cemeteries on the Ridges represent just a fraction of the people who received treatment and/or made their home at the Psychiatric Hospital. These people could have been our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children or other family members. They had brain disorders and were treated with the best of the abilities and knowledge the psychiatrists and staff had at the time.
The Athens Lunatic Asylum was built on Kirkbride model of mental health institutions and was a place of peace and tranquility where people go to heal and return to their lives. Read the history of this forward-looking institution written by Katherine Ziff in her book Asylum on the Hill: History of a Healing Landscape.
Because of the stigma surrounding this beautiful spot and fueled by the “haunted” stories, a great effort was made starting over 15 years ago to find and repair broken gravestones, fill in sunken spots in the graveyards, clear brush that had encroached on the cemeteries and secure the release of the names of all the patients buried at the Ridges (these records are available at the Southeast Ohio History Center in Athens and on the namiathensohio.org website). In addition, a community wide effort was spearheaded by NAMI Athens to restore the pond at the base of the Tower cemetery and to build a nature trail connecting all three cemeteries.
In 2005, the first Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Tower Cemetery to honor veterans and other people buried there. These ceremonies are held every year and everyone who wishes to attend is welcome. In addition, NAMI Athens has just had its 17th Walk the Walk, an event held in October to bring awareness to mental illness. The trails on the Ridges are a big part of the walking route. Please join us next October and make your voice against stigma count.
I would suggest to those readers interested in the spirit of the Ridges to take a hike and enjoy the beautiful and soothing Ridges trails and forests that lie only five minutes from Court Street. You will not find ghosts. You might just find some compassion for those who lived and died there.
Anne Uribe Walker is the vice president of the Athens chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
