Baseball was King

Saturday afternoons in the 1890s at the Douglas meant baseball. Male and female patients played together, a highly progressive move for the times. By 1898, a 50/50 patient/staff team was formed to play area teams.

A Patients / Staff Sing Together

Early staff and patients sang together in a Hospital choir, which practiced every Sunday night.

Pool for Men, Piano for Women: Pool was first introduced to the Hospital in 1897. Although not considered appropriate for ladies, it was an immediate hit with the male patients, “The billiard table…is never idle. We should have at least two more …for all who play and enjoy the game. Equally valuable to our female patients has been the piano, donated this year.”

Obstacle Races and Needlework

Our first Annual Sports Day for patients was held October 16, 1891, “Many visitors from the city and almost all our patients, male and female, were present. The obstacle races were the [high point] of the day…with no end of laughter at the mishaps of …contestants. Every winner, down to fourth and fifth places, was awarded a handsome prize, monetary or otherwise, generously contributed by our friends in the city."

“ The show of needle and fancy work by female patients… for which prizes were also given, was excellent.”

Theatre Matinees a Hit

Enough money was raised at the 1898 Annual Sports Day, to send patients to the theatre for the first time, “Patients…were sent, in charge of attendants, to matinees at different theatres. In no case has there been even a sign of disorder or attempt at escape, and all who have gone speak in delighted terms of the pleasure afforded them.”

Dancing in Perry

In 1902, the medical superintendent called for a recreation hall to be built, “Our most profitable and generally enjoyed form of recreation during the winter months is dancing, [but] this cannot be properly conducted with the limited floor space we now have. Situated, as it is, at the top of [Perry Pavilion] a good many of our patients find it difficult to climb the several flights of stairs leading up to it.”
When Douglas Hall was finally completed in 1912, the first event to be held was, of course, a dance.

Silent Movies in Douglas Hall

“ The moving picture machine installed in Douglas Memorial Hall in 1912 has assisted us greatly in [providing] amusement for the patients, who seem never to weary of the scenes depicted.” Singers and other musicians were invited to provide accompaniment.

Fair and Carnaval a Success

The Summer Fair was the high point of the year for patients and staff in the early and mid-seventies. Lasting several days, it included parades with floats, game booths with prizes, music, dancing, and massive quantities of homemade lemonade and pastries (made on the premises by our own pastry chef). Rehabilitation Assistant Angelina Gabriel recalls, "You'd be amazed at the number of costumes we created with sheets! Everything from princes to pirates to belly dancers." The public often attended, but the stars of the celebration were the patients, and they loved it.

Our Winter Carnival was also a hit. Wagon rides were always led by Charlie the Horse, who was rewarded with sugar and carrots from delighted patients. Snowshoeing, skating, skiing - we had it all. The beverage of choice? Hot chocolate, of course!

From Cricket to Curling…
Did you know that early patients had an outdoor curling rink in the winter? And played golf and cricket? Other amusements available for patients in the 1890s and early 20th century included:

• Basketball
• Bowling
• Card parties
• Checker competitions
• Concerts
• Croquet
• Dinner dances (Christmas, New Years Eve, Thanksgiving, Halloween)
• Football games
• Sleigh rides
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Walking parties