The state school opened in 1928, operating out of a cluster of attractive brick buildings off of Minnisink road. The campus had a dozen gender segregated dormitory buildings, as well as an auditorium, a chapel, a school building and much more. Like many other similar facilities across the nation, the state school was basically its own town.
By the 1940's, the training school grew to 34 buildings. In 1953, a new hospital building was constructed at the corner of Minnisink Rd. and Vreeland Ave. to replace the existing hospital.
Just a year after the name of the facility changed, the largest patient population was recorded at the center. 661 patients were calling the large campus home.
Eventually the facility became a burden for the state. In 2012 it was announced that 2 of the states developmental centers were to be shuttered for good. The North Jersey Developmental Center officially closed in 2014. The buildings were immediately boarded up with plywood, and a private security company was hired.
The site sat idle for a few years, but in December of 2017 the state allowed the sale of the property to go through. It was sold for $1 to the boro of Totowa, who then sold it for five million dollars to a developer.
Demolition of the campus started swiftly, and most of the dormitory buildings were completely leveled by mid 2018. Not only were the buildings gone, but the surrounding land had been blasted and reshaped to better suit redevelopment. At this point the historic original buildings were largely stripped out and left to the elements as work on the property continued.
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My mother was there for many years as a patien. The Census for 1940 has her and all the residents listed as inmates. Does anyone have more info on this facility?
ReplyDeleteSo sad. I was an employee here until I moved in 2007 to Michigan. I am just learning that it closed just so that the state can earn a few dollars.
DeleteMy mother was there starting 1938.
DeleteI need records of her disability as a child to help her with her social security, where can I get the census information?
Thank you in advance
I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. Was this common? Were there any more deaths on the premises?
DeleteMy Aunt Irma was also there and listed as Inmate on the census I have. The date is cut off. I wonder if she was there with your mom.
DeleteMy momomms was here in 1940 and was also listed as such. Right before she passed she told us she was rapped and back then you were sent away labled as a bad girl. No matter what your reason was.
DeleteMy brother was there as a child. He died while hospitalized there in 1975 from pneumonia. I remember very little of that time but remember the ramp to his room.
ReplyDeleteCan you email me? rosepetalbrenda@yahoo.com
DeleteMy brother also lived at this school from around 1965-1969. I remember going to visit him every Sunday, taking him out for a walk, and in the nicer weather, having a picnic. He contracted spinal meningitis while in the hospital as an infant. He was mentally retarted and blinded as a result. He passed away there in 1969 I believe. Very sad.
DeleteWhere did the many patients go? I went there as a nursing student many years ago.
ReplyDeleteI worked in Cottage 11 from 1994-1996. I know at least some of the patients went to group homes.
DeleteI took nursing students there from Englewood Hospital. There were so many lovely children there.
DeleteMy Mother got pregnant with me there and it's 😢 that there was nothing did about it .
DeleteSo wasteful NJ needs more group homes for adults with the rise of all special ed children the past 30 years. This is a known fact so where's the planning? Some of those adults could have jobs at the facility. I was there as a nurse student, newly retired I wanted to voluteer there and just found it is gone.Another land grab yet politicians talk what we need.We had something that should have been improved not demolished,could have created jobs plus made income for local+state. So corrupt + uncaring. NJ is being ruined by so many policies that are not long term.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to track records of someone who lived there as a child in the 1950's...any ideas?
ReplyDeleteHave you got any info?
DeleteI'm looking to!
My mother now deceased was in North Jersey Training School. I have a list of what is referenced as "inmates." I can pin point the years much better if anyone needs to know. But as a guess I am going to say she was there between 1936 until 1940.
DeleteAnyway I could get your list
DeleteCan you email me your list you have rosepetalbrenda@yahoo.com
DeleteIt is now on ancestry under 1950 census
DeleteI started there July 1985 & continued working there until NJDC closed to & staff in June 27, 2014. I worked there for 29 years. I loved my job. They couldn't pay me enough for what I did. I was a Cottage Training Supervisor for over 25 years. The still meet on different occasions. I Thx God for a wonderful experience. I miss NJDC😪
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was such a good place because they let my Mother got pregnant there and she was only 13 years old and nobody knew she was pregnant until the baby was born .
DeleteMy sister was also there between 19 76-77 she died of leukemia in 1983 she was only 14 years old I was so young then I didn't know much back then I was a child but my sister was also a child we used to come visit her every Sunday every Sunday I never even knew how she lived there I never knew nothing I was so young I wish I could find somebody that knew my sister maybe a nurse somebody anybody her name is Maria God bless her soul
DeleteTrabaje alli por 6 años, abian personas que no debieron de estar viviendo ahÃ, también trabajadores que solo estaban por un salario y los beneficios, mucha negligencia y Abuso que bueno que cerraron.
ReplyDelete🥲
DeleteMy grandmother and her sister's were raisd here don't know why looking for info.
ReplyDeleteI also am doing research on a relative who was listed as an "inmate" at this place as a child in 1940. Anyone additional information on this place would be appreciated...
ReplyDeleteI worked at NJDC from 1977 until it's closing knowone was referred to as inmates they were referred to as CLIENTS and by their NAME. In my opinion the state of NJ screwed over the population of this facility because 92 percent of the Clients knew this facility as home and each other and the employees as FAMILY and I know for a Fact that 95 percent of the Clients could not and did not servive in group homes SMH
ReplyDeleteDO you remember a Lorriane roberts or richard roberts, richard was blind in C 8 and C5
DeleteMy husband's grand-aunt, Minnie Sanders, was also living here in 1930 when she was 19 years old. (Per the 1930 census) The term "inmate" is what is used on United States census reports for establishments like this, orphanages, poorhouses, etc. I can't find a trace of Minnie after the 1930 Census. I'm not sure what her medical circumstances were, but at 9 years old, she was not in school. I don't know if she was able to live without assistance, or if she was able to marry. I'd love to find out what happened to her. Was there a particular grave yard that was commonly used for this school? Perhaps I could find her there.
