Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane/ Kankakee State Hospital/ Shapiro Developmental Center

Timeline

In 1869, the Illinois Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities advocated for another state hospital to care for the insane. 

In February 1877, the Illinois Legislature generally agreed that another hospital for the insane was needed in the state.

In May 1877,  Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane was being built. There needed to be a proposed site, which would be visited by commissioners. Kankakee was one of the visits. It also won over the commissors.  James Lillie designed the hospital.

In 1880, there was anopen-door system for the better interest of the patient. The hospitals’ patients were given certain rights including respecting the patient’s privacy and procedures for handling discipline for the instance patients. 

In 1877, Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane was the second largest of its kind in the United States.

In August 1879, Dr. Richard S. Dewey was the first Superintendent, who received his appointment for the office on this day.

In December 1879, the first patients were received and admitted to the hospital. 

In 1883, there were three additional detached wards or cottages that were being built. The north wing of the building was also built and they added room for 1,600 patients at the capacity of the hospital at the time. 

In January 1885, theSouth Infirmary building was destroyed by a fire. Seventeen patients’ lives were lost. Reid and Coyne were considered heroes for rescuing and saving patients’ lives as they lost theirs to the fire. William Reid saved 29 lives and James Coyne, an inmate saved four lives. The fire started because a heavy 8-inch girdle above the furnace ignited and started the blaze. It destroyed the building. The Night Guard man discovered the fire at about 4:20 Am.

In 1893 and between 1895, Dr. Meyer, who was the father of American Psychiatry, worked there. He was a pathologist. 

In January 1910, Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane was renamed to Kankakee State Hospital.

In 1975, Kankakee State Hospital was renamed to the Shapiro Development Center.