Objects Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1971.59.40 |
Object Name |
Chest, Blanket |
Title |
Blanket Chest, Homewood Sanitarium, Dr. A.L. MacKinnon, 1925-1962 |
Year Range from |
1925 |
Year Range to |
1962 |
Description |
A blanket chest owned by Dr. Archibald (Archie) Lynn MacKinnon (1894-1981) (Formerly McKinnon) during his time at Homewood Sanitarium from 1927 to 1962. A light brown blacket chest with metal handles on the left and right sides. On the right side of the chest is a wooden label nailed into the wood with the identification, "Dr. A.L. MacKinnon, Homewood Sanitarium, Guelph, Ontario." The chest also features a shipping label Canadian National Express" With the printed text "from Toronto, Ontario, collect charges at destination, New Form 5225, Price ___ Weight___Billed To____." Dr. Archibald MacKinnon, born to Malcolm McKinnon (1848-1938) and Mary (Thomson) McKinnon (1848-1938), had at least 6 siblings growing up in Orton, Ontario. Dr. MacKinnon enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force in 1916. At the time, he was a teacher living at Queen's Park, Toronto. Dr. MacKinnon became a staff Physician at Homewood Sanitarium in 1925. He married Jean Isobel (Butchart) MacKinnon (1896-1986) of Toronto in 1926. As of 1926, Dr. MacKinnon resided at Homewood Sanitarium. Dr. MacKinnon and Jean had a son named Malcolm. Dr. MacKinnon received a promotion to Superintendent of Homewood Sanitarium in 1951. He held this position until retirement in 1962. |
Notes |
Historic Context: John Lagmuir and Homewood Sanitarium John W. Langmuir was an inspector of government-run and funded asylums, jails, and hospitals in Ontario. He took on this position in 1868 after becoming the mayor of Picton, Ontario in 1864 and serving time as a major during the Fenian raids. Langmuir was highly influential as an inspector. He pushed through various changes in Ontario's hospital, jails, and asylums. He oversaw the opening of major institutions like the Andrew Mercer Ontario Reformatory for Females, the Central Prison of Ontario, and the Ontario Institution for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb. He also brought many improvements to smaller county jails across the province during his tenure from 1868 to 1882. In 1882, Langmuir looked to create a private psychiatric facility separated from government funding and the reputation of public jails and asylums. Langmuir partnered with business associated from Toronto to open the Homewood Retreat Association with the progressive idea that the facility could rehabilitate people with addiction and mental health challenges. Langmuir chose Dr. Stephen Lett as Homewood's first superintendent. Dr. Lett had been an Assistant Superintendent at Toronto's Ontario Asylum and agreed with Langmuir's premise of rehabilitation. The stakeholders chose to buy the Guthrie estate at Guelph due to its peaceful surroundings, large property, and close connection to Toronto via the railway. Homewood Retreat Association opened to patients at the end of 1883 with 25 beds for men and 25 beds for women. Patient treatment prioritized rest, purpose, and a sense of community. Dr. Lett remained as superintendent until 1901, though Homewood financially struggled. In 1902, the institution's name changed to "The Homewood Sanitarium" and Dr. Alfred Thomas Hobbs became Superintendent. Hobbs quickly set to improving Homewood's finances and patient capacity. By 1905, Homewood began to reach capacity and quickly set to expansion with new facilities capable of holding 20 patients. The Homewood School of Nursing operated from 1906-1939. The school's closure occurred due to a new provincial direction that nursing schools must operate out of a general hospital. Homewood then became certified as a hospital for psychiatric affiliation training. Fire destroyed the original manor in 1911. Homewood completed construction on a new manor in 1912. Homewood's name changed in 1992 to the current iteration of Homewood Health Centre. The institution continues today at its original location of 150 Delhi Street as a fully accredited "Canadian Leader in Treatment for Mental Health, Trauma, Addiction & Co-Occurring Conditions." Updated 2024 |
People |
MacKinnon, Dr. Archibald L. (Archie) |
Search Terms |
Homewood Health Centre |
Subjects |
HEALTH MEDICAL - PSYCHOLOGIST MEDICAL |
Dimensions |
H-43.5 W-47.701 L-93.3 cm |
Dimension Details |
Height: 17-1/8" (43.5cm.) from top to bottom Width: 18-3/4" (47.7cm.) from front to back. Length 46-3/4" (93.3cm.) from end to end. |
Collection |
Artifacts |