ReplyDeleteI worked at N. Jersey Developmental Center from July 2001 to September 2006 I remember the first time I seen the World Trade Center burning was when I got to work and see it on the TV in the cafeteria it was an interesting place to work. there was problems with employees interacting and some clients told lies about workers!! but besides that I believe the clients had a good life there and probably a better one in a group home would you feel more ownership and have a better client to worker ratio to take better care of the clients!
ReplyDeleteMy mother worked there on the graveyard shift as a nurse from about 1954 to 1961, when we moved (we lived in the Mountain View section of Wayne). She didn't drive, so my dad had to drive her to work --taking my brother and I with him--and then go back and pick her up when she got off in the morning, bring her home, then go to work himself. I remember going down that long driveway off of Minisink Road, going past that stately old brick and stone building that looked like it belonged in 'Gone with the Wind'--I think it was the administration building--before we got to the building where she worked.
ReplyDeleteI always wondered what happened to that place. I had no idea it closed down, although I guess I should have expected it. Ah, well, progress I guess . . .
Found out my mother was in this place, at age 15, on the 1950 censes, she wasn't mentally disabled. What other reasons would people be admitted here? There were 2 other people here with her last name, Dudchack, 2 ladies, 18 and 37 years old, must have been an Aunt and cousin. My mothers's mom died in 1942 When I clicked on the document the 2 ladies last name is Dugan. Dementia started in her 50's Last three years of my mothers life, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia after she passed out from a heat stroke. She hid her mental illness from us and was never treated for it. We don't know any of her family, which she kept from us, my sisters and I knew she was haboring deep dark secrets and this is one of them.
ReplyDeleteit is on ancestry 1950 census
DeleteMy sister pat lived there when she was about 18 she is mentally retarded I think my parents had trouble dealing with her later she lived with us in our house for 40 yr she was very disruptive to our family my parents are now dead and she is in a group home its sad but you cant live a normal life with her I dont see her much because the animosity and the hard times she gave me stress me out I like living alone now you need peace when it's been crazy
ReplyDeleteMy sister was there too for 9 years till she died in 1983 of leukemia she was only 13 years old when she died it was sad and hard for me because my sister was so sick I didn't understand I was too young I don't even have pictures I have only one picture of her
Deleteapril 1950 list is on ancestry in census for 1950. it has parents then children as well by age too and names..
ReplyDeletei worked at the school in the 1970,s due to domestic violence i left the state and my job suddenly,wasnt assisted in any way when made,tried to make, contact with admin staff regarding my 401,never got a check ,will like to know if there is a way of any discovery in this matter,mrs harriett webb was head of admin at that time
ReplyDeleteWere you there around 1974- 1975 my sister would have been seven her name was Maria she died at the age of 13 from leukemia she also had Down syndrome bad she lived in cottage five I was only a year old and it hurt but I remember coming every Sunday but my mom and dad and going to the restaurant they had there Now That I'm Older it breaks my heart when I stumbled onto this I actually drove past there this morning by accident not knowing the only reason I knew that was New Jersey training school was because there was a school across the street I used to pray so hard as a child that my sister would be able to go to school and come home but all I got was my sister diagnosed of Leukemia and died at 13 I really need answers to this place I remember everything I was just so young if you could help me please help me any details of this place on the inside
DeleteMy grandfather worked there in the 50s & 60s. Not sure before or beyond that. Their house was in Totowa and was above the school property. In winter when the trees were bare you could see some building lights and sometimes faintly hear patients (inmates of the institution). My grandparents house is no longer though. When the property was sold in connection with some other land it connected with another family tract that had been sold earlier. Now I think there are 2 or 3 big houses on it.
ReplyDeleteI was an EMT around 2010 and remember the place vividly. We were transporting a patient there.
ReplyDeleteI was mortified by what I saw
There were patients that flopped around on gym mats and contorted themselves terribly. People were screaming. The place-building I was in was dirty , scary and neglected. From what I saw-these people were the most severely damaged physically and emotionally. Some were restrained too. The whole experience was like something out of a horror film. Definitely the worst cases were there.
I only went once but I will never forget the young girl that was in a pen writhing on a gym mat. She was mentally one of the most retarded i have seen. The place was where “No one ever wants to be “ A sad state for these poor forgotten damaged souls.
I went to Passaic Valley High School in the 70’s. I took a Sociology class maybe in my Junior or Senior year and for extra credit, we could volunteer at NJTS one evening a week. I remember singing songs and doing activities with the people that were living there.
ReplyDeleteAfter my dad retired from PSEG, he got a job working at NJTS in the 80’s.
My fathers sister died at 20 in1940 she had 2 daughters. Their father left the town after her death never to return and no information or contact. I have been searching endlessly to try and find the one daughter that ended up at the institution. I have found minimal information about the girls and their fathers whereabouts. Him and his family resided in NJ. This is one of my last hopes to find either of them. I want desperately to be able to know something about her and possibly find records of visitors or next of kin that would lead me to my other cousin. Her name was Sylvia Lowery DOB was 9/28/1937
ReplyDeletemy brother was a patient there and the other patient bit his index finger off and swallowed it
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who commented here. It helps those of us who remember feel closer to our loved ones. It’s sad that there aren’t other ways for families to learn about relatives
ReplyDelete