[psalm]

I am curious if anyone has any ties, professional or personal to the Rome State School in Rome, NY, for the mentally retarded, from the 1950s to early 1070s. I think that now it is a home for the deaf, but I may be incorrect. One of my patients in LTC was a medical student there in the 1930s!!

My brothers lived there from about 1958 to 1972. They are now in upstate NY in different group homes, in their late 50s. I am trying to find info on the internet and am not getting much.

If anyone lives in Oneida County, NY and would email me the phone # for the Historical Society, I would appreciate it. So far, I haven't found it.

[Steristripqueen]

Hello Psalm, If I am correct and you are talking about the huge complex that was the State School in Rome NY; part of the DDSO system. Off of Rt. 26 and 365? It now is divided into 2 med. security state jails. The phone # for the Oneida County Historical Society is 315-735-3642. Their address is 1608 Genesee St., Utica NY 13502. I do hope you get all of the info. you are looking for. Joan

[psalm]

Thank you!! I will use the info Thursday when I come home from my night shift!! If anyone else has any info please either post here or PM me. Hugs...

[AndyLee]

Hi Psalm: Ran across your post about the Rome State School by accident today. The two of us worked there in the Recreation and Physical Therapy departments from 1965 until the place closed around 1990 and might be able to give you some historical information or whatever. PM me if you're interested. Regards.

[psalm]

Update: I went home in April for a visit and on the way we drove thru Rome, NY. Rome State School is now a prison, as stated in one of the posts above. I remembered the buildings, some of them. Obviously, we couldn't drive inside, but the buildings were very visible as we drove the perimeter. Dh wouldn't let me take any pics from the car, afraid we'd get stopped and asked why. So an old postcard pic of RSS will have to do.

I had called both Oneida County Historical Society and Rome Historical Society and got little info. What I did get was lots of encouragement from Rome Historical Soc. and none from Oneida.

Thanks for all your help...

[Steristripqueen]

Hi, you could have stopped briefly to take pixs. Perhaps next time you are in the area you will. Check out the Herkimer Historical Society (Oneida HS has always been a pain to deal with regardless of the topic...I think they just don't know the area's history enough and won't be up front about it??)

Herkimer Historical Society
406 Main St.
Herkimer NY

315 866 6413

These people are great to talk with and have frequent presentations from the Adirondaks to the other day was Gettysburg. Hope you get the info. you need.